The singer mentioned nothing about the follow up to 2014's The Outsiders on social media, and instead surprised devotees with the special delivery of the 10-song project, titled Mr. Misunderstood, on Tuesday (03Nov15).

One fan decided to upload the entire album to YouTube.com to share the tracks with others, but the post was promptly pulled down from the video-sharing site.

Church has yet to comment on the unconventional release, and it is not yet clear whether it will be released to the general public.

It's a great time to be Church - he is due to open the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night (04Nov15) with a cover of Neil Young's Are You Ready For the Country? with Hank Williams, Jr., while he has already been named a winner ahead of the festivities; he and pal Keith Urban have earned the Musical Event of the Year for their duet Raise 'Em Up.

The award was one of two honours announced early on U.S. breakfast show Good Morning America on Wednesday - Maddie & Tae claimed Music Video of the Year for Girl in a Country Song.