"If I wanna kick back and kill a little time, it ain't no crime," country music star Joe Nichols croons in his latest hit.

Wild West Festival-goers can expect nothing less than that kind of laid-back attitude during Nichols' concert at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

The 31-year-old released his first album in 2002 and has been racking up hits, most notably "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off," ever since. But there's one elusive notch in his belt he'd still like to attain -- an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry.

Before the show, Hays Daily News reporter Gayle Weber talked with Nichols.

HDN: Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

JN: My dad, obviously. He's a musician. He played a lot of smaller places, beer joints, VFW halls. But I grew up watching him sing, and I always was a big fan of his and Merle Haggard, Keith Whitley, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr.

HDN: Did you start out in some of those same bars that your dad played in?

JN: Yeah, but fortunately, I didn't have to go quite the route he did. He was pretty content doing what he did on weekends in a very small type place. I spent a lot of years in clubs, in bars playing, but I didn't have to do too many dives.

HDN: You do a little song writing. What's your inspiration?

JN: Sometimes, I think when you're in a terrible mood, you can write a very happy song, wishing the guy in the song was you. Sometimes, it's the exact opposite. You can write a very painful song from a great place. That's what writing does for me. It's when I'm inspired to write and what my emotions tell me I can talk about.

HDN: I know you include songs on your albums from other writers. What makes you choose a song that's written by someone else?

JN: More than anything, I think it's believability. I have to believe the song is intended for me or I can sing it with believability as if I wrote it. I believe that goes a long way with an audience. An audience can always tell whether a song is believable or not.

HDN: Describe what it was like to have "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" be such a hit. Did you expect that kind of success?

JN: (laughing) It's a great song. It's one of those songs that's kind of a no-brainer as far as just having fun with it. I think a song like that comes along and just takes off on its own. It works for everybody. You play a song at night, every night at the show -- it's huge. It's hot, and I love it. Everybody has fun with it.

HDN: Would you rather have success with a fun song like that or with a song like "The Impossible"?

JN: I think both. That's what I tried to do through my career so far. It's what I keep trying to do is find a nice balance between pain and joy. I think it's therapy to talk about both.

HDN: It looks like you're touring most of the summer. How do you pass the time on the road?

JN: We play a little golf. We did some baseball. We'll do a lot of stuff that makes it kind of fun during the day and get everybody kind of active. It's a long road, but I think it can be a constant vacation if you have the right mindset.

HDN: You released your first album in 2002. When did you know you "made it big" in country music?

JN: I don't know. I don't know that I've ever felt satisfied that I'd made it in country music. We've had a lot of success with Grammy stuff, No. 1s, platinum records. We've done a lot of things so far and lot to be grateful for, but as far as making it, I don't know. I think it's different for each person. For me, becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry would be making it. That would be huge.

HDN: I read that you're originally from Arkansas. Do you still keep roots there or make it back there very much?

JN: It's my home. I don't make it home very often, but it always feels good when I do. I'm very proud of where I come from. It's a great place to be from.

HDN: You're recently married. Does your wife get very involved in your career?

JN: She kind of lets me do my thing. She doesn't get too involved. She's got a great head on her shoulders. She just lets me do this career thing by myself.