Don Henley Introduces ‘Cass County’ [Video]

Don Henley is the latest rock star going country and he previewed his new album, Cass County, during CMA Fest in Nashville over the weekend. The album, Henley’s first solo record in 15 years, features a lineup of all-star guests. Some of the country stars who aided Henley on Cass County include Merle Haggard, Mick Jagger, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Ashley Monroe, Dolly Parton, Lucinda Williams and Trisha Yearwood.

"I chose people that I respect musically. People whose work I respect, whose voices I like, who are all great, authentic singers who can really sing when called upon to sing,” he explained. “Some of them are friends of mine and some of them I had never met before. I was flattered and flabbergasted when all of them said, 'Yeah.'"

While Henley doesn’t like putting a genre label to his album, there’s no mistaking it leans toward country. "I'm associated with California a lot because of that other band that I play in, but I really and truly was born and raised in Cass County, Texas. I'm a Southerner and a Texan," he said. "I have ancestors in Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia. So this is a natural progression for me. It's not me trying to do the 'Don Henley country album.' It's who I am and where I come from."

So far, Cass County doesn't have a release date. But you should know that Henley said he also plans to tour behind the album at some point in the future.

The Eagles were no stranger to the country charts in their long career, as 'Lyin' Eyes' peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Country charts in 1975. Henley also previously recorded two country singles with Trisha Yearwood, 'Inside Out' and 'Walkaway Joe'. The latter single hit number two on the Country charts in 1993.