Josh Kelley Comes Home to Country Music

Singer/songwriter Josh Kelley is a Georgia native with plenty of Music City connections. And now he's in the studio working on a country project for Universal Music Group's Nashville label. Josh, the older brother of Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley, signed with UMG Nashville in September.

"Country is where I'm going to live out the rest of my career," Josh tells Entertainment Weekly. "This is the style and level of songwriting that I've always wanted. I'm coming home."

Josh, who lived in Nashville before marrying actress Katherine Heigl ('Grey's Anatomy'), says Charles "is the main person that convinced me [to go country]. And if Charles says something -- all 6'7" of him -- you really do listen."

The members of Lady A spoke to The Boot on the red carpet at the CMA Awards last week, with Charles saying of his brother's new musical direction: "I'm extremely supportive of it. I've written a couple of songs with him, and I heard the songs he's writing here in Nashville and they're awesome! Country music is all about great songs, and he has what it takes."

When asked if the trio might appear as guest vocalists on Josh's project, Lady A's Hillary Scott replied, "If he asks us, we'll do it!"

Josh Kelley's new album will be released some time in 2010.

Look for The Boot's exclusive interview with Josh Kelley next week!