Right out of the gate, country singer Easton Corbin set the bar high for himself.
His eponymous debut album, released in March 2010, was certified Gold with sales of more than 500,000 copies. He racked up more than a million hits on YouTube and landed two No. 1 hit singles.
Three years into his career and Corbin finds he is no longer just the new guy in country music.
His sophomore album, "All Over the Road," came out Tuesday.
"I think this record shows a lot of growth as a new artist," said Corbin, who will headline the "Music in Marana" concert on Saturday. "I feel like it's still very country and still country right down the line, you know, that familiar sound that everyone recognizes out of me."
Corbin admits the success of his first album sets the bar high for his second. "Easton Corbin" spun off back-to-back No. 1 hits with the first two singles: "A Little More Country Than That" and "Roll With It."
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"I definitely felt a little bit of pressure to do just as good or better than the first record. I felt like people watch a little closer, especially when you have success on the first record," Corbin said during a phone interview from Tennessee last week. "But for me it was just about stepping back and being like, 'Hey, I'm going to use the same formula that I used on the first record. If it ain't broken then don't fix it.' And, uh, that's just what I did."
The album's first single, "Lovin' You Is Fun," is upbeat with a lighthearted message.
"It's about real-life lyrics, about real things, and I hope people know that it's just a real part of me, and I relate to it and I hope they can, too," Corbin said.
The album's title, "All Over the Road," describes Corbin's life these days. "That's exactly what we're doing out here - we are all over the road," he said.
If you go
• What: "Music in Marana."
• Featuring: Easton Corbin and Anne Marie Boskovich.
• When: Doors open at 6 p.m., music starts at 6:30 Saturday
• Where: Marana Health Center, 13644 N. Sandario Road.
• Tickets: $25 for general admission, $100 for VIP, which includes dinner and the concert. Available at Boot Barn locations and The Quarry bar inside Bedroxx, 4385 W. Ina Road. Proceeds benefit Marana Health Center programs.
• Details: maranahealthcenter.org
Samantha Cummings is a University of Arizona journalism student who is an apprentice at the Star. Contact her at tarapprentice@azstarnet.com
