For country music singer Josh Turner, releasing a new album has been a goal of his for quite some time. His last record, “Punching Bag,” came out in 2012, and Turner said his new album has been a long time coming.

Turner is currently out on the road on the edge of the new record’s release and will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and range in price from $42 to $72.

The release date and title for his latest album have yet to be announced, but Turner said the album is close to being finished and the tracks on the record have been decided.

Turner mentioned that putting the finishing touches on the album has been an exciting time for him, and he is more than ready for the record to be released.  

“The record is pretty much finished … it’s a relief to have those words even come out of my mouth,” Turner said.

Turner wrote three of the songs on the new album and co-wrote another. Some of the music was cut recently, while other songs were cut a long time ago.

Turner said he is proud of the album, although he mentioned that some of the music feels old to him because of how long ago he produced it, but he is excited to see fan reactions.

“I don’t feel like I have the best perspective on [the album] right now because I’ve lived with these songs for so long,” Turner said. “The fans are going to view this as a new product so I’m really interested to see what they think of it and how they perceive it.”

Turner mentioned that the record will have some music that fans will be used to, along with a couple of surprises. Showgoers at upcoming performances can expect to hear a few of the songs that will be on the new album. He also wants fans to know that he appreciates their support.

“I just want to thank the fans for being patient,” Turner said. “I know that they’ve been chomping at the bit for quite a few years now for new music from me, and I just want them to know that I’ve been working hard,” Turner said.

As for live concerts, Turner and his crew have been in the process of reconstructing their show to help make the experience feel fresh. They have also created a new set list, and Turner said it will include the hits and favorites of his fans.

“We’re actually on the verge of kind of tearing the show up and starting from scratch, and doing a new set list, and learning some new songs, getting rid of some songs, and just kind of freshening things up because we’ve been doing the same set for so long,” Turner said. “But we’ll still have a good time in Des Moines and we’ll be playing all the hits that everybody knows and loves.” 

Turner said his band and crew are like a family out on the road, and that they make a big impact on his tour because of the fun they create together and the common goals they share. Going on tour can be stressful for Turner at times because of the pressure that comes with it, but he is driven by the fact that he is able to use his passion to provide for his family and impact others.

“I have to keep reminding myself that this has been my passion,” Turner said. “God gave me a talent to do this and he’s called me into this business for a reason and, not only that, but when I get stories from fans about how my music has made a positive difference in their life, it’s things like that that keep me going and keep from crumbling under the pressure.”

To find out more about Josh Turner and the upcoming show, visit the Hoyt Sherman Place website.