After letting personal problems derail his career for most of the aughts, Ty Herndon made a triumphant return with 2007's 'Right About Now,' and he's kept going strong since.

Herndon's comeback, which continued with 2010's 'Journey On,' should only gain momentum in the coming months because his plans include the completion of his seventh studio album, as well as another collection of Christmas favorites.

"I’m working with some great people and with some amazing songs and songwriters," Herndon told Taste of Country during a recent interview. "I’m just kinda sticking to the recipe that has worked for me over the years and trying to re-invent a little bit of what you hear on the radio today. I’m sticking with really honest songs about positive things in life," he added, "like ‘Living in a Moment,’ ‘What Mattered Most’ and ‘Loved Too Much’ … all the songs that make people feel good."

Herndon started his career at Epic Nashville, but since leaving the fold after 1999's 'Steam,' he's been an indie artist -- which offers as many advantages as drawbacks. "It’s a lot more freedom, but it’s also a lot more work," he admitted. "You’re so used to having a team at a record label who most of the time are a well-oiled machine, and things just kind of fall into place. But when you do it independent, a lot of that stuff falls into your lap."

Despite those increased responsibilities, Herndon is moving quickly on the new album, which he expects to start promoting in the fall. "I’m certainly trying to make the initial noise about it by October," he revealed in the interview. "It takes a lot of time to set up this stuff, takes a lot of homework and time. So October is our goal."

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