If you’ve walked through the streets of Nashville over the last few weeks, you’ve probably felt the undeniable electricity in the air. CMA Fest 2026 brought the heat, but nobody dominated Music City quite like Carly Pearce. From packing out Spotify House and rocking Nissan Stadium to dropping breadcrumbs about her next musical chapter all over town, the Kentucky native has been a beautiful whirlwind of energy.
The rumors can officially be put to rest. Today (June 23), the GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM-Award-winning superstar officially announced her highly anticipated fifth studio album, Honest Woman, arriving August 28 via her brand-new label home, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. To celebrate, she also gifted fans a brand new track, “She Don’t,” which is available on all platforms right now.
Celeb Secrets Country caught up with Carly at the Music City Center during CMA Fest on June 5 for her 5th annual Carly’s Closet charity pop-up — which raised an incredible $20,000 for the CMA Foundation. Rocking a stunning vintage Ralph Lauren set, Carly gave us the exclusive inside scoop on her new music, her evolution as a woman in the industry, and the one thing she wants her loyal fans to know about this next chapter.
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Stepping into Carly’s Closet, it was immediately clear that Carly isn’t just shifting her sound—she’s shifting her style.
“Well, my new music, I’m kind of in my lace era,” Carly exclusively told Celeb Secrets, gesturing to her gorgeous outfit. “This is a vintage Ralph Lauren set. It’s nice, and then we added some lace. It’s fun!”
That mix of classic elegance and raw authenticity perfectly mirrors the music she’s making. After a decade in the business, Honest Woman serves as a powerful sonic return to form, deeply rooted in the traditional country and bluegrass sounds she grew up on in Kentucky. Co-produced by Carly alongside longtime collaborator Ben West, the 16-track album features massive collaborations with Riley Green, Dan Tyminski, and Molly Tuttle.
“I grew up on traditional country music and bluegrass… and it was such a fun, um… You know, my fifth album, I’ve been doing this for a decade,” Carly reflected. “I just felt more myself than ever, and felt ready to just take everything out of my head of what people think I should do, and all of these different things. I got more honest than I ever have and celebrated just being a woman in this business. There’s so many different things that I think people are gonna learn about me that maybe they haven’t known yet.”
Through the highs and lows of the spotlight, Carly has emerged stronger and more introspective than ever. When asked what she learned about herself during the creation of this record, her answer was beautifully grounded.
“I think I learned that life experience and where you’re at in this moment is an asset and is a strength,” she shared. “All of the good, the bad, the ugly, the highs, the lows… they make you exactly where you’re supposed to be.”
For Carly, CMA Fest isn’t just about performing on the biggest stages — it’s about looking her fans in the eye and saying thank you. Carly’s Closet has officially become a staple of the festival, allowing fans to raid her personal wardrobe to support music education.
“I had hoped that it would be [a staple],” Carly smiled, thinking back on the event’s five-year journey. “Just because I know, like, as a kid, I would’ve died to raid my favorite artists’ closets! I kind of still might. Like, I’d love to raid Karen Fairchild‘s closet. But it’s just fun. I really think this weekend is about giving back to the fans, because they give us so much. To me, this is a very unique experience — not just coming to see me sing, but like, you get to know me a little bit better.”
The momentum didn’t stop at CMA Fest. On June 10, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville proudly announced the signing of Carly to their recorded music roster (she has been a celebrated BMG Publishing writer since 2015). With Stoney Creek Records serving as the radio imprint, Carly is already climbing the charts with her smoldering, “blockbuster duet” with Riley Green, “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay.”
“Signing with BMG feels less like turning a new page and more like finding the best next chapter,” Carly said of the monumental move. “I am incredibly grateful to be surrounded by a team that truly hears my voice and matches my ambition. The horizon looks exactly how it’s supposed to.”
If there is one definitive takeaway from sitting down with Carly Pearce in 2026, it’s that she is thriving. Despite being famous for her heart-wrenching, beautifully vulnerable tear-jerkers, she wants the world to know she is standing firmly in her joy.
“Oh my gosh… I want people to understand that I’m really happy,” Carly told us with a bright smile. “I think people assume because I sing about a lot of hard things, that I’m not. Um, I’m very happy and very excited for people to hear the new music.”
To support the release of Honest Woman, Carly is taking these deeply personal songs into intimate venues for a special two-night residency tour across North America, presented by Conundrum Wines. The Honest Woman: Up Close Tour kicks off September 10, featuring support from Belle Frantz.
Official Fan Club presales begin today, June 23 at 12pm local time, with general tickets going on sale Friday, June 26 at 10am local time at fanclub.carlypearce.com. For more on Carly and her new chapter of music, make sure to watch our full interview below — and don’t forget to let us know if you’re excited for Honest Woman by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
“Honest Woman: Up Close” Tour Dates:
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Sept 10 & 11 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall
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Sept 16 & 17 – Chicago, IL @ Joe’s on Weed
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Sept 18 & 19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
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Sept 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
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Sept 29 – Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Museum
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Oct 15 & 16 – Toronto, ON @ Toronto Opera House
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Oct 18 & 19 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
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Oct 21 & 22 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
For more Country news, visit CelebSecretsCountry.com. For more coverage from CMA Fest 2026, click here.
