Catching up with country star Rodney Atkins before he hits Phoenix and Tucson this weekend

Country music star Rodney Atkins has been serenading crowds for over a decade with his anthem-like hits such as “If You’re Going Through Hell,” “Watching You” and “It’s America." In fact, the singer/songwriter has had six career No. 1 songs.

He’s taking them all on the road with his Greatest Hits Tour, which is hitting Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill in Phoenix Thursday and then Tucson at the Rialto Theatre on Sunday.

Atkins said it's an amazing feat for an artist to release a greatest hits album and is looking forward to bringing it to his fans.

“It’s every artist’s dream to release a greatest hits album,” he said. “I’m just so thankful that I’ve gotten that opportunity and that my songs resonate with so many people.

Smaller venues are just one example of the type of places Atkins will visit on the current tour. He’ll be playing at a variety of different places, including the Gratifonia Music Festival in Pennsylvania, the Columbia County Fair in New York and the Marion (Ohio) Popcorn Festival, just to name a few.

“I like playing all sorts of different venues because it allows me to play my music for all sorts of different people,” Atkins said.

The singer said that despite playing both large and small venues, he doesn’t necessarily prefer one type of venue over the other.

“Sometimes I’ll play a big venue and the vibe of the crowd will be totally different and maybe more mellow than I expected,” Atkins said. “But on the other hand, sometimes the smallest of venues can have a really lively, rowdy crowd. I like playing them both because the audiences are so different and that’s what really makes the shows fun for me.”