Lee Ann Womack Sticks to Tradition

In 1997, the twangy retro-country sound of her debut single 'Never Again Again' set the tone for Lee Ann Womack's career in country music. It was a calculated move on her part, and even the smash pop-crossover success of her signature tune, 'I Hope You Dance,' couldn't lessen the singer's enthusiasm for more traditional fare.

"My audience is people who like country music -- real country music," the Texas native tells the Detroit Free-Press. "I've always done a mixture of different kinds of music. It's not all twin fiddles and steel guitars, but that's my favorite. You can bet I'll never stop doing it because I can't. I couldn't if I wanted to. It's too much a part of me. If I'm not going to get to do that, I might as well go sell real estate."

Yet, no matter how stepped in tradition she remains, Lee Ann can always be counted on to add a few surprises to her albums. Take for instance 'The Bees,' a moody little number from her latest disc, 'Call Me Crazy.'

"I don't go out and tell the publishers that I'm looking for songs that are strange or weird. It's just that when I sit down and listen to songs, those are the ones that jump out at me. Sometimes it's the melody; sometimes it's the lyrics. I try not to think about it too much. I just know that if it's something I like, probably somebody else is going to like it."