Eric Church Starting to Feel the Creative Fire

It's been over a year since Eric Church released his critically-acclaimed, platinum-selling album, Chief, and fans are clamoring for the CD's follow-up. But while the North Carolina native has said he wants to wrap up his Blood, Sweat & Beers tour before he starts working on a new set of tunes, he admits he is starting to get eager to churn out new hits.

"I'm trying. It's not there yet," he tells Rolling Stone. "I can tell you that I'm starting to feel the fire a little bit creatively. I've been working on some stuff but it's just not there yet. I'm gonna wait till that happens. I'm going to let that play out. When I feel like every day when I get up I'm writing songs, that's the time to make a record."

The 35-year-old originally said he hoped to spend most of next year off the road, so that he can work on his next album. But as the rumors continue to swirl that he will hit the road with Kenny Chesney in 2013, he may not have as much time to focus on a new set of tunes as he originally planned.

"It's still rumor stage, but I can at least say most of next year off is true," Eric told Florida radio station WKIS. "We're doing some shows in Canada first part of the year but as far as the U.S. goes, I think it's looking like we maybe do 20 shows across the country. We're going to play a few things but we're not on tour, we're going to take big chunks off. I'm going to try and focus on, from a songwriting standpoint and a record standpoint, where we go next and where we go from here. Regardless of what happens with touring with anybody else, we're going to be taking most of the year off."

For now, the "Creepin'" singer will spend the next few months on the road, including stops in Texas, Georgia and California, with Kip Moore and Justin Moore serving as his opening acts. See a list of upcoming shows here.