Loretta Lynn was one of those ladies a long time ago that opened a lot of doors and paved the way for a lot of ballsy singer-songwriters who weren't just cute.
I used to love, and I still do, Lee Ann Womack. And Alison Krauss. I mean, how many Grammys does she have? She's just remained solid and true and great, and I respect that.
When something comes to my brain, I don't ignore it. You never know what it's going to turn into.
I wouldn't ever do a radio edit because I feel like it would totally go against the point of 'Follow Your Arrow.' I just think you're going to like it or not like it.
My parents aren't crazy conservative. They're actually pretty open-minded. But my grandparents are, and where I'm from, East Texas, is the Bible Belt.
It's weird, because the ideas in my songs aren't controversial to me. I feel like I should be able to sing about anything.
I don't push buttons to push buttons. Throwing the rebel card out there is really cheap.
Lee Ann Womack is from near where I grew up in East Texas, so I've always looked up to her. I sang a lot of Dolly Parton as a kid and a lot of traditional western swing, like Patsy Cline and Roy Rogers.
I'm thrilled that country music fans like my stuff, but so do a lot of people outside of country music, people who just love music. My goal is more to reach music lovers than to appeal to a genre. I love country music, and I'm proud to represent it, but I don't obsess over it as a category.
I like to make people think a little bit.
I'm just observing. I don't ever want people to think I'm preaching at them or wearing them out.
I love Lee Ann Womack and John Prine. That's kind of my ideal cross point. If I can sing it like Lee Ann would and say it like John would, then I feel like I've gotten somewhere.
A label's typical plan would be to put something out that's safer and get fans, and then push buttons, but my idea is to push buttons first, scare off the people who are gonna be scared off, and then the right people will like you for who you really are, and stay with you.
A lot of what gets on the radio isn't saying anything other than somebody wants to be famous and will do whatever they're told to get it.
I'd rather have 100,000 people who really get what I'm doing and like it for what it is than a million who can take it or leave it.
If the lyrics are something new, then maybe I want to give it a more traditional form, or the other way around, but not have all one or the other.
I had a blast on tour with Little Big Town. We got to play some beautiful rooms around the country - some really amazing old theaters. And it was just cool to see a band that's been together for so long.
My personal style is a big mix. A lot of it's pretty vintage. I love vintage looks. I'm obsessed with the mid '60s era, even '70s, it was a good era for clothes, hair, music, and cars.
I love vintage cowboy boots, and some days I'm into platform stilettos encrusted in jewels. It's really all over the place.
I do try to shop online and support people who hand-make their stuff, and because you can find stuff that nobody else has.
