Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Lauren Alaina, from Season 10 of American Idol,released her first new album in five year Friday.

But that’s how it worked out. And it now seems to be working out just fine for the 22-year-old.

Her single “Road Less Traveled” is still climbing, reaching number 22 on the Billboard’s Hot County Songs chart and number 13 on the site’s Country Airplay chart.

And her new album of the same name, released Friday, is being very well received. By 8 a.m. Saturday, is was number seven on iTunes overall albums chart and number two on the site’s country albums chart.

“I really feel like this album is my story,” she told People. “(The songs) are all different things that have happened to me over the past few years. I had a lot of things change in my personal life — everything pretty much changed.

“My parents got divorced and they both remarried other people. My dad’s an alcoholic and he went through rehab. I had an eating disorder that I overcame. I had vocal cord surgery. I live country songs every single day of my life, so thank goodness I decided that was my passion.”

She also has a writing credit on every track on “Road Less Traveled” after co-writing just one song on her debut album, “Wildflower,” released in October 2011.

Four of the songs on the new album had been released as part of an EP last year, including singles “My Next Boyfriend” and the title track.

Standouts among the new tunes include the ballads “Same Day, Different Bottle” and “Three” and “Think Outside the Boy,” which delivers an important message to young women.

As for the time between “Wildflower” and “Road Less Traveled” — well, Lauren addressed that on her Facebook page.

“I have waited so long for this moment. There were times I never thought this day would come, and now that it’s here, I can’t find any word to describe how I feel.

“Thank you to everyone who poured their heart and soul into this album with me. Thank you to my friends and family for supporting me through everything. Thank you to my fans for hanging in there with me and keeping me going. We made it!!!!!”

And a final bit of good news for Lauren fans: She’ll be playing the American Music Theatre in Lancaster as an opener for Martina McBride on Saturday, March 4. Ticket info is available here.