Carrie Underwood finally released her latest single on Friday (March 18), after dropping several hints at new music. The country hitmaker describes the new song as “a really powerful revenge song… But this time instead of smashing his headlights with a baseball bat, she’s just going to haunt his every waking moment. She’s not just the one that got away, but she’s the one that he cannot forget.”
The new single, “Ghost Story,” was written by Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey and David Garcia, and co-produced by Garcia and Underwood. Underwood said she loved the song immediately when she heard it because it “was so cinematic… We like our revenge songs in country music, and I certainly do. This was kind of done in a way that it was a different kind of revenge song. She’s not doing anything to get back at him, but it’s like, he would’ve known he made a mistake by breaking up with her. She kind of haunts him. He sees her everywhere.”
Her favorite lyric of the new song is “I’ll be haunting you, you’ll be wanting me.” Underwood explained that it’s her favorite because, “when you think of someone haunting you, you see that person everywhere….and it’s such a cool way to say, ‘you’re never going to get rid of me. You’re always gonna think about me,’ to say you’re haunting someone. I thought that was a really cool lyric.”
Underwood first played the new song for her band, noting that they would have to learn it “to get ready for all the things that are about to happen,” Underwood said. “I think they’re excited for everything else that is to come with this whole project.”
Underwood started dropping hints at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas earlier this month. That’s when media outlets asked the award-winning artist — particularly, winning the Single of the Year award for “If I Didn’t Love You” with Jason Aldean — whether fans can expect a new album from her this year. Underwood said: “I mean, I’m always working on something. Obviously we can’t spill too many beans right now, but my fans know what I mean when I say ‘soon.’ Soon. They actually hate it when I use that word because they’re like, ‘what does that mean?!’ But (I’ve) been busy, for sure.”
After that, Underwood began ramping up the suspense. She posted a photo from the studio, captioning “did a thing…” Then, she announced the new release date and confirmed the title of the new song with a short sound bite, before posting a 15-second lyric video with a snippet of the song. Aside from a few singles and collaborations (including “Stretchy Pants” and “Only Us,” a duet with Dan + Shay for the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack), Underwood released her holiday album, My Gift, in 2020 with a special edition in 2021, and My Savior, her debut gospel album last year. Underwood’s last country album was Cry Pretty, which she released in 2018.
Underwood is one of many artists included in the star-studded lineup at the iHeartCountry Festival presented by Capital One, set for May 7 in Austin, Texas. Fans can tune in and stream the 2022 iHeartCountry Festival on iHeartMedia's Country music radio stations in local markets across the country, as well as on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio app on May 7th at 8pm ET/5pm PT (7pm CT). Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com.
Listen to “Ghost Story” here: