Country icon Tim McGraw performs at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre in 2010. (Veronica Henri/QMI Agency)

Country star Tim McGraw has been sued by bosses at his record label for breach of contract.

Curb Records executives claim the singer handed over master recordings for his latest offering, Emotional Traffic, too closely to the completion of 2009's Southern Voice and, as a result, the songs were not "topical and new".

McGraw stands accused of using a "transparent tactic to attempt to fulfil his contractual recording commitment to Curb prematurely in breach of the recording agreement", according to a lawsuit obtained by Billboard.com.

McGraw's contract allegedly stipulates that he must only record albums "no earlier than 12 months and no later than 18 months" after delivering his previous album.

But the Grammy winner, who has been with the firm since the start of his career, is adamant Emotional Traffic fulfils his contractual obligation with the label.

A statement from McGraw's camp reads: "Sadly, after a 20-year relationship which has provided unprecedented success for both parties, Curb Records has chosen to end its accord with Tim McGraw by filing suit against him. Tim McGraw delivered his new album, Emotional Traffic, to Curb in the fall of 2010.

"The label is holding the album hostage from country music fans in an attempt to force Tim McGraw to serve perpetually under a contract that he has already fully and faithfully completed."