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Tim McGraw Releases New Song, Announces New Album

Tim McGraw has unveiled his brand new single “Standing Room Only.” The new song is the title track from McGraw’s forthcoming 17th studio album, due later this year on Big…

Tim McGraw Releases New Song, Announces New Album
Photo - Robby Klein

Tim McGraw has unveiled his brand new single "Standing Room Only." The new song is the title track from McGraw's forthcoming 17th studio album, due later this year on Big Machine Records.

Tim said of the new song in a statement, "'Standing Room Only' caught my ear the first time I heard it because of its message. For me, this song is so positive and life-affirming. It isn't about the funeral or the procession; it's about how we live in the here and now. How do we push ourselves, and in which direction do we push ourselves?"

He added, "For me, it's a reminder to live a life filled with gratitude and not take things for granted. Also, it's a reminder to give back and be there for others."

"Standing Room Only" was written by Craig Wiseman ("Live Like You Were Dying," "Cowboy in Me," "Where the Green Grass Grows"), Tommy Cecil & Patrick Murphy and produced by Byron Gallimore & McGraw.

The song's chorus includes the lyrics, "I wanna live a life, live a life / Like a dollar and the clock on the wall don't own me / Shine a light, shine a light / Like mama's front porch when I'm lost and lonely / Start forgivin' and start forgettin' / Be somebody that's worth rememberin' / Live a life so when I die / There's standing room only, standing room only / Standing room only, standing room only."

McGraw teased the announcement of "Standing Room Only" by releasing a mysterious playlist of his songs ahead of the single called "McGraw Three-ten Twenty Three." He hinted at the release date and featured song titles that spelled out "Standing Room Only" with the first letter of each song.

"Standing Room Only" follows Tim's 45th #1 country single, "7500 OBO." It gives him a #1 song and #1 album in the past four decades. "7500 OBO" was also voted as a "10 Songs I Wish I Had Written" by NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International).

Throughout his career, McGraw has amassed 46 total #1 singles (all formats), 68 Top 10's, and holds the Mediabase record for the most weeks at #1 with all titles, totaling 73 weeks.

Many country music superstars choose their middle names over their given first names. It is hard to imagine country music superstar Sam Smith (Tim McGraw's given name) and his superstar wife, Audrey Faith Perry (Faith Hill). Or how about sold-out stadium shows from a guy named Troyal (Garth Brooks)? And instead of two Lukes (Bryan and Combs), there would be two Thomas' (Rhett and Bryan).

Many celebrities change their name to fit who they have become, but in country music, the go-to name change for a superstar is to simply go with your middle name.

We take a look at five country superstars that go by their given middle names.

Kenneth Eric Church

Eric Church

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Can you image Kenny Church? Eric, born in n Granite Falls, North Carolina, was named after his father, Ken. Church worked with his dad at Clayton Marcus, a furniture upholstery company where his father was president.

Thomas Luther Bryan

Luke Bryan

Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Luke was named after his father, Tommy, who was a peanut farmer in Leesburg, Georgia.

Troyal Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks

Chris Weeks/Liaison

Garth was named for his father, Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr. He is the elder Troyal's youngest child. His mother, Colleen McElroy Carroll (who passed away in 1999), was a 1950s-era country singer who recorded on Capitol Records, the same label that Garth recorded on.

Frederick Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Dierks has used his middle name publically since his music career began. The name Dierks is his maternal great-grandmother's surname. His parents' names are Leon Fife Bentley (who passed away in 2012) and Catherine Childs.

Samuel Timothy Smith

Tim McGraw

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Tim McGraw was not born as a McGraw, and Timothy was his middle name. He changed his last name at age 11 when he learned the identity of his real father, major league baseball pitcher "Tug" McGraw, who passed away in 2004.

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