Susan Ashton, ‘Love Is Alive’ Is Singer’s Long-Awaited Country Comeback (LISTEN)

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Susan Ashton, who hit the country charts in 1999 with "You're Lucky I Love You" and came to the attention of countless fans via an opening slot on a 1994 European tour with Garth Brooks, has returned to country radio after a lengthy absence with "Love Is Alive." (Listen below.)

A track from the Texas native's new EP Thief, and the only tune on the six-song collection the singer didn't have a hand in writing, "Love is Alive" is a remake of song penned by Gary Wright, who reached No. 2 with it in 1976. "I've always wanted to do a cover and [producer] Wayne [Kirkpatrick] had a really cool idea on how to rework the production," says Susan. "So, there's a whacked-out banjo part and acoustic guitar with a funky, swampy sound. I'm really excited how this one turned out. It's really fun."

Listen to Susan Ashton's Love Is Alive

A longtime staple of contemporary Christian music, Susan scored the biggest-selling debut album in the history of Sparrow/EMI Records, with 1991's Wakened by the Wind. She went on to win a string of Dove awards, Christian music's top honor, in addition to scoring Grammy nods and chart-topping singles. Her 1996 album, A Distant Call, featured two songs co-written by Sheryl Crow and one of that album's tracks, "You Move Me" was later covered by Garth on his album, Sevens.

After a second Capitol Records album was shelved, Susan, who faced a divorce and financial hardship, was dropped by the label and quit making music to become a nanny. In addition to releasing Thief and returning to music, she is now on an extensive radio tour across the country. Thief is available now.