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John Michael Montgomery tours as 'Brand New Me' hits stores

John Michael Montgomery has plotted a smattering of concert appearances throughout October and November to support the release of “Brand New Me” (Atlantic), the country music vocalist’s eighth album.

Though the album was among this week’s new releases, it already has spawned a tear-jerking hit single titled “The Little Girl,” which recently entered the top 10 on Billboard’s country singles chart. The track features Grammy-winning bluegrass artist Alison Krauss on harmony vocals.

The touring life is the topic of the track “I Love It All” from “Brand New Me.” He co-wrote the song with Blair Daly ("How Was I to Know," "Angel in My Eyes").

"It's my vision of when I'm out there trying to please the fans," Montgomery said in his record company biography. "I'm not fond of traveling, but I know I've got to do it if I want to do what I love to do. The Payne Stewart tragedy [in which the golfer died during a flight on a small airplane] hits people who travel right at home--it's one of those unspeakable thoughts. Also, once I got out on the road, I got too busy to write songs. Now, I'm finding more time and creative thoughts for songs and that desire to write has come back."

According to Atlantic, Montgomery has sold more than 14 million albums over the course of his nearly decade-long career with the label.