Kernaghan spoke to the Mail-Times about his hopes for the new song before a soundcheck for his Horsham Town Hall concert on Friday.

He said the song called Feeling Pretty Naked would explore depression and the vital role played by family when people are feeling down and out.

"It's about depression and carrying a huge load. The love and how important your loved ones are to get through," he said.

Kernaghan said it was a privilege to return to the Wimmera - home of the first Spirit Of The Bush concert in March 2007.

He said seeing 20,000 fans at Longerenong that night had inspired him to write The Spirit Of The Bush song.

He said the song had raised more than $100,000 for drought affected families.

"One young family really had a profound impact on me," Kernaghan said of the Longerenong concert.

He said a young farmer had told him how he had lost the family farm but was still determined to keep farming.

"That's the spirit of the bush. I was absolutely inspired by that meeting and my experience in Horsham. That song has gone on to raise well over $100,000 towards helping Aussie Helpers do what they do," he said.

"The spirit of the bush style, born here in Horsham, continues to be a fundraiser."

Kernaghan will release his new album later this year.

He said he would look for more inspiration from this trip to the Wimmera.

He said meeting people while touring drought areas in his role as Australian of the Year last year had provided inspiration for songs on the new album.

"I met a terrific young bloke down in a dairy farming area of Victoria, his name was Mick. I said: `What do you do?' He said: `Lee, I milk cows'. The absolute pride in what he said inspired a song on the new record."

•A selection of photos from Kernaghan's Horsham Town Hall concert will appear in the Mail-Times later this week.