He first played the Tift Merritt song “Bramble Rose,” a mandolin waltz featuring Henely,Mick Jaggerand Miranda Lambert. The breathtaking, steel-soaked ballad “The Cost of Living” co-stars Henley withMerle Haggard.“Take a Picture of This” has the throb and lush melody of a classic Henley solo outing. The Martina McBride duet “That Old Flame” rocks like a No. 1 stone smash.Trisha Yearwood is the harmony singer on the power ballad “Words Can Break Your Heart.”
The Louvin Brothers chestnut “When I Stop Dreaming” drew loud applause for its arrangement as a duet with Dolly Parton. The shambling, stately, steady “Praying for Rain” has a chorus choir featuring Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Kellie Pickler, Ashley Monroe and Yearwood. “Train in the Distance” is a rootsy, autbiographical outing with a background vocal by Lucinda Williams.