Martina McBride Set To Release New Covers Album In March

Four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride will be releasing her brand new album, Everlasting, out March 4, 2014. Helmed by the longtime producer Don Was, McBride tackles some of the most revered hits in the annals of history in American music by some of the greatest performers of all time. According to the press release:

"The 14-time Grammy Nominee brings her extraordinary voice and impeccable music styling to songs with tremendously established prestige, as the majority of the original versions of her chosen tracks were top ten hits in their own time, and many charted at number one. Who better to take on such a daunting challenge than a seasoned chart veteran with 20 top ten hits and six number one smashes of her own? Perfect-pitched McBride stands poised to deepen the lore of these legendary songs."

The album promises an eclectic range of songs — from Elvis to The Supremes to Van Morrison, spanning from 1955 to 2010. Best known for her country successes, she flexes her R&B and soul muscles too with favorites that include a sublime “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” made famous by Aretha Franklin, a heart-wrenching “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and the Jimmy Ruffin hit “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted.”

“Martina is a singer’s singer. She brings a richness, soul and vulnerability to these songs that no one else could,” says Was. “It’s also testimony to both Martina’s vocal prowess and her strong vision as an artist that she is able to step into these well-worn, classic songs and completely make them her own…she has an approach and a point-of-view that are unmistakable.”

“These songs have beautiful melodies and emotional lyrics, which is basically all you can ask for as a singer. While this is a bit of a departure for me song-wise, stylistically I approached these songs the way I always have which is singing with as much soul and emotion as I possibly can,” adds McBride. “I think my fans will love this record because they are some of the best songs of all time done in a very classic style. I’m so excited for them to hear it and to take this record, complete with a horn section, on the road in the spring.”

The album was recorded in Nashville at Blackbird and will be released on her own label through Kobalt label services, Everlasting also features a collaboration with Gavin DeGraw on “Bring It On Home To Me,” originally performed by Sam Cooke.

Hear Martina’s “If You Don’t Know Me By Now:”