Ronnie Milsap, ‘Make Up’ (With Mandy Barnett) – Exclusive Song Premiere

Ronnie Milsap is preparing to release his latest album, and the country legend is letting readers of The Boot hear a track early this exclusive song premiere.

'Make Up' is featured on Milsap's upcoming 'Summer Number Seventeen,' on which he pays homage to many of the songs that influenced him during his own formative years, including ‘Georgia on My Mind’ and ‘Tears on My Pillow.’

“Somebody can talk about a song, or I can hear a song right now on Sirius XM in my car and immediately I know what summer it was or when it came out,” he says.

The songs run the gamut from country, to pop and R&B, bringing together the disparate styles that helped Milsap become one of the first country artists to employ outside influences.

'Make Up' is a duet with Mandy Barnett, who has earned raves for her theatrical portrayals of country queen Patsy Cline. Barnett also lends her voice to another track on the album, a cover of the Stylistics' 'You Make Me Feel Brand New.'

The dynamic between men and women is a central theme of the album. “You don’t know why love works,” says Milsap. “You don’t know when you meet somebody and you feel a spark or you feel a connection -- did that happen randomly? Or is it something that was predetermined?”

He adds, “The only thing that really counts, that really matters is love. That’s the only thing that’s gonna get me through.”

'Summer Number Seventeen' is slated for release on Jan. 28 via Sony Legacy. It is currently available for pre-order here.

Listen to Ronnie Milsap and Mandy Barnett, 'Make Up'