Carly Pearce is preparing to release her fifth studio album, "Honest Woman," which she co-produced with Ben West. Pearce described the upcoming album as her most vulnerable work yet, aiming for greater honesty and personal depth than her previous records.
One song that proved particularly challenging was "Church Girl," which combines themes of religion and other sensitive topics. "Any time you talk about religion or... Sex, drugs, drinking, same sex and Jesus all in the same sentence, that's a lot," Pearce told Fox News Digital. Despite the potential for controversy, she felt it was important to express her beliefs. "I think the song that probably was a bit scary for everybody was 'Church Girl,'" she said. "I thought it was important for me to put my flag in the ground on things that are important to me, and doing so makes me proud."
Pearce views "Honest Woman" as a spiritual successor to her 2021 album "29," calling the two records "cousins" and "friends" that are interconnected.
"Dream Come True" was the first song written for "Honest Woman." Pearce stated that writing this song revealed a personal need to embark on a journey of self-discovery. "I think that song in particular opened up my eyes to what needed to happen in order for me to make this record, which was I needed to go on a quest and find myself again," she explained.
To support the album's release, Pearce will embark on the "Honest Women: Up Close" tour, featuring two-night residencies in several North American cities. The tour is scheduled to begin Sept. 10 in Detroit, with dates in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Toronto, Boston, and concluding in New York City on Oct. 22. Pearce noted that fans attend her shows for the storytelling and singing, leading her to design the tour to honor the album's narrative focus.
The album also features collaborations with artists such as Dan Tyminski, Molly Tuttle, and Riley Green. Pearce praised Green's ability as a storyteller, stating, "He is such a great storyteller and artist that I really wanted to be a part of that." She highlighted his talent for captivating audiences with simple, powerful performances.
"Honest Woman" is slated for release on Aug. 28.