RINGO IS "THANKFUL" ON NEW COUNTRY TRACK

Ringo Starr returns to Music City for the first time in decades with the release today (11/15) of “Thankful,” the first single from his country-steeped UMG Nashville debut, Look Up.

The song, which also features Alison Krauss, is Starr’s sole co-write on the T Bone Burnett-produced album, set for release on 1/10.

Ringo said, “I love this track. I wrote it with my producer and engineer Bruce Sugar and I feel we put an L.A. country sound to it. For the lyrics, I always like to focus on the positive, and for this song in particular, about what we can be thankful for. I hope it brings you some joy and peace and love.” Sugar earned a Grammy nomination for his engineering work on The Beatles' Grammy-nominated single "Now and Then."

It’s not the first country rodeo for the rock legend, who brought tracks such as “Don’t Pass Me By" to The Beatles when he joined the band in August 1962 and handled vocals on the Fab Four’s cover of Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally.” He went back to the well for his second solo album, 1970’s Beaucoups of Blues, which was recorded during a three-day session in Nashville.

Ringo will test-drive the new material when he rolls into Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium 1/14-15.

HITS is wondering if we can convert those old Beatle boots into cowboy boots in Ringo’s honor.