CMT News

Pat Boone will release an album early next year containing what is believed to be Chet Atkins' last recorded performance. "Waltz for the Lonely," co-written by Boone and Atkins, will be featured on the album, Hopeless Romantic. Atkins died in 2001. LeAnn Rimes and Kenny Rogers are among the stars who have recorded with Boone for albums released to coincide with the singer's 50th year in the entertainment business. Rimes, Rogers, Michael McDonald and U2's Bono make appearances on "Thank You, Billy Graham," a track from Boone's recently released gospel album, Glory Train: The Lost Tapes. More interesting, perhaps, is We Are Family, an album of R&B duets set for release early next year. The project include's Boone's collaborations with Smokey Robinson and Kool Moe Dee, along with a new version of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" with James Brown.