Crowell takes it back to Texas

Crowell will return to SiriusXM's Outlaw Country channel to host a special show devoted to his Texas heritage that will air multiple times during release week.

Featuring Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Ronnie Dunn, Billy F Gibbons, Randy Rogers, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack, Steve Earle and Ringo Starr, the disc contains 11 tracks.

"For the last few years, I'd been writing Texas-centric songs and revisiting some of my tunes from as far back as the mid-seventies," Crowell said. "Last year, I started referring to the collection of songs as the Texas album."

Crowell intended to work with Texas native Steve Earle along with fellow Houstonian and ZZ Top front man Billy F Gibbons for years.

"Interestingly it all started with Ringo Starr who, through a mutual friend, let me know he was keen to record a track," Crowell said. "Before I knew it, Lee Ann Womack, Ronnie Dunn, Willie Nelson, Randy Rogers, Lyle Lovett and Vince Gill had climbed on board. Ray Kennedy and I took hold of the production reins, enlisted a cast of bad ass musicians and voila, Texas was born. Man, was it a fun record to make."

Two steppers, hard-driving blues rockers and cowboy ballads are part of the mix.

"I have to admit, my heart almost stopped when I got this phone call from Rodney," said Rogers. "There are really not words to explain how honored I am. He is a true legend to all of us who dream of playing our songs for people who care."

"I love to work with people who are the best at what they do," shares Womack. "Singing with Rodney is like a master class from one of the greatest singer/songwriters of our time."

On Aug. 10, Crowell will be inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in Carthage, Texas.

The track listing is:
1. "Flatland Hillbillies" (featuring Lee Ann Womack & Randy Rogers)
2. "Caw Caw Blues" (featuring Vince Gill)
3. "56 Fury" (featuring Billy F Gibbons)
4. "Deep In the Heart of Uncertain Texas" (featuring Ronnie Dunn, Willie Nelson and Womack)
5. "You're Only Happy When You're Miserable" (featuring Ringo Starr)
6. "I'll Show Me"
7. "What You Gonna Do Now" (featuring Lyle Lovett)
8. "The Border"
9. "Treetop Slim & Billy Lowgrass"
10. "Brown & Root, Brown & Root" (featuring Steve Earle)
11. "Texas Drought Part 1"

Tour dates are:
May2 in St. Louis @ The Sheldon Concert Hall
May3 in Kansas City, MO @ Folly Theater
May4 in Salina, KS @ Steifel Theatre for the Performing Arts
May5 in Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theatre
May9 in Winston-Salem, NC @ The Barn at Reynolda Village
May10 in Richmond, VA @ The Tin Pan
May23 in Vienna, VA @ Wolftrap - Filene Center w/The Avett Brothers
May25 in Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head On Stage
May26 in New York, NY @ City Winery
May31/June 1 in Murfreesboro, TN @ Hop Springs - WMOT's 895 Fest
June 7 in Kerrville, TX @ Kerrville Folk Festival
July 18-19 in Minneapolis, MN @ Dakota Place
July 20 in Calumet, MI @ Calumet Theater
Aug. 2 in Santa Cruz, CA @ Rio Theatre
Aug. 3 in Crystal Bay, NV @ Crystal Bay Club Casino
Aug. 4 in Nicasio, CA @ Rancho Nicasio
Aug. 10 in Carthage, TX @ Carthage Civic Center
Aug. 13 in Baton Rouge, LA @ Manship Theatre
Aug. 15 in Houston, TX @ Heights Theater
Aug. 16 in Dallas, TX @ Kessler Theater
Aug. 17 in Coupland, TX @ Coupland Dance Hall
Aug. 23 in Lubbock, TX @ Cactus Theater
Aug. 24 in Amarillo, TX @ Hoot's Pub
Aug. 25 in Tulsa, OK@ Cain's Ballroom
Sept. 4 in Kenney, TX @ The Kenney Store
Sept. 6 in Waco, TX @ Backyard Bar Stage & Grill
Sept. 7 in New Braunfels, TX @ Gruene Hall
Sept. 19 in Franklin, TN @ Franklin Theatre
Sept. 20 in Asheville, NC @ Diana Wortham Theatre
Sept. 21 in Charlotte, NC @ McGlohon Theater
Nov. 6 in Saratoga, CA @ Carriage House Theater
Nov. 13 in Eugene, OR @ The Shedd Institute
Nov. 14 in Portland, OR @ Alberta Rose Theatre
Nov. 15 in Edmonds, OR @ Edmonds Center for the Arts