Rising Star Lanie Gardner Set To Release Highly Anticipated Debut Album, ‘A Songwriter’s Diary’

Rising country act, Lanie Gardner first achieved widespread recognition when her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” went viral with over 55 million views. Now, she is ready to deepen her connection with her growing fanbase through her highly anticipated debut album, A Songwriter’s Diary, set to drop on October 25 via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.

The forthcoming project will certainly mark a milestone moment in the singer/songwriter’s career; however, Gardner is not celebrating today’s news as she originally had planned. Alongside the announcement, she revealed that her hometown of Burnsville, North Carolina was unfortunately in the path of Hurricane Helene, which brought devastating destruction to the people and places who have influenced her music. 

These 10 tracks now serve a much bigger purpose as they tell Gardner’s story of where she grew up, the family that raised her, and many of the memorable experiences she’s had over the years in the town that has been ripped apart.

“This is a bittersweet moment for me, I pictured it differently as I prepared and recorded these songs over the past several months,” she explained in a new Instagram post. “Now all I have are the memories and these songs which were written in Burnsville. I’m thankful for everyone who has been along with me for this journey— I can’t wait for you all to hear this music. I’ll have a few surprises for you along the way. Please pray for North Carolina and those who are impacted by Hurricane Helene across our country.”

With the tragic state of her home still looming overhead, Gardner has also taken the initiative to lead a food and necessities drive in Nashville. Donations are scheduled to be delivered to her hometown and surrounding areas on Saturday, October 5. 

Gardner is credited as a writer on every single song featured on this album, thus allowing her to give fans a deeply personal introduction to her unique blend of classic rock, soul, and country as well as her powerful storytelling that chronicles her journey as an artist so far. 

Listeners have already gotten a glimpse into A Songwriter’s Diary through previously released tracks, “Lord Knows” and “Mountains and Miller.” Plus, fans will likely be familiar with the album title as it was inspired by an Instagram series of the same name.

Today’s announcement is paired with the release of her new single, “Somewhere, Nowhere in Carolina,” a poignant tune filled with delicate guitar strums that delivers a raw illustration of the internal battle Gardner was facing at a time when she wasn’t sure the challenge or pursuing music was worth the homesick feelings. 

“I was defeated and wanted nothing more than to be ‘somewhere’ back home and ‘nowhere’ in my career,” Gardner shared about the song’s inspiration. “Today, I write songs for my fans, my friends, and my family who pulled me through such a dark time. But that day… I wrote a song for me.”

This kind of honesty is expected to run thick through the remainder of the project which is just a few weeks away from being unveiled. 

This summer, the songstress crossed off a number of bucket list items as she performed at this year’s CMA Fest and toured with major acts like Jelly Roll and ZZ Ward. Her momentum will continue next year when she takes the stage at Stagecoach 2025 alongside headliners Jelly Roll, Zach Bryan, and Luke Combs.