Most artists take fewer and fewer risks as they get older, but Kathy Mattea is a striking exception. She didn t play it safe while she charted mainstream country hits 16 of them reaching the top ten and she s not about to start now. Four years ago, Mattea, one of the most sure-footed country-pop song interpreters of her generation, caught everyone off guard with an album of old-timey Appalachian mining songs called Coal. She s delved even deeper into her Appalachian heritage with Calling Me Home, available from Sugar Hill. Co-produced with modern acoustic mastermind Gary Paczosa and featuring liner notes from bestselling author, and Kentucky-born kindred spirit, Barbara Kingsolver.