Three albums and countless live shows later, it's obvious he loves it now more than ever. Little wonder, then, that he's among the New Artist of the Year nominees at this Sunday's ACM Awards.

And in a genre where influences now creep in from hip-hop, pop and even EDM (electronic dance music), Moore is flying the flag for traditional country - the kind where the music isn't afraid of a steel guitar and more than a hint of twang.

"Country music is more diverse now than I've ever seen it in my lifetime," Moore told Radio.com. "It's always been cyclical. But it's not gone to the extents that it has now. That said, it's not my thing, but it's all been good for our genre. It's brought new fans into the format."

And, he said, "it's always important to me that there are at least a few of us out there waving the flag for traditional country music, because it's what made it the best genre of music out there. The more we include the other stuff, the less we have of the traditional stuff, so it's important for some of us out there to keep that voice heard, too."

But just because Moore has a love of traditional country sounds of artists like George Jones, Vern Gosdin and Willie Nelson doesn't mean that's all he listens to - or plays.

"I grew up listening to traditional stuff, but I always loved Southern rock as well. So I think my first album represents those two [sides] pretty well," he said. He references Charlie Daniels, Travis Tritt and Montgomery Gentry as examples of artists he admires who have successfully walked that line between rock and country.