from Dallas Morning News on dallasnews.com

If there were any doubt that country-Americana singer Lyle Lovett oozes class, all you had to do was watch him vocally caressing the national anthem at the World Series game on Oct. 31 in Arlington. Most singers at athletic events pack light; they bring big lungs and perhaps a team jersey. Lovett brought big lungs, a Texas Rangers jersey – and a cello player.

The 53-year-old Texas native returns to the area for a two-night gig with his Large Band this weekend at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.

Lovett has had a busy year with touring and numerous benefit appearances. On Monday's episode of ABC's Castle, he returns to acting, appearing as a stealthy government agent. He's also been occupied with his prized quarter horses; one of his stallions, Smart and Shiney, competed in the recent World Equestrian Games (the equine Olympics) and was on the team that won the bronze medal. Lovett also competes himself, nonprofessionally, in reining events.

He took time out recently to talk with us by phone from Ardmore, Okla., where he was attending a horse show.

How many horses do you have? [Laughing.] More than I can ride in a month. ... One of the things I enjoy about them is that I get to spend time in North Texas and Oklahoma.

When did you get involved in reining? In 1998, I was just looking for a nice, gentle horse to have at home, for my dad to ride around the place. We were always trying to make our retired running horses into riding horses, but they're not the kind of horses you can put just anybody on. ... I started looking for a different kind of horse, and one thing led to another. I love how good-minded these horses are.

Your fall Bass Hall shows have become a tradition – how'd that develop? I did a show for Ed Bass for the first time in 1989, at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth. There was a really terrible ice storm, but people slipped and slid their way around and across Interstate 30 for three nights, and it was just great. ... Ed's loyalty to me has been amazing; he helped me out in the beginning, and I so very much appreciate him. ... As for Bass Hall, there's not a better place anywhere in the world to play.

Your music is so eclectic, with elements of country, gospel, you name it. Is that intentional? Really, it's more about me just doing stuff that I like. It's not an intellectual pursuit for me – I've never consciously shot my career in the foot by being hard to market. But why do anything if you can't do it the way you want to?

What do you think about the state of music right now? There's a lot of talk about iPods and downloads and all, but technology

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