"I'm a fan of the era when country music singers had their own TV shows," he says. "Johnny Cash had a show. Glen Campbell had a show. The Statler Brothers, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, on and on and on. I think that was a great time in country music. I would hope to be considered one of those artists who has enough identifiable character about me that you could have your own TV show. I'll never be the greatest singer or the greatest at anything, but there ain't no doubt I'm a character, and unapologetically so sometimes."

Woven through all of it is a personality focused like a diamond on furthering country music, bringing fans and artists together like few have ever done and attracting newcomers to the genre.

"One reason for my success is people know what they're getting when they get me," he says. "I've never B.S.'d anybody about anything when it comes to music or how I approach the fans or what's important to me. They know. That's why people let me have my own TV shows and it's why hopefully I'll be able to have a solo career. I'll be able to make records with my friend Big Kenny and go tour with him like we’re doing this summer, and when I have songs that don't fit those records, hopefully I'll be able to have success on my own, as well as continue to produce records on all kinds of people and write songs and be an impact in Nashville."