Matthew McConaughey was inspired by rocker John Mellencamp to become "the man I wanted to be".

The actor revealed that the Grammy Award-winning singer's music helped him to find the values he holds close to his heart.

Matthew is trying to be a good influence on youngsters himself and has been supporting the GIVE Education School the Nation campaign to help teenagers stay on the right track.

"One mentor to me was somebody I didn't know then but know now: the music of John Mellencamp," McConaughey told ET Online. "He really defined my definitions of patriotism and a lot of the man that I wanted to be and how I saw race relations and things like that."

Matthew added that since he has become a father, he is more passionate than ever about helping future generations.

He said that teaching four-year-old son Levi and daughter Vida, two, about morals has motivated him to do more charity work.

"I get more excited about this when I'm with my kids," he said. "Like today, leaving to come here and telling my kids...'Well, it's really not work, but here's what I'm doing,' and telling them about it. To see them talk about gratitude, I get very thankful and incentivised to come [here]."