After two decades in the music business, Pat Green has learned what’s most important. “My happiness is being around my family and hanging out with my wife … and certainly I love being onstage,” he says.

The Texas native, who’s enjoyed national success, is back with his first album in five years. And he says he made Home his way.

“Making records by committee is kind of what I felt it was like on big record labels,” he explains. “It got tedious to me, and I wanted to be in charge again. So that’s what I did.”

On the 13-track album, which came out in August, Green is for the first time backed by his own band. “This is just my guys sitting down being creative and collaborative. It still sounds like me, but we didn’t put as much of a high shine on it — we let some of the edges hang out.”

Home includes seven songs co-written by Green as well as a number of tunes composed by some of Nashville’s heavy-hitters. Though he didn’t write it, the hardworking singer strongly relates to “While I Was Away.”

“Zane [Williams] was very gracious to let me cut that. It’s a different level of honest … square to the teeth of the emotions parents feel that are forced to go make a living when their kids are growing up.”

Home also includes a track co-written by Dierks Bentley and another by Jon Randall and Shane McAnally. Green also gets assists from Lyle Lovett, Sheryl Crow, Delbert McClinton, Lee Roy Parnell, and Marc Broussard.

Green hopes the new record gets his name back in the public, and he’ll work hard to do it.

“My philosophy on putting records out and on doing anything is you can’t outwork me. You gotta work as hard as you can if you want the project to be successful, and that means I’ve gotta press the flesh, smile pretty for the camera,” he explains.

“I don’t think I really put too much thought into it other than to say, 'Honey, I’m real sorry but I’m gonna be busting my ass for the next few months to get this thing out.’”

Green’s schedule is ramping up, and he’s got a number of Texas dates on the books, including September 19 at Globe Life Park in Arlington and October 3 at City Limits in Stephenville. The singer is excited to share what he calls his “baby” with fans.

“I think it’s the best I’ve ever done,” he says. “I’m just as proud as I can be.”