Richie McDonald, now with The Frontmen, has long been one of music's most accomplished and wide-ranging talents. Recognized as one of country's best singers and a polished and engaging entertainer, McDonald is the former face and voice of Lonestar, ranked among the genre's preeminent groups. As one of the industry's most successful songwriters, he has penned some of the era's most memorable songs and earned a mantle full of awards and nominations.

The list of accomplishments McDonald brings is among music's most noteworthy. His is the voice behind songs like "Amazed," "Smile" and "No News" and the pen behind songs like "My Front Porch Looking In" and "Let Them Be Little." He has earned six gold and platinum albums, several CMA and ACM awards as well as BMI awards for songwriting. In writing and singing "I'm Already There," he was responsible for a song embraced so warmly by the military and their families it became an unofficial anthem for U.S. troops serving the Middle East.

"That has to be the most rewarding part about writing songs," he says, "when you can actually see the effect it has had on other people's lives."

He has also written songs recorded by John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker, Billy Dean, Sara Evans and the Wilkinsons, among others.

I feel like I have reached a crossroads in my personal and professional life," he says. "I want to have a better balance and spend more time with my family and yet keep being an artist, hopefully making music that can really make a difference in people's lives."

Richie also released a Christian record ("something I always wanted to do and another side of me the fans get to hear")

McDonald is embracing as strongly as ever the wide-ranging nature of his musical talents.