Chris Young‘s new album, The Man I Want to Be, is in stores on Tuesday, September 1st, and while he may be understandably excited or a little nervous about the release of his second album, Chris says it’s really more about wanting people to hear these songs. He tells us, “I can’t wait for people to have my music again and be able to listen to this record and really be with something that I think…you know, I’m a little biased ’cause it’s my record,” he laughs, “but I really think this record is fantastic.” (AUDIO INFO BELOW)

• The new album features a duet with Willie Nelson on “Rose in Paradise,” a song that once topped the charts for Waylon Jennings. Chris has talked about what a thrill it was to sing with Willie, and he says that his favorite thing about the new album is how much it reflects who he is as an artist and the kind of musical heroes who influenced him. (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
• And for more about Chris’ experience recording with Willie, check out our recent story here: http://prep.hearsomethingcountry.com/2009/08/13/chris-young-a-case-of-the-willies/.

  Chris Young says he can’t wait for people to hear his new album. (:27)
“It’s definitely more excited than it is, like, nervous energy. You know, you’re always a little nervous as an artist ’cause you want to sell, you know, a hundred thousand copies every week that it’s out. For me, it’s not even that. I just, I can’t wait for people to have my music again and be able to listen to this record and really be with something that I think…you know, I’m a little biased ’cause it’s my record (laughs), but I really think this record is fantastic, and I can’t wait for people to be able to own it and have their very own copy.” 

  Chris Young’s favorite part of his new album is the way that it reflects who he is, and the influences of those artists who shaped his love for country music. (:31)
“My favorite thing that I’ve said about this record as a whole is that it really shows who I am, and it also shows that, you know, where my influences came from. It shows that I listen to Keith Whitley and Randy Travis and Vern Gosdin and Marty Robbins and all those people, and when you take ’em and, you know, if you put one of my songs up next to any of theirs in their era, probably not gonna sound anything alike, but you’ll still catch that connection in my vocals and in my songwriting and kind of where that came from.”