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Let the countdown begin… Carrie Underwood’s next album is set to release in June. The country music icon announced on her social media channels on Thursday morning (April 7). “I can’t wait any longer!!” Underwood exclaimed. “I have a new album coming June 10!”
Underwood’s upcoming project is Denim And Rhinestones. It’s available for pre-order beginning at midnight, according to her announcement on her social media channels. The name is perhaps fitting, especially as Underwood continues her jaw-dropping Las Vegas residency, which kicks up again in May. In a previous behind-the-scenes look at the jaw-dropping show, Underwood said: “There’s something glitzy and glamour-y about women in country music. We love our rhinestones, we love our wardrobe changes, we’ve been doing our own version of Vegas in Nashville for generations.” The Denim And Rhinestones album artwork, of course, shows Underwood posed in a denim dress layered with a denim jacket, with long rhinestone fringes cascading from her sleeves.
Denim And Rhinestones is the latest release from Underwood since she debuted “Ghost Story,” her latest single that she describes 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.” Underwood performed the song live for the first time at the 64th annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday evening (April 3).
The award-winning country artist started dropping hints about new music at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas last month. When media outlets asked Underwood whether she was working on a new album this year, she responded: “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.” She followed with a few additional clues on social media until finally releasing “Ghost Story” on March 18.
Aside from releasing some singles and collaborations over the years (including “Stretchy Pants” and “Only Us,” a duet with Dan + Shay for the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack), Underwood’s last country album was Cry Pretty, which she released in 2018. She released her holiday album, My Gift, in 2020 with a special edition in 2021, and My Savior, her debut gospel album last year. Underwood won a GRAMMY Award in the Best Roots Gospel Album category for My Savior on Sunday. She tearfully explained why the award was so meaningful to her: “I feel like it’s more important because I feel like this is one of the most important bodies of work I’ve ever been a part of, been able to do. This is one thing that I’ve wanted to do literally my whole career. I’ve wanted to make this album, and I got to, and this just means the world to me.”
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.
Until we get Denim And Rhinestones, listen to “Ghost Story” here: