Carly Pearce Exudes Confidence, Shows Vulnerability On New Self-Titled Album

It’s been a little over two years since Carly Pearce released her debut album, but a lot has changed since country fans were first introduced to the singer/songwriter. Pearce toured extensively, fell in love, got married and had a lot of time to figure out who she is as both an artist and a woman. All of that is reflected on her self-titled sophomore album, which boasts 13 tracks about life, love and everything in between.

From the flirty “Call Me,” to the sultry “Lightning In A Bottle,” to the emotional “It Won’t Always Be Like This,” the record showcases many sides of Pearce’s story and personality and is her most honest piece of work to date.

With newfound confidence, Pearce set out to make a record that reflected where she’s at in her life and that’s exactly what she did. Though it wasn’t always easy to open up, Pearce says she’s proud of the outcome.

“It’s not a concept album, it’s not anything of that sort but it is…there’s a common thread of who I am and what has happened to me and that vulnerability taken to another level,” she explains. “I feel like you see me on stage and you see me on social media but you don’t really know what’s been going on with me and I feel like when I hand this record to somebody or they get to hear it for the first time, here you go. It is raw and real and honestly, some of it is I think is more raw and real than anything I’ve put out ever and I hope that when people listen to it fans that know me kind of can hear more of my story and more than just the girl that sang at Dollywood or whatever, and I hope that fans that maybe are just discovering me hear just like a more sure of herself girl.” 

When it came time to choose a title for the project, the Kentucky native knew exactly what she wanted to do.

“I feel like so much has happened in my life both professionally and personally through this process of making this record that I felt falling in love and going through the experiences I’ve gone through and seeing how country music fans have opened their arms to me, I wanted to show that that has given me the confidence more than ever to be exactly who I am,” she explains. “I feel like this is a reflection in a body of work of that confident woman for the first time and so I really just wanted it to stand alone with my name.”

Carly Pearce also includes the buzzed-about track “Finish Your Sentences,” a duet between Pearce and her husband, Michael Ray. Pearce says Ray was a big inspiration behind the album and credits him for bringing out a new side of her personality.

“[He] made me almost feel alive,” she gushes. “I think I’ve had a lot of sadness in my life and I think that I didn’t even realize the way that certain things had affected me and he just kind of like made me see in color again.”

For more with Carly Pearce, check out the clip above.