When country trio Lady Antebellum took time off the road after the release of the hit 2014 album “747,” band member Charles Kelley didn't kick back on a beach. Instead, he headed into the studio to record some tracks on his own.

“It was purely making music for music's sake,” he says, calling from his home in Nashville, Tenn. “I really trusted my gut.”

Those sessions resulted in his first solo album, “The Driver,” released in early February on Capitol Nashville. It's a gritty, organic song cycle that finds vocalist Kelley stretching out stylistically from Lady A's polished pop country and singing with a somewhat rougher edge. There are also several strong collaborations, including star turns from rock icon Stevie Nicks and country belter Miranda Lambert. Kelley co-wrote four of the nine songs.

Although Kelley says he is psyched about his solo tour, he makes it clear that he's just moonlighting for a short time from Lady Antebellum. All is fine and dandy with his Lady A partners, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood.

“The trick was always to make sure the fans knew this is not the end of Lady Antebellum,” he says. “We're going to get back together and work on music again. I think (this break) is for the best. We felt it would be fun to mix it up and try a few things.”

Lady Antebellum debuted in 2008. After multiple hard-charging tours, hit albums and awards, the band is taking a breather.

“We felt we needed to get reinspired, write a little more and just take our time,” Kelley says.

When Kelley first went into the studio on his own, his only goal was to have fun and experiment. The first song he recorded was the lovely, melancholy number “The Driver.” Country star Dierks Bentley and co-writer Eric Paslay joined in on harmonies. Inspired by the result, Kelley kept recording and got the green light from his label for a solo release.

The work has paid off. Even before the album was released, the title single earned him a Grammy nomination for best country duo/group performance.

“It was really a validating moment,” he says. “I'm not going to lie, (there was some) fear putting out this record and not wanting to be disappointed by how it was received.”

His wife, Cassie, serves as a trusted sounding board when it comes to his new material.

“I bounce ideas off her,” Kelley says. “When I come home and have a new song I've written, she gives me an honest critique.”

Kelley laughs. “If my wife likes it, I know I have something.”

Chrissie Dickinson is a freelance writer.

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