Country fans, this isn’t an April Fools’ Day joke: Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has confirmed that he will be releasing a country album.
Tyler made a surprise appearance at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night (March 31), during a show that was already featuring the legendary Charlie Daniels, as well as newer artists Aaron Watson and Eric Paslay. During Paslay’s two-song acoustic set, Tyler walked out wearing a floor-length white coat, ready to deliver the news.
The record announcement is not entirely surprising, as Tyler shared a photo on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon with the caption “GROWIN SOME NEW SONGS WITH @lindseyleemusic AND @ericpaslay.”
Plus, Tyler has been open about his love for country music.
“I grew up in the woods of New Hampshire … I have more country in me than people think,” he told Rolling Stone last year. “Aerosmith always crossed the line, whether it was with “Dream On” or “Train Kept a Rollin’” or even “Walk This Way” with Run DMC. And we sang with Carrie Underwood on our last album.”
In mid-March, Billboard reported that Tyler had relocated to Nashville in January and was signing a record deal with Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Label Group and co-writing with Jaren Johnston of the Cadillac Three and Brett James.
Both Big Machine and Tyler have yet to comment on the reports, but in a recent interview, the rocker dished a little on his plans.
“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,” Tyler says. “I grew up with the Everly Brothers, so I mean, even “Cryin”‘s got a little [twang] … 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 … It’s those kind of melodies that are just so, so good.”
The rocker is certainly no stranger to the genre. In 2006, he collaborated with Keith Anderson on “Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll,” and more recently, he joined Keith Urban on stage at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville. Jana Kramer was delighted that Tyler added his vocals to her upcoming new album, and Tyler rocked out with Brad Paisley on the 2014 CMA Country Christmas stage.
