Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
“These songs feel like the perfect way to end this chapter and look forward to what’s ahead after a difficult five years,” Pearce shared with PEOPLE.
As Carly Pearce sees it, “where there’s no rain, there’s no flowers” — and now she’s ready to share the final piece of her healing journey.
In 2024, the country singer released Hummingbird, an album that symbolized her recovery from heartbreak, following the deeply personal themes in her 2021 album 29. Now, Pearce is wrapping up her Hummingbird era with a deluxe edition that naturally connects the two records.
“‘Heart First’ and ‘If Looks Could Kill’ are actually songs I wrote during the 29 writing sessions, but they didn’t make that album. Now, I feel like they’re important pieces of the story,” Pearce, 34, told PEOPLE. The singer is also set to perform on the Stagecoach main stage this April.
“‘No Rain’ was written just two months ago, actually for my new album that I’m working on,” she added.
Pearce admitted she usually doesn’t revisit older songs since she prefers to write in the moment. “If you don’t make the album, sorry, you’re done,” she joked. However, with Heart First and If Looks Could Kill, she kept feeling drawn back to them.
“They feel like the voice of the girl who was part of the Hummingbird album,” Pearce explains. “They reflect that woman in her early 30s, navigating the pain of falling too fast for someone and having her heart broken, or watching someone she once loved move on and find their person — and how hard that can be.”
The Still Blue singer shared that these stories mirror her own experiences with love over the past few years. She felt that if she delayed releasing the songs any longer, they wouldn’t align with the next phase of her life and the direction of her upcoming project.
In the end, these three songs — along with an acoustic version of Oklahoma and Things I Don’t Chase — symbolize the closing of this emotional chapter for Pearce.
“These songs feel like the perfect way to wrap up this period and look forward to what’s next after five challenging years,” Pearce says.
Pearce emphasizes that her journey wasn’t just about her divorce — she’s faced several relationships over the past five years that didn’t work out.
“I’m about to turn 35, and I’m finally reaching a point where I’m OK with myself,” she shares. “I believe you have to go through the rain to see the flowers — as cheesy as that sounds — but that’s why.”
Finding her way back to music didn’t happen overnight. After 29, Pearce needed time to heal before returning to songwriting. Now, she’s feeling more inspired than ever.
“I feel really motivated and excited about creating new music,” she says. “You’re going to hear it sooner than expected — probably by the end of the year,” she adds, noting that the creative process has been flowing naturally.
In the meantime, Pearce is continuing her Hummingbird tour, which concludes on May 16 at Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium. Before that, she’s set to return to the Stagecoach Festival on April 25, marking her first performance there in eight years.
“I’ve always wanted to return,” Pearce recalls. “I played two very small shows at Stagecoach back in 2018 when my career was just starting — I think Every Little Thing was the only song I had out at the time.”
Reflecting on her excitement, she adds, “What I love about the festival — and what I’ve had FOMO about for the past eight years — is how special the culture is. From the fashion to the diverse lineup of artists each night, it’s such a unique experience, and I get to share the stage with so many musicians I admire.”
For her upcoming performance, Pearce promises to “keep the energy up” while letting the music take center stage.