Lee Ann Womack Comes Back Strong

As the Sept. 23 release for The Way I’m Livin’ draws close, Lee Ann Womack is cutting a wide path through American music. With CMT: Country Music Television’s “Crossroads,” featuring a collaboration with John Legend, airing on Sept. 26 and her upcoming International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA) co-hosting duties October 2 in Raleigh, it’s looking like a busy fall.

“When I said I was ready to get back to work,” laughs the Grammy-winning progressive traditionalist, “I knew they were going to throw it at me, but this has been a whole lot more than I could’ve dreamed. It’s kind of exciting to see how far I can take this music – or rather the songs of the writer/artists I cut.”

That album, The Way I’m Livin’ – marks the end of a seven year silence from the CMA Female Vocalist who’s also won their coveted Album of the Year for There’s More Where That Came From, as well as a pair of CMA Vocal Event and Single of the Year Awards. Produced by Frank Liddell (Miranda Lambert, David Nail), The Way I’m Livin’ features the songs of Chris Knight, Mindy Smith, Julie Miller, Mando Saenz, Hayes Carll, Neil Young, Bruce Robison and one cagey cover lifted from Roger Miller.
“I wanted songs that talked about how life really is, the raw spots, the tough places, the meltdowns and messy parts,” laughs the always sunny Texan. “Hard, sad, rough… all the stuff people pretend doesn’t exist! Because once you embrace that, you can figure out what to do; or not do!”

“The Way I’m Livin’,” currently at radio, was written by Grammy Country Song of the Year nominee Adam Wright (“So You Don’t Have To Love Me Any More.”) A scalding psychic meltdown of a lost soul, banging on the rocks and not sure they want any better is fuel for a provocative Roger Pistole-directed video that will arrive in the next few weeks.
“We’re picking up speed, and that makes me happy,” says Womack. “I’ve waited a long time to get this music out – and I love how people are responding.”