You can lead a country man to the city, but you can't make him settle there.

Duane Steele is a native of Hines Creek, a small town north of Grande Prairie. To further his musical career, he relocated to the country music capital of the world, Nashville.

"I still live out in the country. I'm renting a little cabin 32 km out in the Tennessee hills," Steele tells Sun Country.

"Nashville is great -- they're friendly here and they're friendly back home. But I just wanted a place with a little solitude," he says.

Steele has had great success with his debut CD, P.O. Box 423. Since its release a year ago, the disc has spawned five singles, including the hits Anita Got Married, The Trouble With Love and Two Names On An Overpass, a duet with Lisa Brokop. He also opened for Trisha Yearwood.

"This year has gone by so fast, I can't believe it."

In true Alberta form, Steele humbly says his life hasn't changed much since his rise to fame.

"Life has gotten a lot busier," admits Steele, who plays Rodeo Royal Friday.

Being back in front of his fans is also a thrill.

"When I got off the road with Rock 'N' Horse (his old band), there was a big void. To get back out and play live is great. I love the entertaining part."

His self-imposed solitude seems to have paid off, as Steele has composed many new tunes. He hopes the new album he starts working on next month will be 75% Steele-penned.

"I don't want to make the same album twice, but the first album did really well for me," he says about the direction of his yet-untitled album.

"You learn a little the first time out, or at least you hope you do.

"After listening to the album for a year ... I want to put more -- for a lack of a better word -- meat and potatoes in the next album. Some more relationship songs."

If Steele ever gets lonely for fellow Albertans, he doesn't have to go far. Former Medicine Hat native Terri Clark has a home in Nashville, as does Calgary's Paul Brandt.

"Paul and I are at the same publishing company, but he's a busy boy these days ... and he's a great songwriter," says Steele.

But surely the transplanted Albertans have a little friendly rivalry going?

"No, not really. Everyone is really supportive, especially since we come from another country.

"Hats off to anyone who can open a door for someone else."

Steele tries to get home as often as possible to visit his nine brothers and sisters. They can laugh about old times, in particular, when a brush-cut nine-year-old Steele sang Merle Haggard's Mama Tried at a talent contest and lost to two of his sisters.

"They sang together -- they were doing their Judds thing," laughs Steele.

They are both "happy homemakers" now: "I'm the only one crazy enough to get into music," he says with a chuckle.