Visit Sunny Sweeney's website, and you'll see that she wrote her own biography, something most artists hire an outside journalist to compose. Instead of writing the typical bio -- listing her musical influences, career accomplishments and how hard she worked to get where she is -- Sunny simply tells fans random facts about herself ... a lot of random facts. Some of our favorite excerpts: "I know pretty much all the commercials on TV and I sing along." / "I collect pigs. I have over 2000 pig things." / "I love prank calling people. Yes, still." / "I love the smell of cigarette smoke and gasoline because it reminds me of my grandpa." / "I paint my dogs' toenails. I brush their teeth too."

Simply put, this East Texas native is an open book, and that translates to her music. With the release today (August 23) of her sophomore album, 'Concrete,' fans get a hearty helping of Sunny's down-home personality, along with some real-life stories of personal and professional speed bumps the 30-something beauty has faced along the way.

The Boot sat down with Sunny in a Nashville studio to talk about the new music, her new boyfriend and her newfound (and long overdue) popularity on country radio. Plus, we laugh about a Twitter debate of which she's happy to be the subject, along with the possible subject of a future song: a drunken woman she encountered on an airplane the day before our interview.

Your current single, 'Stayin's Worse Than Leavin',' was inspired by your divorce. Were you hesitant to put it on this album, knowing you'd have to talk about the split in interviews like these?

I'm fairly open about everything, which may or may not be beneficial to me but it's who I am. I've always liked talking about stuff, because it's therapeutic. I had a show the night I filed for divorce and I remember thinking, "Oh God, tonight's gonna be tough." But once I started singing that song, I was like, "It's not a negative song, it's a positive song." It's about knowing your relationship is done, but also knowing you are coming out on the other side. I am in a better place than I've ever been -- emotionally, personally and professionally. I'll talk about it 'til the cows come home.

'From a Table Away' was your first Top 10 single. That had to be such a sweet victory after the struggle to get radio airplay with your first CD.

It definitely took forever ... I think we were on the charts for like 40 weeks with that song. Having radio behind you is the best feeling. Forming relationships with programmers and deejays, it absolutely makes you feel like you are accomplishing things. When you go and play the shows and meet the people who work at the stations, it makes them feel like they are part of your career. They are the reason the fans know the music. It's a cool friendship. I didn't know what to expect when I went into this thing. Now, I go to a town I've never been to and people know my song ... Thank you, radio!

'From a Table Away' and 'Amy' are both written from the point of view of the 'other woman.' Country music very rarely humanizes the mistress or the cheater. Any fear that some scorned women will be turned off?

That's a good way to put it. With 'From a Table Away,' I saw a situation happen at a table away from me at Logan's [restaurant] in Nashville. I'm trying not to eavesdrop, but I was totally eavesdropping! It was dramatic; it was crazy song material.

Then, my friend Brennen Leigh and I sat down and wrote 'Amy.' What a cool idea to write a song from the [mistress'] perspective, but make it first person. First of all, the dude is telling you one thing, but both women are being told something different. Brennen and I were talking about how that happens a lot. People come up to me after shows crying, saying they've been through this. It's amazing to me the amount of people that happens to. If someone else can relate to it, I'm all about it.

Watch Sunny Sing 'From a Table Away' Live
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A notorious Twitter account that pokes fun of country stars (twitter.com/NotJakeOwen) had a great tweet actually defending you the other day: "So, country radio will take a rap song to #1 but is reluctant to play Sunny Sweeney? Got it. #thenewnormal." Did you see that?

I took that as a compliment! I'm a follower of NotJakeOwen, and I know who it is, by the way. I'm flattered ... If they rag on you, you're on their radar. You have to take it as a compliment. They have ragged on me twice. The first was right before my new single came out. It said, "Since Sunny Sweeney has nothing going on, she can stand in line and get me my iPad." I wrote back and said, "Yeah, I'll stand in line and get your iPad, and then I'll go to Walgreens and get you your d-----bag." You have to take it with a grain of salt. I'm the most self-deprecating human being on the planet. I don't care about making fun of myself. I think it's funny!

'Drink Myself Single' is a good old fashioned drinking song. Why do you think most other female singers stray from those?

I started playing bars in Austin and then all over Texas, then we moved to Louisiana and Oklahoma and New Mexico, then Arkansas and Alabama. That was the kind of music I was raised on ... straight-up country and honky tonk music. That song is the epitome of that. A lot of people say that girls aren't supposed to drink or party, but I'm like, what? It's a girls' anthem, but guys love it too. Fans go crazy over that song. Even when I say the song title, people freak out.

