Country superstar Tim McGraw choked back tears as he paid tribute to his wife Faith Hill at a press conference held to announce his new record deal on Monday.

After a year-long battle with the bosses at his former label Curb Records, McGraw has joined Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and Rascal Flatts as a Big Machine Records artist - and he chatted to the media at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to celebrate.

Insisting, "I'm just getting started," McGraw paused to acknowledge his wife, who has stood by him during his legal wrangles with his former record label bosses."

He said, "Like many musicians, I came to town with a dream. I wanted to see if people outside of my family liked my music. I wanted to see if maybe I'd fall in love one day. And I did. I fell in love with Nashville. I fell in love with music. And I fell in love with the most beautiful woman in the world."

"Without her, I think it's safe to say that my path would have ended a long time ago. She's the reason I'm here today."

McGraw was was legally freed from his longtime contract with Curb Records in November and he revealed he has 20 new tracks already written and recorded for his first release as a Big Machine star. He also hinted at an album project with Hill, explaining the couple was trying to find the time.