A really nice interview w/ John on the Ellen show. Time away from the press has been good for him! (2 years - which he says "rocked" him into adulthood.) "I'm glad I actually stayed out of the spotlight," he notes. "Back then I would've said, 'Let me get out and do Ellen and explain myself.' It was like, 'No, idiot. Go away – be 33 and 34 instead of 28 for the fourth year.' "

So I guess we won't be hearing anymore about, um...what it was like to "be" with Jessica Simpson or how he never got over Jen Aniston. (We like to pick on him for his dating life, but I really hope his throat get's better - he's a great musician and we want more beautiful songs, right? : )

Click Here for "Straight From The Studio" John's interview with iHeartRadio