Country Stars Join Doobie Brothers Tribute Album

The Doobie Brothers are getting a taste of country music. Several of country music's biggest stars are offering their talents to an upcoming tribute album in honor of the legendary rock band.

Doobie Brothers band members Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons and Tom McFee made a surprise appearance at an industry event last month, during Nashville's annual Country Radio Seminar. They were joined by Brad Paisley, Sara Evans and Chris Young for a special performance at a Sony Music party.

The upcoming album, which will be released in 2014, will be handled by Sony Nashville label head, Gary Overton, who still remembers attending his first Doobie Brothers concert in 1972.

“Seeing the Doobie Brothers perform all those years ago was such a thrill for me,” he recalls. “I loved their sound, and the enduring appeal and influence of the Doobies runs deep. Artists have been telling me how excited they are to be a part of this project, and that alone speaks volumes about the amazing heritage of music that the Doobie Brothers have created.”

Paisley, Evans, Young, Jerrod Niemann, Love and Theft, Toby Keith and the Zac Brown Band will all perform with the Doobie Brothers for the project, with more artists expected to be announced in the future. In addition, Michael McDonald, who left the band in 1982 to focus on his solo career, will return to the group for the new album.