--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Steve Earle had a mainstream career…" description: "\"Steve Earle had a mainstream career. Dwight Yoakam had a mainstream career. Willie Nelson did. But they always made good music, they always stuck to wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/aubrie-sellers-14658_career_steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwig_3002475.jpg" --- # Steve Earle had a mainstream career. Dwight Yoakam had a… ![“Steve Earle had a mainstream career. Dwight Yoakam had a mainstream career. Willie Nelson did. But they always made good music, they always stuck to who they were. They weren't relying on radio like a lot of people are in Nashville.” quote by Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/aubrie-sellers-14658_career_steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwig_3002475.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/aubrie-sellers-14658_career_steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwig_3002475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/aubrie-sellers-14658_career_steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwig_3002475.jpg) > “Steve Earle had a mainstream career. Dwight Yoakam had a mainstream career. Willie Nelson did. But they always made good music, they always stuck to who they were. They weren't relying on radio like a lot of people are in Nashville.” [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists who stay true to themselves create lasting, authentic music despite commercial pressures. **In simple terms:** Authenticity beats trends. Key Takeaway Stay true to your artistic voice. Themes authenticity music career integrity industry Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - live performance - career decisions - industry negotiations Key Concepts artist identity creative integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance art and market? - What defines authenticity for you? A Different Perspective Commercial success may still require compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I was born in Nashville, but my whole family is from East Texas, so I consider myself a dual citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/i-was-born-in-nashville-but-my-whole-family-is-from-east-texas-so-i/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [When I was really little, I listened to Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrel, Crystal Gayle, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, and Patsy Cline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bell-bundy/when-i-was-really-little-i-listened-to-dolly-parton-loretta-lynn/) [Laura Bell Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bell-bundy/) > [Long before Wesley Snipes decided he didn't need to pay the IRS, Willie Nelson was dodging the tax men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-amos/long-before-wesley-snipes-decided-he-didn-t-need-to-pay-the-irs/) [Shawn Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-amos/) > [You never hear a country-western station saying 'We have old school artist Willie Nelson in the house.' They say 'We have the legendary Willie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/you-never-hear-a-country-western-station-saying-we-have-old-school/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [What is that song that Willie Nelson sang? 'Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few.' I think of that. No big deal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/what-is-that-song-that-willie-nelson-sang-oh-the-days-dwindle-down-to/) [Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/) > [You'd hear Willie Nelson, then Earth, Wind & Fire, then Chicago, then Billy Joel on the same radio station. Nowadays, everything is compartmentalized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/you-d-hear-willie-nelson-then-earth-wind-fire-then-chicago-then-billy/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [Willie Nelson is a true champion. He pushed me to the limit where I had to figure out what punches to throw. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrius-andrade/willie-nelson-is-a-true-champion-he-pushed-me-to-the-limit-where-i/) [Demetrius Andrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrius-andrade/) > [“And when I die, put it on my stone. God said, Sucker get your bad ass home. I wasn't Superman. I wasn't Superman”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/and-when-i-die-put-it-on-my-stone-god-said-sucker-get-your-bad-ass/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [If Detroit was a watershed concert for me, traveling with Willie Nelson through Texas and Louisiana was a milestone of a different sort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-pride/if-detroit-was-a-watershed-concert-for-me-traveling-with-willie/) [Charley Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-pride/) > [Willie Nelson is the perfect person, it seems to me, to think about. Because something tells me that he operates on his own frequency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/willie-nelson-is-the-perfect-person-it-seems-to-me-to-think-about/) [Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/) > [I looked at Willie Nelson and Farm Aid as a role model; they do it every year, and it draws people together, and drawing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-looked-at-willie-nelson-and-farm-aid-as-a-role-model-they-do-it/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [I've been a fan of old country music, like Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline. I think I'm drawn to it because of the sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ve-been-a-fan-of-old-country-music-like-willie-nelson-patsy-cline-i/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [Somehow you can tell the difference when a song is written just to get on the radio and when what someone does is their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/somehow-you-can-tell-the-difference-when-a-song-is-written-just-to/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [I love Willie Nelson's 'Phases And Stages'; there's so many songs from The Band and Bob Dylan that have gotten me through hard