With his bottom-of-the-whiskey-barrel baritone and an affinity for a style of C&W that was created when Ernest Tubb was learning to shave, Chris Young's contemporary fans probably think he's invented something new.

And, in a way, he has. Art, after all, continually re-generates itself, and Young, with millions of records sold after he won the 2006 "Nashville Star" competition, gradually became an arena headliner who mixes the newest trends with the past.

Young visits the Mohegan Sun Arena Sunday on the strength of his latest album. Titled "Famous Friends," the recording continues Young's evolution with plenty of sad balladry to reflect the times while also contributing fun tunes like "Hold My Beer and Watch This."

Chris Young, 7 p.m. Sunday, Mohegan Sun Arena; $39-$59; www.mohegansun.com.