Carly Pearce Shares the Story Behind ‘Dream Come True:’ ‘Every Line In the Song Is My Story’
Pearce says the idea for the song came from a very “genuine place.”
Photo Courtesy of Carly Pearce
Carly Pearce has always been known for her honesty with fans, sharing unfiltered glimpses of her life through her lyrics, and her latest release, “Dream Come True,” is no different.
Co-written with Lauren Hungate, Tofer Brown, and Emily Weisband, the track explores the sacrifices the Kentucky native has made throughout her life and career, reflecting on the unseen moments of loneliness and the struggles she faces behind the scenes.
In a recent interview on CBS Mornings, the GRAMMY winner shared more about writing the song and the emotions she poured into it, revealing, “Every line in the song is my story.”
“I wrote this song about a year ago… I’ve been doing this professionally for almost a decade, and there are high highs and low lows, and I really needed to figure out why I wanted to do music in the first place. I needed to reconnect with the dream,” she shared.
“And so I had moved into this house in a cul-de-sac. It’s four bedrooms, and I was surrounded by women my age who had husbands, families, and this life that I didn’t even realize I wanted until that moment.”
Pearce admits the song came from a very “genuine place” and that writing it helped her rediscover her passion for music.
“It helped me reconnect with the little dream that five-year-old Carly had, to sing country music and be on the Grand Ole Opry,” she said proudly.
While listeners outside the music industry may not connect with every detail, Pearce acknowledged that “everybody has had to sacrifice something in their life” and hopes fans will find their own meaning in the song.
“That’s kind of the universal message for me. I hope people, like me, are more willing to say that, because we all feel it. And it’s important not to be afraid to say it in a world where we live for the highlight reel…I feel lonely too sometimes.”
“Dream Come True” also touches on her mother’s illness, with Pearce singing: “My mama’s sick / Don’t see her that much when I’m on the road / And it’s gettin’ too hard to come to my shows / Like she used to / She says I can quit / But then all of her prayers would be in vain / She worked my whole damn life to make / This dream come true.”
The country star confirmed that her mom is doing “really, really well.”
“I wanted people to hear that part. When I played it for them, my parents had only heard the song once because they couldn’t handle it. But it’s a real moment, my mom moved me to Nashville when I was 15. She helped me so much, and now the very thing we wanted for me has almost kept me from being able to take care of her in times when she needs me, and she’s not able to be with me.”
“Dream Come True” offers a first-look at what’s to come for Pearce, who revealed that new music is coming “really soon.”
“January is going to be fun,” she teased.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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