When Alabama‘s Randy Owen, Jeff Cook and Teddy Gentry walked the red carpet together at last week’s CMA Awards it was as if they’d never retired. In a conversation with the Tennessean, Owen makes it sound like they’re close to retiring from retirement.

“It’s just things rock on some times,” Owen says. “I still love to play and sing, and I’m sure the other guys do, too. I know that’s that our plans, and there’s some very exciting things out there we’re looking about and thinking very seriously about going out and doing the music.”

Four concerts are listed at the official Alabama website, including a Feb. 28 date at the Houston Rodeo. In June, Cook indicated the legendary group would play up to 20 dates in 2012. It would be their first tour since their Farewell Tour in 2004.

Owen adds that the group is working on new music that he hopes they’ll record but, like usual, their opinions on what should make a record are varied.

“For me, I want kick[butt] stuff that’s present day that’s probably going to [tick] off people,” he says. “At this point in my life I’m just so happy to be here, I want to be able to turn my guitar up and play some music that really gets down.”

Last summer the band reunited for one show at the Bama Rising Benefit in Birmingham, Ala.

More From Cat Country 102.9