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Amazon
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What's the significance of the album's title, 'Concrete'?

I don't really like self-titled records, because it's not very original. Using one of the songs as the title track is a little iffy, because it doesn't really encompass the whole record. I wanted one word, tough and solid. My opinions on music are concrete, the lyrics are heavy like concrete and the melodies are solid like concrete.

Has speaking your mind ever gotten you in trouble?

I was raised to speak my mind. I don't hold back. If I feel something, I say it. So, if I say that your shirt is ugly and you wear that shirt again, I think, "Oh, that's the ugly shirt." I wouldn't ever tell you I love your shirt if I don't love your shirt. Just because that's me, it's easier for me to verbalize that. I don't do it to be mean. It transpires into writing. I don't sit there and go, "If I say that line, someone is going to think something bad." I just turn in the song. If it's a real song, people will relate. You can't deny the reactions.

But, I did exercise my filter Monday on the airplane. There was a drunk, middle-aged woman hitting on a married man next to her. It was six in the morning and she was drinking Bloody Marys. [I wanted to say], "I've got some Southwest [drink] coupons and I need song ideas ... here ya go! You're fixin' to give me a good song idea!"

Looking at promotional images of you from your last album and this one, it seems you've found the perfect balance between sexy blond bombshell and sweet girl-next-door. But I'm guessing image isn't something you really think too much about?

I don't look at my picture and go, "That's the most disgusting thing I've ever seen." But as a woman, no matter how good a picture is, you find something to pick apart. You want to be appealing to people, but I don't focus on that. I wouldn't even have my picture on the cover if I didn't have to. It's not about how you look, it's about the music. But I know it's an important aspect and I do my best to be appealing to people so they aren't grossed out. [laughs]

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Republic Nashville
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You recently moved to Austin, Texas. Was there any industry resistance to your leaving Nashville?

Not really. My manager was the coolest. He was like,"You need any help?" He knew when I was home, I was home two days. I want to be at home when I'm home for two days. I love Nashville, it's amazing ... but it was never home. When I land in Austin, even just for a day, I breathe easier. I do love Texas.

And Texas is where your new beau, who is a police officer, lives. What's the biggest advantage to dating someone who's not in the music business?

Every benefit you can possibly imagine. I think we've all dated or had friends who had those relationships [where they] butt heads. It just doesn't work. Honestly, this is the first [guy I've dated] who doesn't know about the music industry. He's a music fan. He loves my music; he's been a fan of mine for seven years. He used to come to my shows. The only connection he has to the music business is he's proud of me. It's a very cool feeling.

You pride yourself as a country music historian, so have you been teaching your boyfriend about the genre and introducing him to all of your old favorites?

He's major into 80's rock music. I find it ... horrible. Well, it's not horrible but it's Boston and stuff like that. One day we were talking about that and he said, "I'll make you a CD of songs I want you to learn about if you make a CD of songs you want me to learn about." We both had one CD. I put Dixie Chicks, Darrell Scott, Radney Foster, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard ... just a random mix tape. He put all these rock songs. But now, I'll catch him singing Dixie Chicks or catch him singing along to a Radney Foster song ... It worked!

You're on Brad Paisley's tour right now. Have you been the victim of one of his crazy pranks yet?

Not yet. I've been told it will happen. Me and my band have our retaliation planned, so I welcome Mr. Paisley to come and attack us.

What have you learned from watching Brad?

He connects with his fans like no other. Mostly it's the morale of his crew. He has like 15 trucks and 10 or 12 buses of people who work for him. The morale of his entire crew, from catering to bus drivers, is amazing. His catering manager came up to me the other day and said, "Is everything good? Did you want anything specific?" I would eat a garbage bag at this level. I thank him for even letting me eat food! They are so awesome. I think because he connects with his crew like that, it shines in everything he does and his fans see that. It's so cool to watch.

How have you grown professionally since your first album?

Like crazy. The first record I made, I went into the studio in September of '05, and my first show was in September of '04. I had only played live for a year. I hadn't really found my voice or learned to play guitar or learned to write songs. I was winging it. This record, I went in with a mission. I was hell-bent on getting the songs that I knew would go together thematically, whether being the one emotionally abused in a relationship or the abuser, the victim or the strong person. This album absolutely encompasses the way I've grown. Musically, songwriting, everything. I'm beside myself happy with it. I'm so proud.

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