"Like Red on a Rose" was recorded early this summer in Nashville, according to a press release. Grammy-winner Alison Krauss produced the set, and solicited songs from writers including Leon Russell, Sidney Cox, Patrick Brayer and Robert Lee Castleman, the latter of whom penned the album's hit-single title-track.

Guests who appear on the disc include Lee Ann Womack and Dan Tyminski, as well as Krauss, who contributed background vocals.

"I kinda let Alison run with this thing; it was her baby," Jackson said in a statement. "There's even one of my old songs that I wrote years ago. It doesn't sound anything like the original, but she made a cool record out of it."

That old track, "A Woman's Love," bears Jackson's sole songwriting credit on the new album.

Jackson has stayed plenty busy this year; "Like Red on a Rose" is his second album of 2006, and was preceded by February's "Precious Memories." The latter disc, a collection of gospel classics that Jackson recorded as a Christmas gift for his mother, became the first gospel recording ever to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. The set was certified platinum last month, signifying US shipment of 1 million copies.

"Precious Memories" helped Jackson earn nominations last month for Country Music Association Awards in the Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year categories. The winners will be announced during a Nov. 6 ceremony in Nashville that is scheduled to air live on ABC-TV.