Fresh off multiple victories at theCMAsfor his No.
How did it feel to have such a triumphant CMAs this year?
It was much, much better than I deserve.
Credit: Becky Fluke
Its still just bizarre to think about!
Whatd you do to celebratea few rounds of whiskey?
Kentucky bourbon, actually!
But I started that day onGood Morning America.
I got up at 4 a.m., and Im not a morning person.
I tried to get a little bit of a nap [before the CMAs].
It was the best long day Ive ever had.
Youperformed with Justin Timberlakeduring the show.
How did that come about?
We met a couple years ago through a mutual friend and talked to each other on occasion.
Hes a new dad and Ive got little kids.
We tell a lot of kid stories.
[Laughs] Wed always looked for a reason to do something, and this finally became that reason.
I was excited to get out there and play with him and that band.
We just had so much fun in rehearsals.
And thats what music should be.
Dont worry about labels, dont worry about anything else.
Musics not a war, and its certainly not a war to me.
Were all on the same team.
Since the CMAs,your album has hit No.
We were supposed to be slowing down.
[Laughs] So now I think we have some stuff to figure out.
You cant expect to have this kind of a thing all the time.
What a treat to get to have a moment.
This article appears in the November 20, 2015Entertainmnet Weeklydouble print issue #1390-91on stands this Friday.
