Carly Pearce has carefully and steadily built her brand around her authentic, heartfelt lyrics and a voice that blends traditional and modern country influences. Born on April 24, 1990, in Taylor Mill, Kentucky, Pearce developed a passion for music at a young age, performing with a bluegrass band at local festivals and events. Her love for country music led her to drop out of high school at 16 to pursue her dreams in Nashville, Tennessee. After years of hard work and perseverance, she gained significant attention with her breakout single ‘Every Little Thing' in 2017. The song, which was inspired by a personal heartbreak, resonated with fans and critics alike, earning Pearce her first gold-certified hit and establishing her as a rising star in the country music scene.
Over the years, Pearce has continued to captivate audiences with her poignant storytelling and emotive performances. Her subsequent albums, including ‘Carly Pearce' and the award winning, career-defining '29,‘ have showcased her growth as an artist, delving into themes of love, loss, and resilience. Pearce has received numerous accolades, including several CMA and ACM awards, solidifying her place in the country music landscape. Known for her ability to connect deeply with her audience, Pearce's music reflects her own life experiences and struggles, making her a relatable and beloved figure in the genre. With each new release, she continues to honour her roots while pushing the boundaries of contemporary country music and ‘hummingbird' is no exception. The album is a masterful exploration of personal growth, heartbreak, and resilience, all woven together with both the traditional and modern threads of country music.
Opening track, ‘country music made me do it,' sets the tone with a statement of Pearce’s deep-rooted love for the genre. Bluegrass-leaning guitars and fiddle melodies create a perfect backdrop for her lilting vocals, delivering a delightful singalong chorus that instantly hooks the listener. That bluegrass infusion can also be found elsewhere on tracks like ‘fault line' and ‘rock, paper, scissors.' The former is a retro sounding song in the same vein as greats like Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn. It's another story of a couple at odds with each other as Pearce details all the things that drive each other mad! ‘We’re living on a fault line and the fault is always mine,’ she sings on a song that would make a great single or radio song. ‘rock, paper, scissors,' meanwhile, is replete with more fiddles. It's a funky, uptempo number that seems to be set in the same post-Michael Ray, divorce world that many of Pearce's songs from her previous album ‘29’ were. “I was playing by the rules, he was playing me for a fool,” she sings against the rhythmic drums, bluegrass guitar and fiddles – all of which take it in turns to shine in the spotlight on this catchy, infectious song.
‘still blue,' perhaps, offers the most Bluegrass sounding vibe on the album, echoing the tone and feel of ‘Easy Going' from Pearce's '29' album. This mid-tempo, bluegrass-infused track finds Carly Pearce in a post-relationship world again but this time she's seeing blue skies and a positive future. The elongated chorus and instrumental flourishes create a chilled-out atmosphere that perfectly captures the sentiment of moving on without regrets.
Elsewhere,' hummingbird' is packed with more drama than all 64 seasons of Greys Anatomy combined! ‘truck on fire' dives into darker, funkier territory reminiscent of Pearce's mega-hit ‘Next Girl.' This clever, catchy song takes the scorned lover trope to a fiery new level, using the “liar, liar pants on fire” mantra to dramatic effect. The chorus, substituting pants for an adulterous guy's truck, makes it a perfect radio single, highlighting Pearce's knack for turning heartbreak into empowering anthems.
In ‘oklahoma,' a standout track placed at the album's midpoint, Pearce masterfully builds a narrative of leaving a relationship behind for an uncertain but better future. The song’s gorgeous melody and dramatic balladry culminate in the clever line, “I might be in Oklahoma but I’m not OK,” making it both relatable and deeply moving. This track, with its big, dramatic chorus, is sure to resonate with listeners navigating their own journeys of self-discovery and healing. Similarly, both ‘my place' and ‘woman to woman' also walk that fine line between personal introspection and relatable drama. The former is an intimate, personal song deliberately sequenced to follow ‘Oklahoma’. Here we find some sparse production with just guitar lines and quiet drums as Pearce finds herself in that post relationship space again. ‘I took all my dishes but I left my heart…….do you ever slip up and call her my name?’ she asks, wondering who’s filling her space now. Personal, intimate and very relatable, ‘my place' has lots of opportunities for singing in the shower or in front of your bedroom mirror with a hairbrush. ‘woman to woman,' meanwhile, is a darker, funkier southern song that finds Pearce imparting advice ‘woman to woman’ about the guy. “I’ve walked in your shoes, let his boots in my bed,” she warns, offering wisdom to the ‘next girl’ on a song that could even be the sequel to said mega hit. It's jam-packed with the same messages and very dramatic instrumentation with the guitars, fiddles and drums leading the way.
Title track, ‘hummingbird' closes the album on an intimate, reflective note. With its dark, dramatic melody and southern gospel-tinged chorus, Pearce uses the metaphor of hummingbirds to explore themes of strength, resilience and evolution. The song’s snappy, hypnotic bridge transitions seamlessly into a chorus that speaks to the universal struggle of saying goodbye and the process of healing and then another great Carly Pearce album comes to an end, leaving you both emotionally exhausted and uplifted at the same time!
‘hummingbird' is a testament to Carly Pearce’s ability to blend traditional country instrumentation with modern lyrical twists. Each track offers a unique perspective on love, loss and moving forward: making the album a deeply personal and universally relatable work. Pearce's vocals shine throughout, bringing authenticity and emotion to every song. The anger and withering annoyance that populated a good chunk of previous album '29' has been replaced on ‘hummingbird' with strength, healing and acceptance. Carly Pearce has, indeed, made lemonade from the lemons that life threw at her and she's a better, more resilient and evolved person for it now – that's the binding narrative of this exceptional album – an album that showcases her growth as an artist and her continued commitment to the roots of country music.
Track list: 1. Country Music Made Me Do It 2. Truck on Fire 3. Still Blue 4. Heels Over Head 5. We Don't Fight Anymore 6. Rock, Paper, Scissors 7. Oklahoma 8. My Place 9. Things I Don't Chase 10. Woman to Woman 11. Fault Line 12. Pretty Please 13. Trust Issues 14. Hummingbird Record Label: Big Machine Release Date: June 7th Buy ‘Hummingbird' right here.
This article contains an affiliate link. Purchases through this link may result in us earning a commission.
