It’s been almost seven years since the Faith Hill released a studio album of original material, and the superstar admits she is as anxious as the fans to get the new music heard. Recently she talked to reporters about the upcoming project’s direction.

“I spent a great deal of time on this last record — an extraordinary amount of time, and for good reason,” Hill said during the CMA Music Fest in Nashville, Tenn. last weekend (quota via The Boot). ”I was really digging and searching … as an artist who has grown, searching for a place that I can live creatively. A lot of people put in many, many hours, lots of heart and soul. I’m very excited.”

When asked about the musical direction of the new project — rumored to be titled ‘Illusion’ — Hill says, ”I came from the church; I’m a soul singer. I’ve tried for so many years to mesh the two worlds together. My love of country music has been my backbone; I was raised with country music.”

“But I’m a soul singer,” Hill says, “so to bring those two worlds together in a way that’s authentic and that is true — to me, that’s the most important thing. I want my music to be truthful. I feel like I’ve accomplished that.”

Hill did preview the new project with a performance of ‘Illusion,’ an uptempo soul track with traces of country, pop and R&B. The album’s first single, ‘Come Home’ was released last year. The mid-tempo ballad was written and produced by OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder.

Fans hoping to catch Hill play her new material live may have to wait just a bit longer. The singer admits she is just as anxious to hit the road as she is to release the new music to fans, but is unable to give concrete plans for both.

“That’s a question everybody’s been asking me!” says Hill, speaking on her touring plans. “I hope this year, a few shows. I haven’t toured in a really long time, so I’m excited to be on stage playing music.”

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