McKenna enjoys "Happy Children"

McKenna said, "Happy Children: I heard someone say this once, 'I wish you happy children.' Feels like the greatest wish of all time. This song was happily written with my son Chris McKenna. It went through a couple different variations until Dave Cobb brought it so beautifully to life in the studio with the band. If my heart could say just one thing, this song is what it would say."

"Happy Children" is the latest song unveiled from McKenna's upcoming album, "1988," which will be released July 21 via CN Records/Thirty Tigers. McKenna has released two other songs: "The Town in Your Heart" and "Killing Me" featuring McKenna's longtime collaborator, Hillary Lindsey."

Produced by GRAMMY Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell) and recorded at Cobb's studio in Savannah, Ga., "1988" is named for the year McKenna married her husband, Gene, and serves as a love letter to her family and lifelong friendships.

"I was trying to let my age and experience guide me through making a record I wished I'd made when I was younger. I really wanted it to sound like if I made a rock record in the '90s, and then I remembered that I made my first album in 1998. There's something so 30 years ago in my head about this record. In a way I wish I could start again and know what I know now."

McKenna will embark on her "The Town in Your Heart Tour" next month including headline shows at Philadelphia's World Café Live, New York's City Winery, Nashville's CMA Theater, Atlanta's City Winery, Ann Arbor, Mich.'s The Ark and Evanston, Ill.'s Space among many others.