"In our world, you just don't get those kinds of artists who really want to do that type of project very often," said Kendra Whitlock, director of pops and specials for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. "So when somebody like k.d. lang wants to do that, you just jump right on it," she told the Detroit News.

Lang is on tour across the United States and Canada, performing with various orchestras. The tour runs through July and then resumes in October.

Her new CD, "Hymns of the 49th Parallel," includes songs written by Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. It is set for release July 27.

The CD is lang's first release since doing "What A Wonderful World," her Grammy-winning duets record with Tony Bennett.