By Annie Reuter
The Doobie Brothers are calling on many of their country friends for their tribute album Southbound, set to be released on Nov. 4.
New acts confirmed for Southbound include Blake Shelton, Charlie Worsham, Jerrod Niemann as well as Vince Gill, Hunter Hayes and Dann Huff on guitar. Previously announced guests include Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Zac Brown Band, Chris Young, Toby Keith, Love and Theft and Amanda Sudano of JohnnySwim.
In an interview with Lagniappe Mobile, Doobie Brothers’ Tom Johnston talked about the album’s guests.
“It’s quite the lineup,” he said. “We were kinda blown away that these folks would be interested in jumping on board with us, but they were eager to do it.”
Related: Sara Evans On the Doobie Brothers’ Country Album: ‘I’m Pinching Myself’
In an interview earlier this year with Radio.com, Sara Evans expressed her excitement to be a part of the album.
“They’re singing all their hits with different artists and they let me choose which song I wanted to sing,” she told Radio.com. “Sometimes I’ll think things through before I answer questions or requests like that, but I immediately wrote back, ‘Yes of course! I love the Doobie Brothers!'”
Evans said McDonald is one of her vocal idols and revealed that this isn’t the first time the two have teamed up together.
“He’s just an incredible singer. He actually sang on one of my records. He sang on a song that I recorded on the Restless album,” she explained. “I chose a Michael McDonald song and did it and then I got to perform with them at Country Radio Seminar at the end of February which was so amazing. I’m pinching myself. Is this really happening? I can’t wait to hear it. I haven’t heard it yet.”
The Doobie Brothers’ Southbound will be released on Nov. 4.
