Country music favorite Tyler Rich is closing out 2025 with a bang and a whole lot of heart.
Today (November 21), the singer officially drops the deluxe edition of Poppy & Iris, a 23-song project that bridges his albums Hello California and Leaving California with three brand-new tracks that bring his story full circle.
When Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder caught up with Rich on the red carpet at the 2025 SESAC Nashville Music Awards on November 16, he summed up his whirlwind year in the only way Tyler can — humble, candid, and unmistakably fired up.
“When I saw you here last year, I had just put out the first single for what has now become a double album,” he told us. “In the past 12 months, we’ve put out 20 songs… and today we’re dropping the deluxe. So 23 songs in 13 months — we’ve been busy. It’s been fun.”
And that momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The deluxe project features two new originals, “Cowboy Tears” and “Redwood,” along with the emotional bonus track “Dogs Don’t Die.” While the two core albums showcased his evolution, these new additions feel like the final pieces of a story he’s been crafting for years.
Rich told Celeb Secrets that the songs weren’t originally part of the plan. In fact, they were meant to kick off a third album.
“These new ones are actually songs I had written within the past six months. I thought they’d be for the next album, but they just fit the theme so well… lyrically and emotionally,” he said. “So I was like, let’s get crazy.”
Arguably the standout of the bunch, “Cowboy Tears” is a love letter to the comfort and consistency of long-term partnership. It’s a nod to his 10-year relationship with wife Sabina Gadecki, and even her lifestyle brand of the same name.
“Cowboy Tears is probably my favorite,” he shared. “I wrote this song about just being with somebody for 10 years… no matter what life is throwing at you, always keep chasing that person. When you have peace and comfort and love, nothing else really matters.”
Following that same thread, “Redwood” uses California’s iconic trees as a metaphor for enduring love. It’s introspective, emotional, and full of West Coast soul — a fitting final chapter to the California-themed double LP.
“It doesn’t matter what chaos is around you — you’ll always stand as tall and strong as a redwood tree,” Rich noted.
TYLER RICH
Fans who have followed Rich’s journey know how deeply he loved his late dog Abby, and this deluxe track sits at the heart of that grief. The song offers comfort to anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a pet, and marks the second time he’s turned Abby’s story into art, following the release of his children’s book Dogs Don’t Die earlier this year.
For Rich, Poppy & Iris isn’t just a massive musical drop, it’s a declaration of creative freedom.
“Going independent, staying independent, and finding creative freedom again… it’s the best,” he told Celeb Secrets. “We spent as much time as we wanted making sure the project felt the realest to me. There are some raw, honest lyrics in there that hit so many facets of life.”
Two years in the making, the project reflects everything he’s lived through, including heartbreak, homecoming, love, change, and resilience.
Though he just dropped a 23-song deluxe album, Rich made it very clear he’s not slowing down — even if he jokes otherwise.
“Never again… 23 songs, it’s over!” he joked. “But I’m always writing… I’ll probably do some duet versions. And we just recorded a full live digital copy of a hometown charity show. That’ll be coming out as a live album.”
As for the road, he admits the back-and-forth between touring and downtime is a never-ending internal battle.
“When you’re busy, all you can think about is getting home. Then when I’m home for 10 days, I go stir crazy,” he told us. “I know that come January 2nd, I’m going to be like… let’s go.”
Fans can catch him throughout November and December on the Leaving California Tour, and he’ll return to the stage in early 2026.
With Poppy & Iris, Tyler Rich delivers the most expansive, emotional, and authentically “him” project of his career so far. It’s a body of work that honors where he’s been, celebrates who he loves, and sets the stage for the next evolution of an artist who refuses to stop growing.
And if you ask him? He’s just getting started — even if he swears he’s done releasing 23-song albums.
For more on Tyler Rich’s new music, make sure to watch our full interview from the 2025 SESAC Nashville Music Awards below… and don’t forget to let us know what you think of Poppy & Iris by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
