Charlie Daniels gets a little help from friends Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Parton

Daniels said he was recording another disc when a friend suggested the idea, leading to the initial album being put on hold.

A version of Ray Charles' "What'd I Say" with Travis Tritt, Johnny Cash's "Jackson" with Gretchen, "Long Haired Country Boy" with Brooks & Dunn and Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed Delivered (I'm Yours)" with Bonnie Bramlett are on the release.

Daniels co-wrote one original, "Evangeline," with Hal Ketchum. Daniels recorded the song with the Del McCoury Band.

Daniels also laid down an instrumental track with Paisley and the late Stevie Ray Vaughn's Double Trouble rhythm section (Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon).

The duets project will follow Daniels' recently released CD/DVD "Live in Iraq," recorded during his visits to perform for U.S. troops overseas. He also edited the new book "Growing Up Country," which features essays by Southern musicians, politicians and athletes. He plans to finish the band album as well, probably for release in 2008.