Ringo Starr's Country Album Coming
Ringo Starr will release his new album "Long Long Road" on April 24 — his second country-focused collaboration with T Bone Burnett, following last year's "Look Up." The album's first single "It's Been Too Long" is now available for streaming. This marks the former Beatle's continued exploration of Nashville sound and Americana influences.
Ringo Starr's journey into country music is not a recent detour; his first full-fledged country album, "Beaucoups of Blues," was released over five decades ago in 1970. That project was recorded in just three days in Nashville with legendary steel guitar player Pete Drake producing. The former Beatle's affinity for the genre dates back to his time with the Fab Four. He famously sang lead on their cover of Buck Owens' "Act Naturally" and co-wrote and sang the country-tinged "What Goes On" from the album *Rubber Soul*. In 1989, he revisited "Act Naturally" for a duet with Owens himself. The recent creative surge with producer T Bone Burnett began when Starr asked for a single song for an EP. Burnett, a renowned producer of Americana music, returned with nine original country songs, which prompted the decision to record the full 2025 album, "Look Up." That first project with Burnett enlisted a roster of modern bluegrass and Americana talent. Guest artists on "Look Up" included guitarist Billy Strings, singer-songwriter Molly Tuttle, and the acclaimed vocalist Alison Krauss. The upcoming "Long Long Road" continues this collaborative spirit. While Billy Strings returns, new guest appearances are slated from Grammy-winning artists Sheryl Crow and St. Vincent. T Bone Burnett is a significant figure in the roots music world, known for producing the multi-platinum soundtrack for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?". He also won a Grammy for producing the celebrated Robert Plant and Alison Krauss collaboration album, "Raising Sand."
