Lee Ann Womack declares country independence

'I was always an independent artist stuck on a major label," Lee Ann Womack says over the phone from her home in Nashville.

The singer is discussing the circumstances behind her latest album, The Way I'm Livin', which is the East Texas native's first for an independent label after a distinguished career in the mainstream with MCA Nashville.

Over those years with MCA, Womack, 48, managed to enjoy some great commercial success with hits such as "I Hope You Dance" while maintaining artistic integrity, hewing close to the classic country she loves. But "it was always a terrible struggle," she says.

"I did have a champion in [former MCA Nashville head] Luke Lewis, but it was hard to try to make the kind of music that I love and make it work on commercial radio.

"There's been a huge, even further shift away from country in Nashville. Even more so in the last couple of years. It just sort of left me standing there with all this country music and not knowing what to do with it."

From an artistic standpoint, Womack's decision to go independent has paid off in spades. The Way I'm Livin', on the Sugar Hill label, was not only nominated for a Grammy, it's the best album of her career and one of the best of 2014.

Working with her husband, Frank Liddell, one of Music City's best producers, Womack uses songs by such well-regarded writers as Mindy Smith, Hayes Carll, Bruce Robison - and Neil Young - to create her own vision. It's one that encompasses the two sides of country music - Saturday night and Sunday morning - that were a big part of her upbringing.

The gloss-free production helps to give the music a fresh, timeless feel and enhances the cut-to-the-bone quality of the songs and Womack's delivery. She says she hesitates to call the music "earthy" or "organic" or even "real." But "this was the first time we were able to give the music the treatment that's as honest as this is."

All of that is not going to get her on the radio as much as she used to be, but Womack seems unconcerned.

"It's a great outlet to get your music out there, but it's hard when you don't fit in," Womack says. "So it's kind of like a huge relief."

Womack agrees there are parallels between her career and that of Emmylou Harris, who also has enjoyed commercial success but who possesses roots bona fides. In the meantime, however, she is enjoying where she is right now.

"Oh, my gosh, I feel good. This has been something that I've worked to. . . . I feel comfortable and like I'm where I'm supposed to be."