NEWYou can now take heed to Fox News articles!
Carly Pearce is opening up concerning the difficult relationship between faith and identity that formed her upbringing within the South.
During a latest interview with Fox News Digital, the 35-year-old singer, who not too long ago teamed up with fellow nation star Riley Green for the sultry duet “If I Don’t Leave, I’m Gonna Stay,” mirrored on the that means behind her beforehand launched track “Church Girl.”
In the observe, Pearce sings to a younger girl who believes in God however wrestles with guilt and criticism from others for residing outdoors the bounds of a conventional Christian way of life.
CHRIS PRATT WARNS THAT HOLLYWOOD FAME AND SUCCESS ‘WILL KILL YOU’ WITHOUT STRONG FAITH FOUNDATION
Pearce, who grew up in a spiritual family in small-town Kentucky, defined that she instantly resonated with the themes explored in “Church Girl.”
“I think why I loved it so much is because as a woman of faith, especially in the South, it comes with a lot of things from your childhood — you know, around sex shame or the judgment and guilt that a lot of us feel just trying to navigate living a life that’s Christ-like, if you will,” she mentioned.
Carly Pearce mirrored on how being raised in a spiritual Southern family formed her id. (Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for ABA)
“And I obviously have had my own share of those struggles, being somebody who’s gone through a lot in the public eye and obviously gone through a divorce and different things like that,” she continued.
“And I wanted this song to be an anthem for anybody that’s on a journey to know that they’re seen and cared for,” Pearce added.
In October 2019, Pearce married fellow nation singer Michael Ray, however she filed for divorce simply eight months later in June 2020. The “Every Little Thing” hitmaker has beforehand described that interval as one of many hardest in her life and admitted to feeling disgrace round her divorce.
“I was embarrassed when it happened … and I had shame around that and was heartbroken,” Pearce recalled throughout an August 2025 look on Bunnie XO’s podcast, “Dumb Blonde.”
The singer admitted to feeling “shame” over her divorce from Michael Ray. (Gilbert Flores / Penske Media by way of Getty Images)
While talking with People journal in January, Pearce shared that she additionally skilled non secular guilt over the break up. She informed the outlet that she felt “Church Girl” was a track that she wished that she may have heard whereas she was rising up, saying that it helped her cope with the divorce.
GWEN STEFANI DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO RECEIVE LOVE BEFORE FINDING ‘CHRIST’S LOVE’ WITH BLAKE SHELTON
“I [also] needed it when I was going through a very public relationship splitting, and ‘Oh gosh, I feel like I’ve let God down of what marriage is,'” she recalled. “So many different things in my life that I’ve been like, ‘Well, does this mean I’m not a Christian? Does this mean that God hates me?'”
Pearce continued, “I think what I have come to find for myself is I wish I could go back and tell her, ‘You’re OK, you’re OK, and we’re all on a journey. We’re all figuring it out, and no matter where you’re at on your journey, Jesus loves you. I know that.'”
During her interview with Fox News Digital, Pearce mirrored on what she hopes people who find themselves struggling with their id and religion take away from “Church Girl.”
Pearce defined that “Church Girl” mirrored a lot of her private experiences. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMA)
NICK JONAS ‘QUESTIONED FAITH’ AFTER CHURCH FORCED FAMILY OUT OF HOME DURING EARLY FAME
“That you’re not alone and that we all have different struggles, and it is certainly not anybody else’s place to judge your struggle,” she mentioned.
Looking again on her spiritual upbringing, Pearce mentioned her religion has remained an anchor by way of the highs and lows of her profession.
“I think I rely on my faith a lot,” Pearce mentioned. “I think in a culture and in a business that’s so fleeting and up and down and such a roller coaster ride, I think it’s the thing that keeps me grounded.”
CANDACE CAMERON BURE REFUSES TO LET CANCEL CULTURE TAKE HER DOWN DESPITE INDUSTRY BACKLASH
“Church Girl,” which was launched as a single on Jan. 23, can be featured on Pearce’s upcoming fifth studio album. Pearce has beforehand mentioned that the album, which follows her 2024 launch “Hummingbird,” can be a return to her Kentucky and Appalachian bluegrass roots.
The Grammy Award winner has mentioned that her upbringing in a small city in Kentucky fashioned the muse for her love of music. (Getty Images)
While talking with Fox News Digital, the Grammy Award winner recalled her childhood in Kentucky as the muse of her love for music.
