Tim McGraw photo by Danny Clinch, courtesy of Curb Records.

"Southern Voice" has a strong Southern rock feel—there’s a reason the Allman Brothers and Tom Petty are included in the song’s list of heroes—and on the more reflective "If I Died Today" that flavor turns up again. "Growing up in Louisiana, of course I listened to country music," says the singer, "but that ‘70s rock is a big influence on me, too. On that song, I went in with the intent of making a Traveling Wilburys/Mark Knopfler/Eagles kind of thing—I knew exactly what I wanted it to sound like."

Another song on Southern Voice that’s sure to draw attention, however, took a more unexpected turn in the studio. "‘I’m Only Jesus’ is the one that surprised me the most," says Tim. "I loved the song, but I wasn’t quite sure what it was going to come out like. My guitarist came up with a part that really turned the song around, and the end result was way more smoking, more rocking than I ever expected. The song always had this strong message, but now it really hits you upside the head."

One of the world’s most beloved live performers (on their historic 2006-2007 Soul2Soul tour, he and his wife, Faith Hill, performed for over two million fans), Tim will support Southern Voice with an extensive tour in 2010. First, though, he needs to fulfill some commitments for his career on the big screen, including a co-starring role in The Blind Side, with Sandra Bullock, opening later this year.

Since his widely-acclaimed performance in 2004’s Friday Night Lights, Tim has also appeared in Flicka (2006), The Kingdom (2007), and Four Christmases (2008)—as well as hosting Saturday Night Live, a rare honor for a singer in any genre.

"Acting is an extension of what I do," he says. "It adds emotional depth, and gives another dimension to how I prepare to make a record or a video. You take on things and learn, take in information, and different tangents show up that can’t help but reflect in what you do as an artist."

All of Tim McGraw’s experiences—as a singer, an actor, a husband and father—culminate in his work on Southern Voice. These songs offer the perspective of a man who has lived a full life and always stayed just a bit under the radar while steadily racking up multi-platinum honors ("I like going out and quietly slaying dragons," he says.) He has recorded some of the hits that define country music over the last 15 years—classics like "Just To See You Smile," "I Like It, I Love It," and "It’s Your Love."

"I don’t look at how I fit into the industry, into the puzzle of other artists," says Tim. "I look at how can I get better and where I’m going. I’m competitive and I want to win, but at the same time, I don’t even know what the competition is doing. I just want to get better, period.

"I’m only maybe 30 percent of where I want to get to," he concludes. "And I see a lot more ahead of me than there is behind me."