Billy Currington Talks ‘Love Done Gone,’ His Next Album and Touring With Kenny Chesney

Over the past few years, Billy Currington has been at the top of his game in the country music industry. The singer recently came off his seventh consecutive No. 1 single with the ballad 'Let Me Down Easy,' and he is now well on his way to making it eight in a row with his upbeat and infectious 'Love Done Gone.'

'Love Done Gone' is the third release off Currington's 'Enjoy Yourself' album on Mercury Nashville. Following this release, Currington is contemplating what will be the next single off the album, and then will start looking ahead to his fifth studio album.

Currington just came off the road opening a handful of dates for the Zac Brown Band and is currently opening for country superstar Kenny Chesney. Taste of Country was able to snag a few minutes with Currington for a quick update on his always hectic life as one of country's hottest stars.

Do you find it hard to wrap your mind around the fact that you've had seven consecutive No. 1 singles?
No. 1’s are so hard to get, so every one that you do get always means a lot to me. There’s a lot of people who get to share the excitement with you that work just as hard as you did to make it happen, so you just soak it in. You always have your little celebrations together, like anything, then you move on and work towards another one.

'Love Done Gone' has already become a huge hit for you. What were your thoughts and reaction when you first heard the song?
When I first heard it, it was one night behind Douglas Corner in Nashville. This publisher played me the song. So I called in the next day and said, "You’ve got to send me a copy of that song." She did, and I remember playing it over and over and over. I loved it. It’s one of those songs that’s catchy and infectious. It was just one I knew after a few listens, I was strongly considering putting it on the album. Over time, it became a definite. I’m just glad we did. It goes great in the live shows, and I’ve heard it one time on the radio … I was pretty proud of it. It sounded really good.

You recently shot a video for the song in New Orleans. Can you talk about that day?
We went to New Orleans and just walked the streets. We pretty much shot as we were walking. We didn't really plan anything. We just knew that there would be a lot of characters down there, full of life with lots of energy. So we went down there for two days and just shot everything we saw. It came out good. I'm excited about it. I had a really good time.

Will there be another single off the 'Enjoy Yourself,' album or will you be releasing the next song as the first release off the next album?
I’m not sure at this moment. I wouldn't doubt that we will come out with another single from this album because it's going to take me a little while to make a new one between doing all these shows and everything else.

Have you started work on your next album yet?
I probably will by the fall. At that point, I'll be working pretty hard at making another album for next year. I haven't even started. I've been looking for songs, but that never stops. That's constant.

I heard that you're wanting to record a soul record at some point. Have you given that any more thought?
I definitely will when the time is right, which is getting pretty close. I want to go in and record some songs, not necessarily ones from the past that have been hits before -- none of those old remakes or anything like that -- but I want to do an original soul album. We'll see how it goes. I've been writing songs for that project and having lots of people from different parts of the world sending me songs. Whenever I feel like I have the right package together, I'll go in and record it, but not until then.

You've had an incredible couple of years here with the back-to-back No. 1 hits and successful albums. Do you feel pressure when you go into the studio to record that you have to top the previous album?
I don't feel pressure at all. I just take it easy. I'm laid back and go with the flow of life, and something inside of me will tell me when it is time to move on to the next deal, but I don't ever feel worried or pressure or anything like that. I just do it when it comes and it seems to be working out fine. There's no rush ... just take it easy.

This summer you spent time on the road with Zac Brown Band and Kenny. What are some things that you've learned from seeing their shows night after night?
There is a lot to be learned from people like Kenny: the way he has handled his organization, the type of people around him that he's hired, and the way he has just built a whole organization, whether it's the parking lot for tailgating or backstage set up or just the way the floor plan is laid out for the shows. I've been watching all that stuff ... how he connects with his fans, song after song after song. Every night I'm on the side of the stage taking mental notes, and I feel naturally that it will be things that I do in the future.

Once the Kenny tour wraps, what are your tour plans for the remainder of the year?
We're a few shows away from being done with the summer tour, and then we're doing our own fall tour. We're booked up until December. We've got plenty [of dates], thankfully. We're very grateful.

Besides getting to tour with guys like Zac Brown Band and Kenny, what are some other standout career moments for you?
I'd say the duet I did with Shania [Twain] is still one of my favorite memories. Working with Mutt Lange was the best part of it all for me. I enjoyed being around someone so talented and so great and making great sounding records. I've always been a big fan, and when I got that opportunity, it was a dream come true, no doubt.

Watch the Billy Currington 'Love Done Gone' Video