Garth Brooks Postpones New Album to ‘Explore the Writing Again’

Since Garth Brooks' released his latest studio album, 2014's Man Against Machine, fans have been eager to hear its followup. Previously, the country superstar had said that a second new record would follow in late 2015 or early 2016; however, in a note to fans on his Facebook page, Brooks reveals that he will be delaying the project.

"When it comes to the new music, the one thing I keep hearing over and over is, 'Where is the Garth stuff?'" Brooks writes. "I made the statement that when we came back on the road and into the studio, I was not confident in my own writing … it is a muscle, and if you don’t use it, you just can’t turn it back on again … it takes time … but I DID hear you.

"And because of that, teamed with the touring schedule, I am asking a huge favor from you: I am postponing the release of the new studio record … I ask for your patience as I explore the writing again," the artist continues. "I have been at it for over four months now, enjoying the challenge and enjoying the studio more because of it. This new album will be the most Garth thing I have ever done … whether that is a good thing or a bad thing, you will decide."

According to Brooks' note, this delay won't be too long, though: Near the end of his message, he says that his new disc "should be [out] sometime this summer." In the meantime, however, he wants to use social media to "invite you in on the process … see how we make records and see what goes on behind the scenes of the making of a record, from the production of the music, the manufacturing of the package, to the release of the record."

In September, Brooks revealed that he had lost six months’ worth of songs he was working on for an upcoming new album — all thanks to a broken cell phone -- but it is unclear how that lost work plays into this delay. Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood are also rumored to be working on a Christmas album as well.

In addition to working on his new music, Brooks is continuing on his World Tour, with Yearwood as his special guest. Upcoming stops include Raleigh, N.C.; Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Louisville, Ky.; Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Fargo, N.D.; and Las Vegas, Nev.

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