times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-price/i-love-willie-nelson-s-phases-and-stages-there-s-so-many-songs-from/) [Margo Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-price/) > [Wandering around back stage at a willie Nelson concert is a bit like being the parrot on the shoulder of the guy who's running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinky-friedman/wandering-around-back-stage-at-a-willie-nelson-concert-is-a-bit-like/) [Kinky Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinky-friedman/) ## More by Aubrie Sellers > [Listening to 'Raising Sand' was one of those turning points in my life that really made something click in my brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/listening-to-raising-sand-was-one-of-those-turning-points-in-my-life/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [It's very important to me that every person takes away their own meaning from a song, and it's why I don't always love spelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-every-person-takes-away-their-own/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [Playing at the Opry, for me, it has such a history. It feels sort of like a coming-out party as a country artist. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/playing-at-the-opry-for-me-it-has-such-a-history-it-feels-sort-of/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > ['Sit Here and Cry' was one of the first songs I wrote with that overdramatic sarcastic dry sense of humor, which is why the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/sit-here-and-cry-was-one-of-the-first-songs-i-wrote-with-that/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [To be honest, when you grow up in the music business, people heard me sing from a young age, and you get offered development…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/to-be-honest-when-you-grow-up-in-the-music-business-people-heard-me/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [I always knew I was going to do something with music, but with my whole family being in the business, acting was something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/i-always-knew-i-was-going-to-do-something-with-music-but-with-my/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [When I'm writing, I'm focusing more on just the basic melody and the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/when-i-m-writing-i-m-focusing-more-on-just-the-basic-melody-and-the/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [I grew up in the entertainment industry, and I think being around that gave me a different perspective on people and what's real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/i-grew-up-in-the-entertainment-industry-and-i-think-being-around-that/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [When I was thinking of video ideas for this song, I wanted it to reflect the energy of the music and express the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/when-i-was-thinking-of-video-ideas-for-this-song-i-wanted-it-to/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [I was born in Nashville, but my whole family is from East Texas, so I consider myself a dual citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/i-was-born-in-nashville-but-my-whole-family-is-from-east-texas-so-i/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [I think my music is a little shocking to some people because my voice is very traditional-sounding, and my music is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/i-think-my-music-is-a-little-shocking-to-some-people-because-my-voice/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [My record's all electric, and that's why I call it 'garage country.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/my-record-s-all-electric-and-that-s-why-i-call-it-garage-country/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [I prefer to create friction. Because if you're not pushing buttons, you're just making something pleasant; it's probably been done before, and it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/i-prefer-to-create-friction-because-if-you-re-not-pushing-buttons-you/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [My voice is very country, and my songwriting is very country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/my-voice-is-very-country-and-my-songwriting-is-very-country/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [One great thing about my mom, about the business, is that she has a really great head on her shoulders about everything and always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/one-great-thing-about-my-mom-about-the-business-is-that-she-has-a/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) [Explore all 45 Aubrie Sellers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Steve Earle had a mainstream career. Dwight Yoakam had a mainstream career. Willie Nelson did. But they always made good music, they always stuck to who they were. They weren't relying on radio like a lot of people are in Nashville.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aubrie Sellers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwight-yoakam-had-a-mainstream/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwight-yoakam-had-a-mainstream/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/aubrie-sellers-14658_career_steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwig_3002475.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/aubrie-sellers-14658_career_steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwig_3002475.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/aubrie-sellers-14658_career_steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwig_3002475.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Steve Earle had a mainstream career. Dwight Yoakam had a mainstream career. Willie Nelson did. But they…” — Aubrie Sellers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aubrie Sellers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Steve Earle had a mainstream career....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwight-yoakam-had-a-mainstream/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/steve-earle-had-a-mainstream-career-dwight-yoakam-had-a-mainstream/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```