Months after the release of her latest studio album, hummingbird, Carly Pearce is savoring the success and reflecting on her journey. In an interview with PEOPLE, Pearce discussed the impact of female country artists, her forthcoming tour, and the simple joys in her life.
Pearce described the reception of hummingbird as gratifying. “I feel like people have really grown with me in this chapter, and it feels so good,” she said. The album, which she spent significant time crafting, was intended to offer a message of resilience and hope. “I wanted people to feel like you can get through anything if you really put your mind to it and try really hard to believe that there’s more to life than whatever you’re going through,” Pearce explained. She noted that fans have embraced this sentiment, finding comfort in her music.
The “What You Didn’t Do” singer emphasized her personal growth over the past few years. “It took a lot of life experience and a lot of turning the mirror on myself and going to therapy and doing the work,” Pearce said. She expressed a sense of peace about her identity and what she values in life.
On August 7, Pearce performed at Spotify’s Year of the Cowgirl event in Los Angeles, where she was joined by Brandi Cyrus for a DJ set and Carter Faith for a performance. Pearce highlighted the significance of female country artists in the genre. “The stories that a lot of the female country artists are singing speak to those subjects and they make people feel connected and empowered,” she said. “I think that’s a really important thing no matter how old you are.”
The Year of the Cowgirl initiative offers country music fans a dedicated space for female artists, including playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks. Pearce sees this as a valuable platform for showcasing the contributions of women in country music.
Looking ahead, Pearce is preparing for her upcoming hummingbird world tour, which kicks off on October 3 in Windsor, Ontario. The tour will cover over 40 dates across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom, culminating in Nashville. She will be joined by artists such as Karley Scott Collins, Matt Lang, Wade Bowen, and Faith on select dates.
“This is going to be my biggest tour yet,” Pearce said. “We’re just really leaning into what I’ve figured out over the last several years as far as who I am as an artist, what fans expect of me, how I can bring the show bigger and better than ever.” She expressed excitement about celebrating the milestones of the past five years in a grand way.
ADVERTISEMENT
For the tour, Pearce has a few essentials she considers must-haves: “Red wine, a good pair of running shoes, lots of lip gloss, and my Shih Tzus, Johnny and June.” She explained that having her dogs with her helps maintain a sense of home and comfort. “I try to bring things from home that make me feel normal. I cook on the bus, I have photos and things that remind me of my life,” Pearce said. “Just little things that make it not feel so isolated.”
Pearce recently made headlines for a different reason when she briefly halted her set at We Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, to remove an attendee who was being “mean” and disrespectful. Reflecting on the incident, Pearce expressed her stance on standing up for oneself. “You can’t be mean to people and expect people to tolerate it,” she said. “Especially as women, we’re conditioned to kind of just take it, and I want that stigma to go away because we deserve to be able to stand up for ourselves.” Pearce hopes this will encourage others to be kinder and more considerate in their interactions.
