Billy Currington Puts ‘Everything’ Into New Album

After spending close to a year away from the spotlight working on personal issues, Billy Currington has resurged a stronger and more soulful artist. The 34-year-old Georgia native releases his long-awaited third album, 'Little Bit of Everything,' today. It's the first CD Currington has co-produced and the one he says is the best reflection of his life.

"People were asking me what the theme of the album was going to be," Currington tells The Boot, "and I kept saying the same thing: 'It's just all over the map.' I kept saying, 'It's a little bit of everything -- little bit of soulful stuff; two or three songs are really country; there's one on there that's really pop.'"

Currington co-wrote five of the album's 11 tracks, but rather than writing about the pain of his past, his self-penned songs are more indicative of the much better place he is at present. This time around, he chose more positive songs -- a diversion from his usual, emotional mix.

"I wanted to make a happy album this time," he says. "I love sad songs, and I'll record some in the future, but I was just in a happy place and wanted to keep it that way."

The happy place Currington refers to comes after a much-publicized break to deal with issues stemming from his physically abusive step-father. Last fall, Currington parked his tour bus and went to Hawaii, where he worked with therapists who specialize in childhood trauma. The respite, he freely admits, helped him both personally and professionally.

"I got a whole new outlook on everything," he reflects. "Taking a break and getting away from what you do every day, especially the long break I took, really does help you refocus. All in all, it put me in a better place ... I came back as a better artist because of it. The soul itself is a lot freer, which allowed me to make the music I wanted to."

That music includes a combination of new and old songs, including one that he wrote more than five years ago called 'No One Has Eyes Like You.'

"I write a lot of songs, and a lot of them kind of get canned, and that one kind of did too," Currington says of what he believes is a standout track on the new album. "That was a special one for me. I actually planned on putting that on my second album, but it didn't make it. It was one I never forgot about. I think it's some of my best work, melody-wise and lyric-wise."

Whether speaking of a track he wrote or one he chose from some of Nashville's most celebrated songwriters, Currington has a personal connection to each and every song on 'Little Bit of Everything.' Read his track-by-track commentary here.