Previewing Rodeo Austin's mainstage entertainment

Josh Turner's lively "Haywire," released in 2010, tempers sacred ("The Answer") and secular ("Why Don't We Just Dance") with a sideways smile ("Eye Candy"). The 34-year-old country hit maker seems eager to support the collection locally.

"I'm looking forward to being in Austin, period," Turner says. "We always have a great time down there. You'll probably find me at Rudy's Barbecue." The South Carolina native performs March 21 at Rodeo Austin.

American-Statesman: Explain how `Haywire' took shape.

Josh Turner: We got started on that sooner than I had anticipated, mainly because the songs started coming at me pretty early. "Why Don't We Just Dance," "Your Smile" and "Lovin' You on My Mind" were the first three songs that came and really got me excited.

When did you write `The Answer'?

That one came a bit later. My buddy (co-writer) Mark Narmore and I got together that day and I had this title idea, "Jesus Is the Answer." We really liked the title (and) started like we were writing for a Vern Gosdin album, but it turned into so much more than that. The song became really, really powerful as we went into the studio and put background vocalists on it.

Have you purposely made faith a recurrent lyrical theme?

I try to include songs that are going to express different sides of me and my personality and my character. My faith and my spirituality (are) a huge part of who I am. That governs all the decisions I make personally and professionally. I feel like if I don't include a song on my record that speaks to that, I'm doing a disservice to my fans.

Does spirituality factor into your creative process?

Absolutely. Songwriting, whether anybody wants to admit it or not, is really a spiritual thing. I always say the best songs write themselves. That's what happened with "Long Black Train." It's such an incredible feeling when you sit down with an idea and a song just comes out so effortlessly. I wish all of the songs I write could be that way (laughs).

How do you choose songs written by others to cut?

If I hear an outside song that I really like, the first question I ask myself is, `Is this something that I could've written myself?' If it's not, I'm really going to be intrigued and interested to see how my vocal wraps around it. If I'm going to stretch myself with outside material, it needs to be something that I probably would've never dreamed of writing.

Did you know (the 2006 No. 1) `Would You Go With Me' would be a hit?

"Would You Go with Me" was one of those songs that from the first time I heard it I knew it had hit potential. When we first heard it, all it had was four verses, no chorus. My producer Frank Rogers was like, "We'll cut it if you get the writers to write a chorus." Sure enough, Shawn Camp and John Scott Sherrill sent it back with a big hit chorus.

You've cut several of Shawn's songs. What's most compelling about his writing?

Shawn has a great understanding of country music. He has a great understanding of my voice and what I like and don't like to sing. At the same time, he knows how to make it sound new and fresh. He's a fun guy to write with, and it's fun to sit down and listen to the songs that he's written.

Rodeo Austin

The rodeo is March 9-24, with the main stage entertainment kicking off March 10. Shows are at 7 p.m. at the Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane. $20-$175.

The popular Cowboy Breakfast is 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday at Auditorium Shores, 920 W. Riverside Drive. See the full schedule for that event, which includes live music, at rodeo

austin.com. Call 919-3000 for more information.

The main stage lineup:

March 10

Eli Young Band shoots skyward with "Life at Best" (2011) and three Academy of Country Music nods next month (including Song of the Year for "Crazy Girl").

March 11

"Nashville Star" winner Chris Young marks his fifth consecutive No. 1 with the rosy single "You" and boasts his own pair of ACM nominations ("Tomorrow").