Ted Cruz: 9/11 converted me to country music

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) says he had an epiphany after the September 11 terror attacks that shifted his musical tastes from classic rock to country.

"My music taste changed on 9/11," Cruz said Tuesday in an interview with CBS, adding that he "didn't like how rock music responded."

"Country music collectively, the way they responded, it resonated with me," he went on. "I had an emotional reaction that said, 'These are my people.'"

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Cruz on Monday became the first major candidate to officially enter the 2016 race. So given his hawkish tendencies and avowed affinity for country singers, perhaps this will serve doubly as his foreign policy platform and campaign theme song. —Jon Terbush