Phil Vassar and Jeffrey Steele Share New Collab 'Hillbillies in Hollywood': 'It's a Real Brotherhood' (Exclusive)

Vassar and Steele's East and West coast upbringings and shared musical influences come together on one nostalgic track

Phill Vassar and Jeffrey Steele have officially teamed up for the first time on the new track “Hillbillies in Hollywood.”

The new single, which PEOPLE is premiering exclusively, is the perfect combination of Vassar and Steele’s East and West coast upbringings and their shared musical influences coming together in one nostalgic track.

Vassar tells PEOPLE that the collaboration between him and Steele is something that they’ve both talked about doing for a long time.

“Jeffrey and I have been longtime friends and I have an enormous amount of respect for his talent as a singer-songwriter,” Vassar says. “He grew up on the West Coast, me on the East, and the song came out of a conversation about us being in bands and playing clubs all around the country. We've had similar paths despite having different backgrounds.”

Vassar also explains that he and Steele, both 62, talked a lot about their own careers and shared musical influences like The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Queen and the late Merle Haggard. “I was playing The Bayou in DC, while he was playing The Troubadour or somewhere else on the LA scene,” Vassar recalls. “Jefferey and I met in the late '80s and bonded right away — it's a real brotherhood."

Related: Deana Carter and Phil Vassar Debut Festive Music Video for New Duet 'Brand New Year': 'So Excited'

“Hillbillies in Hollywood” is also Vassar’s first release since suffering a major heart attack in 2023, which served as an important wake-up call for the "Carlene" singer.

“When you go through something as life-changing as a heart attack, you become more introspective and sentimental," the country star explains. “I want to put out music that reflects that."

Vassar also confirms that he has plenty of plans for touring and new music in 2024 and says that he feels “better than I have in years.”

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Related: Songwriters Jeffrey Steele and Steve Dorff Release Sad, Hopeful Love Song in Memory of Their Sons

“I have a lot of energy and a brand-new outlook on life that I'm bringing on the road and I am ready to throw down.”

“Hillbillies in Hollywood” is now available to stream on all streaming platforms.

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Read the original article on People.