New Garth Brooks CD Due Next Month

By Stephen M. Silverman

10/10/2001 at 02:28 PM EDT

Saying, "For the first time in my life I think I made a happy album," Garth Brooks announced in Nashville on Tuesday that he will release his first new CD in four years. "It's heavy on steel guitars, but you're not aware of it in some places because the musicians are so good at what they do." Titled "Scarecrow," the album is due to hit stores on Nov. 13. It includes duets with George Jones and Trisha Yearwood, and the first single, "Wrapped Up in You." Brooks's last album of new country music was the 1997 "Sevens." He released a live album in 1998, and a pop album that he recorded under the fictional pseudonym Chris Gaines came out in 1999. He announced his retirement from touring last year and, true to his word, has scaled back his career. Most of his time since then has been spent in Oklahoma, devoted to his three daughters: Taylor Mayne Pearl, 9; August Anna, 7; and Allie Colleen, 5. (Brooks and his wife, the former Sandy Mahl, filed for divorce months ago, though the divorce is not yet final.) He will not tour to support the album but said he is working with AOL Time Warner (which also owns PEOPLE) on a promotional deal involving a Web site and a series of TV specials. He also announced that he will endorse Dr. Pepper, and the album release will be promoted on TV commercials for that soft drink. "You know me," said Brooks, no stranger to promotion. "I'm going to try my best to get in everybody's living room."