John Hiatt's in love -- and he tells us all about it on his new album, "Same Old Man," which arrived May 27 on New West. And he's in love with, of all people, his wife.

"It's a love fest," the veteran singer/songwriter tells Billboard.com with a laugh. "Twenty-two years and it just keeps getting better."

Hiatt, who's been know to pen some wry takes on human relationships in the past, says that a change in circumstances at home inspired the unapologetically romantic tone of "New Old Man." "You know what happened -- the last kid left the house, man," he says. "It's that simple, really. We finally had some free time, me and the missus, and we've just been acting like a couple of kids. So I wrote a bunch of love songs."

Perhaps owing to the personal nature of the songs, Hiatt also chose to produce "New Old Man" himself, recording with a band that includes North Mississippi All Stars and Black Crowes guitarist Luther Dickinson, former Frank Zappa bassist Patrick O'Hearn and Goners drummer Kenneth Blevins, with Hiatt's daughter Lilly singing harmony on "Love You Again" and "What Love Can Do."

"I figured it was time for me to (produce)," Hiatt says. "I just didn't want to collaborate with anybody. It was time to give it a shot and take the credit -- or take the blame, as the case may be. It was mostly just exciting and fun. It was a great learning experience."

Hiatt is taking "Same Old Man," which debuted at No. 5 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart, on the road, beginning with a three-night stand July 6-8 in Alexandria, Va. On Sept. 18 Hiatt will receive the Lifetime Achievement Songwriting Award from the Americana Music Association at its annual conference and festival in Nashville.