Carly Pearce candidly opened up about comparing herself to others with a “poignant” new ballad from her upcoming studio record.

Pearce’s “Happy For Myself,” appearing on Honest Woman, “unpacks the complicated reality of comparison through her real life story, capturing the quiet heartbreak in a single line: ‘How could good news be so damn hard?’” states a press release issued Friday morning (August 7).

The Grammy-winning country star recently shared the story that inspired the deeply vulnerable song. She said of the feelings she experienced after a close friend’s good news: “I was genuinely happy for her. I really was. But underneath that happiness was something I didn’t want to admit out loud: When would I get to be happy for myself? Because when you’re a woman, there comes a point where everyone else’s milestones can start feeling like evidence against your own life. Every engagement announcement. Every baby shower. Every wedding photo. They all seem to whisper the same question: ‘What’s wrong with me?’”

“This song is about the silent comparisons we all face in life. It’s about loving the people around you with your whole heart while quietly wondering when it’ll be your turn. ‘Happy For Myself’ is a true story for anyone who’s ever felt that way.”

“Happy For Myself” follows “Dream Come True,” “Church Girl,” “She Don’t,” “You Can Have Him,” “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” featuring Riley Green, and “What If You Loved Me” featuring Molly Tuttle and Dan Tyminski.

Honest Woman Track List

1. “Dream Come True”

2. “Church Girl”

3. “She Don’t”

4. “You Can Have Him”

5. “How Long”

6. “WWJD”

7. “Same Circus”

8. “Happy For Myself”

9. “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” Carly Pearce & Riley Green

10. “I Don’t Have The Heart”

11. “He Don’t Like My Dogs”

12. “Leave My Heart Alone”

13. “Who’s Lying Here” Carly Pearce & Dan Tyminski

14. “Daisy”

15. “What If You Loved Me” Carly Pearce, Molly Tuttle & Dan Tyminski

16. “Why God Why Me”

“When I started making Honest Woman, I found myself rediscovering who I am and why I wanted to be a country music singer in the first place,” Pearce said in a statement when she announced Honest Woman earlier this summer. “This album takes me back to the beginning of my story, where the sounds of classic country and bluegrass music shaped who I am. I’m so proud of this body of work, and I truly feel like it’s my best yet.”

Honest Woman follows hummingbird (2024), 29: Written in Stone (2021), Carly Pearce (2020) and Every Little Thing (2017). The Kentucky-born artist’s fifth studio record will arrive on August 28. Listen to “Happy For Myself” here:

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Angie Ward