Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/AP ImagesBilly Currington wanted to be a high school football star but turned to music instead.

Being at the right place at the right time helped Billy Currington go from being a personal trainer to a No. 1-selling country singer.

Growing up in Rincon, Ga., Currington always had the goal of making it big in country. "Well, that was after I wasn't going to make it as a football star," he said. "I didn't have the grades as a senior in high school so I couldn't play. So I focused on music."

Currington, 36, did like most country-singing wannabes by moving to Nashville. He had several odd jobs, including being a personal trainer at a Gold's Gym.

That's when fate stepped in. Currington met Gary Voorhies, who worked for a music publishing company, at the gym. Voorhies invited Currington to sing and play some music. Not long after that meeting, Currington got a publishing deal.

"I had known him for more than a year but we never discussed music until one day when he was wearing this hat -- BMI -- and I asked him whether he was in the music business," said Currington about Broadcast Music Inc., which deals in royalties for songwriters. "That led to a bunch of meetings, and I got my deal."

Now, Currington is releasing his fourth album -- Enjoy Yourself -- on Tuesday. It features the song "Pretty Good at Drinking Beer," which is in the top 5 on radio this week.

"Even doing odd jobs, I never gave up," Currington said. "I still try to get to the gym. But now I'm setting my sights on bigger things."