Quotes from Joe Nichols

Winning the ACM, winning the CMA, my first time on the Opry and having Grammy nominations were all a big deal to me.

I was probably nine or ten the first time I heard there was no Santa Claus.

Music is also supposed to be fun. On this record, (titled 'III'), I really had the desire again to jump back into some good-time, fun-loving songs.

Sometimes as an artist you get wrapped up in what you are doing and you can't be objective.

It's important to show solidarity for a child, no matter what. It's important for a child to be raised in a situation where she sees love, solidarity, commitment and honor.

I'm a traditional country singer and we're always trying to make that a fresh and modern sound. That's always going to be the challenge with me.

The biggest question I have is if you're a rock singer or a rock 'n' roll band, or if you're a pop singer... if you've made your way in another genre of music and now you want to make a country record, why? That's my question. Why?

I think every artist would love to just please themselves musically all day long.

I married a woman who's not going to take anything. No slips. She's very accountable, and she holds me very accountable.

Being an entertainer includes knowing how to connect with an audience.

The overall physical demand that Iraq has is pretty amazing. It's 130 degrees, and the soldiers are carrying about 100 pounds of extra gear. It's a pretty rigorous schedule and routine for them.

I think it's really important for people to hear what our men and women in the military have to say.

Then when I went to Iraq and saw the strength and character the men and women in our military service exhibit every day and their belief in what they're doing, I knew I wanted to get that on film and share it with everyone. They are my inspiration.

Sometimes you have to listen to other people, and see what the audiences want. That's what entertaining is about.

The way that I am now, I don't want to accept mediocrity. I don't want to accept the easy road.

It's always a pleasure to perform for people who love country music. And Australians definitely fall into that category. Each time I go back, I learn something new about the country, and I get to see some of the most beautiful places on the planet.

It's very hard for me to say I'm sorry... but I do.

It doesn't really matter to me what the rest of country is doing. I'm not caught up in trying to make a record that sounds like everybody else. That, to me, is a record label's absolute biggest downfall.

When you find great songs, and somehow you get a spark in a little way, it can become brand new.

You have to believe that things can be bigger than what you see in front of you in order to move forward.

For me, I wanted somebody that got me musically, that understood that I'm an artist and this is who I am. I'm not going to be like another artist on your label, probably - hopefully. I found all those things with the Broken Bow group.

I want to see success right away. And I want to never give up, never stop.

That's what we need nowadays, is more children that have goals other than being a sports figure or some kind of celebrity.

I enjoy every minute, because there are going to be a lot of moments in your future that you're going to wish you held onto longer.