Toby Keith Taking European Ride

Toby Keith is getting ready to take fans on an 'American Ride' with his new album, due out October 13, but he's also heading over to Europe for a tour beginning November 9 in Scotland. The trek was brought about by the success of his 2008 album, 'That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy,' in Norway, where the disc has achieved platinum status, with more than 30,000 copies sold .

"The powers that be just came and said, 'You're selling product all over Europe, why don't you do a tour?' so we're going over there," Toby tells Billboard. "I've stayed in Dublin, Spain, Germany. I've been all over. They like beer. They like a good time. They like to kick back, so there's no difference. I think they'll like what we do just fine."

Closer to home, Toby's in the middle of his America's Toughest Tour with Trace Adkins and hopes to wrap up recording on the new album in about six weeks.

'American Ride' will include the title track, which is currently climbing the country charts, and will also feature 'Drive It On Home,' which Toby calls "a real modern, hard-drivin', truck drivin' song" and 'Tender as I Wanna Be,' which as the title suggests is a ballad.

Also on the album will be 'Cryin' For You,' a tribute to Toby's friend and fellow Oklahoman Wayman Tisdale. The basketball star turned jazz bassist passed away in May from cancer. Jazz musicians Marcus Miller and Dave Koz are featured on the track.