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(Photo: Twitter/Aaron Watson)
Rising country star Aaron Watson opened up about his latest single, "That's Why God Loves Cowboys," on Tuesday.
The Texas native asserted "That's Why God Loves Cowboys" harkens back to the era of country music legends George Strait and Chris LeDoux while also integrating his faith.
"On every record I always put one or two rodeo songs," Watson told Country Weekly. "I wrote this song with Troy Olsen and Sarah Buxton, putting a twist on it, incorporating my faith, because if you know cowboys and the wide open spaces they work, you know God truly loves cowboys (and cowgirls)."
Watson, who started out on a major record label, recently converted into an independent artist. "That's Why God Loves Cowboys" is off the singer's forthcoming album, "The Underdog," which goes on sale Feb. 17.
"I thought, coming back from another great year performing at Nationals Finals Rodeo in Vegas, that this would be the perfect first of a few surprises of new music before the actual full record is available," Watson told CW.
Over the past decade, Watson has released albums "The Honky Tonk Kid" which featured a track with Willie Nelson, as well as "San Angelo," "Angels & Outlaws" and a collection of gospel songs entitled "Barbed Wire Halo." The accomplished singer frequently sings about his faith and refers to his relationship with God in both his profession and personal life. Watson shares three kids with wife Kimberly, but the couple lost a fourth child, Julia Grace, something Watson said actually strengthened his faith.
"I thank God for giving me Julia Grace everyday," he wrote on his blog in 2013. "Getting to be her Daddy is one of the greatest honors I'll ever have. Holding her in my arms and singing to her as she gracefully slipped away is one of my most treasured moments."
The experience led Watson in a prayer to God, resulting in a special song, "July in Cheyenne."
"I'm sharing Julia's story because through this ordeal I witnessed first-hand the grace of God," the singer added on the blog. "I am sharing Julia's story because I want to tell this world about the love of Jesus Christ. If you're hurting I want you to know that you can find peace and assurance even during your most intense moments of suffering, just as I did, just as I still do."
Watch the video for "July and Cheyenne" here.