Tim McGraw’s latest album may be titledSundown Heaven Town, but fans are no doubt ready for sunrise on Tuesday, Sept. 16, when the collection hits stores.
Tim spends much of the album reflecting on the things that matter most in life—namely, not forgetting about family and friends while you’re trying to build a life. “For me, that’s what this album represents,” Tim tells Country Weekly in our current cover story, on stands now. “It represents, it’s OK. It’s OK to be in it, it’s OK to fight for it. And you should. You should go out and seize life, but at the same time let’s keep everything in perspective.”
As for that curious album title (pulled from a lyric in “Lookin’ for That Girl”), Tim explains that it’s up to the fans to decide what it means to them. “When you’re looking for an album title, it has to make you think of something,” Tim explains. “It has to make you instantly get an image of something. You don’t want people to get your image of what that is, you want people to get their own image of what that is. When I hear it, the first thing I think of is playing little league baseball. Growing up in a little town in Louisiana, a little league baseball park with the sun just going down at dusk, the smell of the concession stand. It’s a real Americana image that I get.”
While the image leaves us longing for the good ol’ days, there is still work to be done. And leading up to release day, Tim celebrated the finished product with an industry party held at Gray’s on Main Street in downtown Franklin, Tenn. While guests grazed on drinks and hors d’oeuvres, Tim worked the room like the pro he is, shaking hands and chatting with all in attendance. But it was when Tim took the stage to perform a few new songs, including “Shotgun Rider” and “Keep On Truckin’,” and his 2010 No. 1 hit, “Southern Voice,” that the atmosphere became electric. In the spotlight, Tim simply commands the stage.
To help bring the celebration for Sundown Heaven Towncoast to coast, Tim will be providing Southwest passengers with free WIFI on all evening flights to Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 16. Beginning today, fans can also enter here to win a VIP trip for two to meet Tim and see him perform at a private event in Los Angeles.