Trisha Yearwood moves back into the spotlight

Trisha Yearwood has kept a relatively low profile since 2001's "Inside Out," her most recent studio set, but the country singer is preparing for a splashy return with the release of a new album and an extensive tour.

"I've never taken this long to make a record," Yearwood said in her record-company biography. "I've never recorded as many songs. I'd never completely started over on an album like I did on this one. Overall, it was a two-year process to make this record."

The new album, titled "Jasper County," is due in stores Sept. 13. Though she's scheduled a few pre-release concert appearances, the bulk of her schedule runs from mid-September through mid-November.

"I think I was just so anxious to get back into the studio that [producer] Garth Fundis and I just went in and cut a bunch of stuff," her statement continued. "Then, for the first time, I stopped and reevaluated: 'These songs are good, but are they the right ones?' At that point, we had to say, 'You know what? It's OK to start over.'

"Once we did that, we were able to get to the next layer of songs, to dig a little deeper. When we got into the second set of sessions, it felt instantly right. That's when I knew. You could just feel that it was special."

The album's first single, "Georgia Rain," has already hit radio. The track's music video is posted at her official website.

Yearwood made news in March, when Garth Brooks proposed to her before a crowd of 7,000 in Bakersfield, CA. The two were attending the "Legends in Bronze" event at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace, which celebrated the unveiling of 10 bronze statues of country stars, including Brooks. She accepted.