"I hear that it's the best time of your life," he says. "So I'm getting prepared for my 50s." And based on Tim's accomplishments of late, he has no reason to be anxious about that half-century mark. He's in arguably the best physical shape of his life; he's got three wonderful daughters with wife Faith Hill; and he's just put out a strong new album, Two Lanes of Freedom, for a brand-new label.

It's his 12th studio album in a recording career that has stayed strong and grown stronger since his debut 20 years ago. Does he feel that Two Lanes is actually his best album to date? "I think so," he says, adding, "I think I always feel that way. I look at every album as a progression from the last album."