The love story of Marty Stuart and Connie Smith, who will celebrate 13 years of marriage this month, began with a fairytale meeting, when Marty was an awestruck 11-year-old attending Connie's concert in his hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi, with his mother. Later that evening, Marty told his mom, "I'm going to marry Connie Smith one day." That day happened in 1997.

The Boot caught up with Marty and Connie in Nashville recently and asked the pair what words of inspiration they might offer newly-engaged couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert to ensure a happy, successful union.

"Make the Lord the center ... and commit," says Connie.

"Oh, I agree with that 100 percent," Marty adds. "You have to get up every day and go to work on it. When we get upside down every now and then, we always say: 'You want to go again?!'"

Connie says communication is the main ingredient that keeps a relationship on track. "Like Marty says, you have to work at it."

"Turn the TV off," Marty interjects. "Turn the gadgets off and the conversation comes back."

And given that Blake and Miranda are both seeing their fame rise higher than ever these days, Marty has one very simple bit of advice: "Leave the star sh-- at the gate!"

By Pat Gallagher