Aerosmith's Steven Tyler has certainly not rested on his classic rock success in recent years. The colorful frontmant famously became an "American Idol" judge in 2011 - which almost led to his dismissal from the band - and now, like several rockers before him, he's attempting to cross over into the country music world.
On March 31, Tyler announced he'd be releasing a country album in the near future, and last night he debuted his first country single, "Love Is Your Name," on "Idol." The official studio version of the song later made its exclusive world premiere via iHeart Radio; you can hear it below.
Tyler's shift to country might seem out of left field to some observers, but Rolling Stone Country, in a story last November about his duet with Jana Kramer, noted that in many ways it seems like a natural transition for the New Hampshire-born singer, writing:
Tyler's duet with Underwood on the country-tinged power ballad, "Can't Stop Loving You," from Aerosmith's Music From Another Dimension! album - along with their 2011 ACM Awards performance of the country superstar's "Undo It" and many duets on a 2012 episode of CMT Crossroads - make for just a few of many reasons the rock legend is slowly becoming Nashville's favorite son. Back in 2006, he collaborated with country star Keith Anderson on the raucous "Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll." And much to the delight of a few hundred fans jam-packed in Nashville's famed Tootsie's Orchid Lounge last year, Tyler joined Keith Urban for a surprise show in celebration of his fellow American Idol judge's Fuse album. This week, he presented at the 48th annual CMA Awards and will join Brad Paisley for a duet on tonight's CMA Country Christmas TV taping.
Neither a release date nor a title for Tyler's first country album has been anounced.