“I loved my childhood,” she mentioned. “I have the best family. I had the best grandparents that really instilled in me the country music — like, the traditional country music and bluegrass side of music. They were the ones that shaped my view of the Grand Ole Opry, my view of wanting to be a singer. I got my start as a very young girl, 10 years old, singing in a bluegrass band traveling around in Kentucky. So those memories, you know, it’s where my love of music started.”
Pearce defined that her upbringing nonetheless shapes the music she makes right now, saying, “That girl that was 10-years-old fronting a bluegrass band with men in their 40s and 50s — I think about her.”
“She is still kind of the same girl wanting to sing music that can stand the test of time, not, you know, hide behind a bunch of help in the studio or different things like that,” she continued. “And I think that rootsy side of me will always be there.”
Pearce is engaged on a brand new album, which is anticipated to be launched later this yr. (Getty Images)
Pearce and Green’s new duet, “If I Don’t Leave, I’m Gonna Stay,” will even seem on her forthcoming album. The sultry observe explores the stress between two individuals who know they shouldn’t be collectively however can’t appear to stroll away.
While talking with Fox News Digital, Pearce mirrored on whether or not she and Green drew on their very own private experiences to seize the push-and-pull dynamic on the core of the track.
“I think when you’re a storyteller and a songwriter and an artist, you have to kind of tap into different roles,” she mentioned. “Neither of us wrote this song, which is a little different for both of us since we’re primarily both songwriters of our own music. But I think it’s very easy to tap into this feeling. I’m sure that both of us at some point in our lives have stayed in a relationship too long and let that wheel continue to pull us back in at times.”
Pearce famous that she and Green did not report their vocals collectively however mentioned she gave the “Worst Way” singer some steering after laying down her a part of the observe.
The nation singer final launched an album in 2024. (Photo by Todd Williamson/NBC by way of Getty Images)
RILEY GREEN CHOOSES ALABAMA FARM OVER NASHVILLE FAME DESPITE HAVING ‘EVERY REASON’ TO MAKE THE MOVE
“I gave a little bit of a blueprint as to, “‘You sing right here, I’ll sing right here,’ and he simply nailed it,” she said.
“If I Don’t Leave, I’m Gonna Stay” was released on March 13 alongside the accompanying music video, which leans into the story of the song and features Pearce and Green as a couple caught in a steamy, on-again/off-again relationship. The music video’s debut prompted fan speculation of a real-life romance between the musicians due to their noticeable chemistry.
However, Pearce dismissed the dating rumors, telling Fox News Digital, “I really feel like anytime any particular person is related with one other particular person within the public eye, individuals can do this. But you already know, it’s make-believe. It’s present enterprise, and we have been enjoying the characters. But I believe followers, they wish to construct up any form of story that they’ll of their head.”
Pearce mentioned her forthcoming album can be a return to her bluegrass roots. (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Green is making his performing debut within the new Yellowstone spinoff “Marshals,” in which he plays a former Navy SEAL named Garrett. When asked whether she had also considered embarking on an acting career, Pearce said, “It’s been one thing that I might like to do.”
She continued, “I grew up doing musical theater and issues, and I’ve positively over the previous few years learn for some components, and it’s humorous — when Riley and I have been doing the video, he requested me if I needed to behave. And so yeah, I’m positively open to it and suppose it will be one thing that creatively I’m involved in.”
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Pearce and Green recently collaborated on the steamy new duet “If I Don’t Leave, I’m Gonna Stay.” ( Blue Highway Records)
Last month, Pearce cleared her Instagram feed, leaving just a single post, before she began teasing her new music. While speaking with Fox News Digital, Pearce shared why she had decided to make a fresh start on social media.
“I’ve been doing this a decade, which is loopy, at this stage,” she said. “And I believe at occasions, particularly in a world the place social media is form of the catalyst for all of us within the public eye, I believe I simply needed to be — I believe that is my most daring music. It’s essentially the most ‘me’ music, and I believe it was simply wanting individuals to see that new is coming and to prepare for it.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The track and music video for “If I Don’t Leave, I’m Gonna Stay” was released on March 13. (John Shearer)
Pearce told Fox News Digital that after a challenging last few years, she now feels like she is entering a new chapter in her life.
“I believe I’ve needed to get to a spot the place I believe society tells us to utterly overlook and, ‘Oh no, I’ve moved on, all the pieces’s fantastic,’ blah blah blah. But I believe I’m in this place of claiming all of these items have led me to be in a spot that I believe is my happiest and healthiest and finest season of my life. And I’m comfortable for the entire issues I’ve gone by way of.”
