Lauren Watkins is living proof that you don’t need a “perfect world” to be living your dream. In fact, she’d argue the beauty lies in the chaos.
The Nashville native and Big Loud/Songs & Daughters artist has officially stepped into her next era with the release of her debut full-length album, In A Perfect World, out now. The milestone moment comes hand-in-hand with a pair of major firsts she experienced this past Friday (October 10) — a national TV debut on NBC’s TODAY with Jenna & Friends and her first-ever Madison Square Garden performance, opening for reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson on The Whirlwind World Tour.
“I’m just so ready for the world to get to see this side of me,” Watkins tells Celeb Secrets in our exclusive interview. “I’ve been so intentional and particular about everything that went into it. It’s been a lot of work — but I’m excited. I’m ready for people to hear it.”
The album’s title track isn’t just the name of the album, it’s the heart of it. With her signature blend of lyrical sharpness and smoky southern vocals, Watkins turns the concept of “perfection” on its head.
“In a perfect world, we’d have all this money, steady jobs, and we’d never fight — but thank God it’s not perfect,” she says with a smile. “Because if it were, it’d be pretty boring. This album embraces the good, the bad, and the ugly of life. It’s just… reality.”
That reality — one filled with duality, depth, and homegrown charm — defines every note of the ten-track record. Produced by Watkins’ husband, CMA and ACM Award winner Will Bundy, In A Perfect World finds her fully at ease in the push and pull of love, marriage, and music.
Watkins first made waves with The Heartbroken Record in 2024, a raw and rebellious project that put her on the map as one of country’s most honest rising songwriters. Now, she’s grown into that honesty, channeling her own evolution — from heartbreak to home life — into something equally vulnerable but a little lighter around the edges.
“There’s still plenty of heartbreak and hardship in this record,” she explains. “Even when you’re married, life isn’t perfect. I wanted this album to show that love is tough, and it takes work, but it’s also the strongest thing there is.”
Songs like “Average Joe & Plain Jane” and “Pretty Please” showcase Watkins’ storytelling superpower: vivid, tender, and real. The former, a “colorful, cinematic” portrayal of everyday love, pushed her to write outside her comfort zone.
“I wanted it to feel so visual that you could see yourself in that world,” she shares. “We wrote the first verse and chorus and were like, ‘Okay, this is great. Now we can’t mess it up.’ It turned out exactly the way I wanted — representative of my life, and hopefully everyone else’s too.”
When it comes to her biggest muse, Watkins doesn’t have to look far — she shares both her home and her creative vision with Bundy, who co-wrote and produced much of In A Perfect World.
“Working on the record with my husband has been so special,” she says. “He’s the hardest worker I know. Watching him pour his heart and soul into this project made me want to work harder too. He’s very structured and mathematical, and I’m… not,” she laughs. “He helps me figure out what I want to say and how to say it. It’s the best balance.”
That balance extends beyond the studio, too. Watkins’ year has been nothing short of monumental. From her Opry debut to joining Lainey Wilson on tour and performing at Madison Square Garden the same day her album drops, the sky is the limit for the budding singer/songwriter.
“It’s surreal,” she admits. “I’ve been trying to take it one day at a time, otherwise, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. My marriage keeps me grounded. No matter what happens, that’s my constant. My husband would never let me be anyone other than myself.”
At her core, Lauren Watkins is still the dreamer who grew up cruising down Broadway, watching the neon lights bounce off bar windows and believing in the power of a good country song.
“Nashville will always be my home,” she says warmly. “It’s why I love country music in the first place. I can’t forget driving past those little bars and thinking, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ I see it every day — and it keeps me rooted.”
That grounding energy carries into the small rituals that make her who she is — like her morning coffee and her favorite vintage magazines.
“I flip through Better Homes & Gardens and Southern Living every morning instead of my phone,” she laughs. “It starts my day with bright colors, recipes, and little joys. It’s my own kind of magic.”
As for secrets, she leaves us with one that hints at something deeper to come.
“The album ends on ‘Pretty Please,’ and it leaves you with this kind of unsettling feeling,” she teases. “There’s a very specific reason for that… but I’ll leave it at that.”
In A Perfect World is Lauren Watkins’ most personal project yet, as its a portrait of imperfection that feels perfectly her. Between the steel guitars, golden-hour glow, and heart-on-her-sleeve honesty, it’s clear that Watkins isn’t chasing perfection; she’s defining it on her own terms.
“Life’s not supposed to be perfect,” she says. “We’re meant to live it, learn from it, and love through it — that’s where the real beauty is.”
For more on Lauren Watkins and her debut album, make sure to watch our full interview below… and don’t forget to let us know if you’re loving the album by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
