Natalie Maines Solo Album Title, Release Date Revealed

Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines has completed her first solo album. The singer-songwriter tweeted the news earlier this month, writing, "Happy Natalie Maines Finished Her Album Day everybody!" The project, which is titled Mother, is expected out on May 7, 2013.

Earlier this year, the Texas native confirmed via the same social networking site that the new album is rock, rather than country. Several outlets are also reporting that Ben Harper is producing the project. The record will mark Natalie's first full length offering since the 2006 Dixie Chicks album, Taking the Long Way.

It's likely that Mother takes its name from the Pink Floyd tune, which the mother of two performed with Ben Harper at several of his tour dates over the summer. Natalie has already recorded the song for the West of Memphis: Voices of Justice soundtrack, which accompanies the documentary about the men convicted of what has become known as the West Memphis Three murders.

The new project doesn't mean that Natalie won't be performing with Dixie Chicks, though. It was just announced that the trio will replace Lady Antebellum in the lineup for the 2013 Craven Country Jamboree (Hillary Scott's pregnancy has caused Lady A to cancel). The festival takes place July 11-14 in Craven, Canada, with the Chicks headlining on July 13. Get more information here.