I remember this song by Clay Walker that came out in the '90s called 'This Woman and This Man,' and it was about breaking up, loss, the pain of moving on, and my parents were just getting divorced at the time, so I listened to it over and over again.
All I've ever wanted is a nice truck, and that's what I got.
I always say, 'If it looks good on a T-shirt, it would probably be a pretty cool title or cool song.'
I was a business major, but the more I played music and the more I got into songwriting, I realized this is what I loved, but I kept asking myself, 'Is this what I'm supposed to do - move to Nashville?'
The fans are always wanting new music, and with as much as I love to write, I might as well give them the music while I've got it.
I wanna have the coolest merch.
When you find what you love, and you find people that will support you, you're living the dream whatever you do.
I'm blessed to have the platform I have, and I'm going to spread the word. There's a lot of great causes, but I don't know anything that hits you harder than a child being sick. It's not fair; they don't deserve it. I'm ready to know what I can do to help.
The fact that I have the chance to learn from the names I've been on tour with, I don't think you can ask for any more than that.
I know how music makes me feel; I know how it affects my life.
It matters if people believe you or not.
We need to take care of people that are out there busting their butts trying to make it; that's what everyone's done for me.
I want people to know that I am having fun. That's the biggest compliment I can get is when people tell me I'm having a blast out there - if they only knew. I'm having the time of my life every night.
It's just crazy to have a dream - have a plan - and then it all just kind of comes true. To me, that proves that you have to have a vision first.
Every single day I wrote a song, I was hoping somebody like Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean or whoever would record the song. It's tough to do because there are so many great songwriters in Nashville, and I was lucky enough to get some songs recorded before I got my record deal.
Sometimes I get all the credit, and it makes me feel bad because I'm not the only one out here sacrificing everything. There are people out here on the road with me with kids and families, and they're out here busting their backs for me.
This album means a lot to me, and partnering with Cracker Barrel to have it in their stores is very exciting. I am a big fan of the brand, so it was a natural fit to team up with them to have 'You Should Be Here' in its stores nationwide.
We titled it, 'You Should Be Here,' for one, because just how special that song is, and I think it kind of sets the tone for this album. I've established that I like to have fun, but this is a little more than that - this album has got some fun stuff, but it's also got topics that I haven't gotten a chance to touch, and I'm so excited about it.
Georgia Southern was such a big part of me getting my start.
'You Should Be Here' set the tone that, 'Alright everybody, I want you to listen to this album.
