Mel Tillis

“The first time I remember singing was in the first grade. I sang 'Jesus Loves Me,' and the teacher said, 'Melvin, you did a good job, but you stutter.' And I said, 'Yes, ma'am, but I don't stutter when I sing.'”

“I was in the Air Force and I was a baker. I was a cook's helper and a baker.”

“My stuttering is a nervous condition, and it's something I've had to live with all my life. It comes and goes. When I'm relaxed, I don't stutter as much.”

“Comedy is a big part of my show. I've always loved to make people laugh.”

“I've written a lot of sad songs. I think it's just in my nature.”

“You gotta have a little fun. You only go around once.”

“I'm just an old country boy, and I'm proud of it.”

“The first song I wrote was called 'I'm Tired,' and it was a hit for Webb Pierce.”

“I'm just glad to be here. I'm glad to be anywhere.”

“They asked me, 'Mel, how do you do it? How do you sing without stuttering?' I said, 'The good Lord has his hand on my vocal cords when I sing.'”

“When you're stuttering, you're not thinking about what you're saying. You're thinking about how you're saying it.”

“I came to Nashville with a guitar and a stutter, and that's all I had.”