Willie George Haggard is an ageing country singer. He lives in a large old house just outside Nashville and has many country music hits to his name, most of which he wrote himself. Willie George used to appear regularly at the Grand Ole Opry. He blogs at My Bucket's Got A Hole In It (for which, I'm sorry to say, I've temporarily lost the link).
Why do you blog? > It's a love without end, amen.
What has been your best blogging experience? > Answers only make more questions.
What has been your worst blogging experience? > In the early days I spent too much time online, and... my friend stole my sweetheart from me.
What would be your main blogging advice to a novice blogger? > Don't get above your raisin'.
What are your favourite blogs? > Well, normblog - naturally; and Setting the Woods on Fire; and there's this series of Alex Massie's I've had my eye on.
What are you reading at the moment? > Cry, the Beloved Country, The Country Girls and In Country.
Who are your cultural heroes? > There's only one Hank Williams.
What is the best novel you've ever read? > Tough question. How do I choose just one? But I'll go for All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. Tell you one thing though - I hated his No Country for Old Men even without reading it. Who does he think he is, layin' down the law on my musical taste?
What is your favourite movie? > The Big Country.
What is your favourite song? > I'll go for two: one is 'Sweet Rose of Sharon, Abide With Me'; the other is Country Boy Can Survive.
Who is your favourite composer? > Hmmm... Steve Earle, or Lyle Lovett, or Townes Van Zandt.
Can you name a major moral, political or intellectual issue on which you've ever changed your mind? > I used to have a dreadful attitude to women, but I've been cured of that. Also, I used to lie, cheat and step on people's feet, but now I'm saved.
What philosophical thesis do you think it most important to disseminate? > There'll always be a honky tonk with a jukebox in the corner.
What philosophical thesis do you think it most important to combat? > One is only poor only if you choose to be.
What is your favourite piece of political wisdom? > 'Let every state in this union seep deep down in your soul.'
If you could effect one major policy change in the governing of your country, what would it be? > There are people in this country who work hard every day... The fruits of their labor are worth more than their pay, and it's time a few of them were recognized.
If you could choose anyone, from any walk of life, to be President, who would you choose? > Emmylou Harris.
Do you think the world (human civilization) has already passed its best point, or is that yet to come? > Yesterday is dead and gone and tomorrow's out of sight.
What would be your most important piece of advice about life? > Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys.
Do you think you could ever be married to, or in a long-term relationship with, someone with radically different political views from your own? > You bet.
What do you consider the most important personal quality? > Lovin' care.
What personal fault do you most dislike? > A cheatin' heart.
In what circumstances would you be willing to lie? > For the sake of the song.
Do you have any prejudices you're willing to acknowledge? > Mary Chapin Carpenter; Kate and Anna McGarrigle.
What is your favourite proverb? > 'Life is like a mountain railway.'
What commonly enjoyed activities do you regard as a waste of time? > I don't wanna play house.
What, if anything, do you worry about? > My son calls another man Daddy (2 minutes 40 seconds in).
If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything you'd do differently? > If I may use this answer to send out a message to someone, what I'd like to say is: I love you and I miss you, I'm so sorry that I did you wrong.
What would you call your autobiography? > In the Country of Country.
Who would play you in the movie about your life? > Robert Duvall.
Where would you most like to live (other than where you do)? > Luckenback, Texas.
What would your ideal holiday be? > Rome, Georgia, Athens, Texas, and Paris, Tennessee.
What do you like doing in your spare time? > I love to dance, oh me, oh my.What is your most treasured possession? > My coat of many colors.
If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? > Sue.
What talent would you most like to have? > To be able to play harmonica like Mickey Raphael.
What would be your ideal choice of alternative profession or job? > Rodeo man.
Which English Premiership football team do you support? > Manchester United - obviously.
If you could have one (more or less realistic) wish come true, what would you wish for? > A fiddle in the band - always.
How, if at all, would you change your life were you suddenly to win or inherit an enormously large sum of money? > I'd get myself a luxury liner.
If you could have any three guests, past or present, to dinner who would they be? > Willie Nelson, George Jones and Merle Haggard.
What animal would you most like to be? > A horse, of course.
[The normblog profile is a weekly Friday morning feature. A list of all the profiles to date, and the links to them, can be found here.]