Steven Tyler Goes Country With Upcoming Solo Album
Rocker Steven Tyler has a solo country album in the works. According to Taste of Country, he first discussed the plan during a Twitter chat in October of last year. He has since supposedly relocated to Nashville, where he is working with well-known country songwriters and is soon to sign with Big Machine.
“I’m going down to Nashville [in] January, February, March, April to write and see what we get. You know, doing an album is kind of like panning for gold. You get so much sand and dirt until you find a little nugget and you work on the nugget. I always go backwards, you know? ‘Living on the Edge,’ why? Or ‘Janie’s Got a Gun,’ why? Who’s Janie? And then it works. You fill in the blanks.”
He goes on to explain growing up listening to the Everly Brothers helped form his love for country.
“I grew up with the Everly Brothers. There’s a piece of me that just loves country so much. And I’m not sure what kind of country that is, but it’s got the fifth harmony, and anyone who knows who the Everly Brothers is — it’s those kinds of melodies that are just so, so good.”
Big Machine is the label behind some of country’s biggest names — Florida Georgia Line, Reba, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flats, and The Band Perry, to name a few. While reps for neither Big Machine nor Steven Tyler are talking, Billboard reports the partnership is expected to be solidified by summer. An album is likely to be released sometime in 2016, but possibly as early as November.
Big Machine’s president and CEO, Scott Borchetta, began his American Idol appearance on Wednesday March 11. He is serving as mentor to the artists throughout season. This year’s winner will be awarded a record deal with Big Machine Records. You may have spotted Steven Tyler in that episode, as he joined other stars from the label in sharing praise for Borchetta.
The new album won’t be Steven Tyler’s first appearance on the country scene. He paired with Carrie Underwood in 2011 for an ACM performance of “Walk This Way” and Underwood’s “Undo It.” A 2012 CMT Crossroads performance by the duo followed.
Country music isn’t the only new, exciting thing in Tyler’s life. He was blessed with his second grandson just last month. As the Inquisitr reported, his beautiful daughter, Liv, gave birth to Sailor Gene Gardener — who arrived six weeks early — on February 11. He is the first child with boyfriend Dave Gardner. Liv also has a 10-year-old son, Milo, with her ex-husband, Royston Langdon. Proud grandpa Steven Tyler was excited to tears and rushed to Liv’s side just in time to welcome his newest grandchild into the world.
“When I got the call that Liv was going into labor, after crying like a baby myself, I immediately dropped everything and went to to the airport to get on the next available flight. When I landed I kept calling my daughter MIA who was already helping Liv and she kept giving me minute by minute updates, ‘HURRY THE BABY IS COMING!’ I made it RIGHT in time before my second grandson entered this world. It was another (God wink) moment of a lifetime for me.”
The 66-year-old Aerosmith legend certainly appears to be in a happy place, both personally and professionally. Will he be accepted by country fans, and will his current fan base embrace his new style? Either way, it’s exciting times in Steven Tyler’s life, and it will be interesting to see this new chapter unfold.
[Image by Theo Wargo/Getty Images and Facebook]
