Moore visits Today in Tennessee

Moore will sing as part of a special show, "Kathie Lee and Hoda Go Back to College." The University of Tennessee is the winner of a contest to determine which school would be selected to host the popular morning show. After a Twitter campaign, six finalists were chosen, and it was a heated competition between Syracuse University, Ohio State University, Brandeis University, University of South Florida, Creighton University and the University of Tennessee. After receiving almost 150,000 votes, UT was named the winner.

"The energy level at a college is always heightened," Moore said. "You've got so much spirit among the student body. That gives us energy when we are playing, so we always look forward to playing on college campuses.

"The spirit of these big SEC schools is pretty amazing," he said of the Southeastern Conference. "I never got to be a part of that, so I am looking forward to it."

Moore recalled his own time in college with great fondness. "I definitely had a good time," he said. He played point guard for Wallace State's basketball team and also played on its golf team in Hanceville, Ala., for two years and then transferred to Valdolsta State University on a golf scholarship. While in college, he wrote songs daily and joined a band that performed throughout the South, providing him with all of his income. After graduating from Valdolsta State, he decided to pursue music full time and moved to Nashville in 2004.

This is Moore's second appearance on Today with Hoda Kotb and Gifford. "They made me feel really comfortable," he said of his earlier appearance in the New York studio. "They are good people, and it's always good to hang out with good people.

"I am honored that I am getting to do this. I have worked hard, and it's awesome to see these songs come to life and people get to hear them on a national scale. So many times I questioned if I was doing the right thing. The next thing you know, all of a sudden these songs you wrote in the dark and quiet, that you thought only you would hear, are getting to be heard by thousands and sometimes millions of people. It's a neat thing."

Moore's debut album, "Up All Night," is the best-selling country debut album of 2012. His current single, Beer Money, is in the Top 20 and rising. Somethin' 'Bout a Truck has sold 1.3 million units, and the video has received more than 10 million views online.

Moore has been touring extensively, performing his own shows and joining Eric Church's The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour throughout the fall.