Hunter Hayes was able to take a break from the road this Christmas season, but that does not mean he was not working on new material. The Louisiana native said he would be working with other songwriters during the holidays before heading to Nashville for a couple shows at the venerable Bluebird Café.

"My favorite thing to do is just go down to Louisiana — that's where I'm from — and just chill with the family," Hayes told Western TV in December. "Just go and sit on the couch and talk. Quality time is one of my favorite things in the world because we're always moving. So to sit still for a day is kind of unheard of."

He reiterated that sentiment to ABC News Radio this week, but added in some work plans.

"I just wanna chill," he said. "I just got a little bit of time to be creative in my little studio at home. Got some writers that are coming out to hang."

While being at home is nice, it's not exactly Hayes's favorite place to be.

"I'm always wanting to be on the road, so for me to be away from that for a minute, make me miss it even more, is probably a good thing even though I don't want to admit that," he said.

He played two fundraiser shows for Nashville's Alive Hospice Friday and Saturday nights, Jan. 2 and 3, at the Bluebird Café, performances in stark contrast to the arena headlining tour he has been on for most of the year.

"It feels freaking awesome," he told Western of the stadium tour. "This is exactly what I've always wanted to do. I've always wanted to do arenas and build a show for an arena."

Check out Hayes's latest single "Tattoo":

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