CMT News

Patty Loveless and husband-producer Emory Gordy Jr. are putting finishing touches on Loveless' return-to-roots album, Mountain Soul, due June 26 on Sony Nashville. Ricky Skaggs, Travis Tritt and Jon Randall make guest appearances. The album mixes traditional and contemporary songs. Kentucky-bred Loveless re-recorded "The Sounds of Loneliness," which she wrote at 15 for her debut album. Mountain Soul features covers of Reno & Smiley's "I Know You're Married," Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner's "Someone That I Used to Know," Melba Montgomery's "Raging Fire," and Darrell Scott's "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive." "I've been wanting to do this record since 1992 when Emory and I put a little group together to go play The Carter Stanley Memorial Festival," Loveless says in a statement. "Playing this music in front of people -- as opposed to in a dressing room or someone's home -- made me feel very connected to where I come from." Loveless will tour this summer to support Mountain Soul and Strong Heart, her current mainstream country project.