TANYA TUCKER

The Grammy-nominated country music icon, 60, whose hit singles include “Delta Dawn,” “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane” and “Strong Enough to Bend,” releases While I’m

Livin’, her first album of all-new material in 17 years, on Aug. 23. She calls it a biography of sorts about her life, the people she’s met and the places she’s been.

What does the title While I’m Livin’ mean? If you’ve got something to say to somebody, you should bring them flowers now. It’s a waste of flowers to bring them when they’re gone, and that seems to be the only time when people get together— when someone dies.

You had your first hit, “Delta Dawn,” at age 13, and your young, independent spirit often got you tagged as an “outlaw.” I was a little rebellious going through my 20s. It’s not something I ever really wanted to be. I just wanted to be good, do my art and sing my songs.

You’re definitely a survivor. How did you do it? Maybe it’s from my upbringing and the lessons my dad taught me: Be tough and plow through. No matter how bad it is, it could always be worse. Also, I’m bullheaded and I don’t want to die before I’ve done my best— and I don’t feel like I’ve done my best yet.

What do you still want from life? It might sound a little corny, but one of the biggest [things] is for this country to get together a little more and be a little more respectful of each other’s views, religions and races. I think music is a big part of that. I think music can do a lot for that situation.