Photo credit: Thomas Crabtree
Called “a legend of legends” by NPR, last month Wynonna Judd rose from the ashes like a phoenix, announcing her first new studio album in a decade. Titled ‘The Hard Truth’ and coming out on 2nd October on ANTI- Records, these ten songs feature her first-ever album co-writes and speak directly to the highs and lows of her own life’s journey.
“I’ve spent a lifetime singing about heartbreak, healing, faith, and survival, but I’ve never made a record like this one,” Wynonna explained. “These songs tell the truth about where I’ve been, what I’ve lost, what I’ve overcome, and who I’ve become. This album asked me to be brave enough to tell the truth—even when my voice shook. It challenged me to let go of perfectionism and embrace the beauty of honest emotion.”
Today she shares ‘Am I Missing Out‘, a song sung from the perspective of a young Wynonna realizing some essential part of herself was eclipsed in a world where she had to grow up overnight. In every artist’s life, there are seasons when relevance feels fragile. This song rises from that place of questioning—a heartfelt cry to God, asking what’s missing and why the emptiness lingers. It captures the quiet ache that can exist even at the height of success. Listen + watch the song’s new video below.
WATCH ‘AM I MISSING OUT’ VIDEO
LISTEN TO ‘AM I MISSING OUT’
A star her entire adult life, Wynonna’s first number one hit, ‘Mama He’s Crazy‘, was released while she was still a teenager. It was the first of eight consecutive number one singles she released with her mother Naomi, performing as The Judds.
When Wynonna set out on her own in 1991, her first three solo singles likewise topped the Country charts. Since then, she’s had multiple solo albums reach multi-platinum sales. She has performed everywhere from The Oprah Winfrey Show and the Kentucky Derby to the Super Bowl halftime show. Her spectacular voice still flaunts a power as limitless as her horizons. But this time, listeners will hear that voice stripped down, with no effects, as she dives deep and delivers up her soul.
‘The Hard Truth’ has a major contributor in the form of producer Cactus Moser, Wynonna’s partner in music and life. What they’ve created together is an unvarnished elegy to the dead and the missing, an album that pays tribute to choosing love in the face of suffering. “Being a part of this record and helping bring these songs to life as its producer, has been the most important work I’ve known,” said Moser. “We started with nothing but a feeling and emotion and ended up with an entire album that captures Wynonna’s story with a level of honesty she’s never experienced in her career. It’s the kind of record that makes a difference and reminds you why music exists in the first place.”
‘The Hard Truth’ is a tribute to deep sorrow and dogged persistence that strips away layer after layer of the lush production that defined Wynonna’s previous recordings, delivering her most personal and powerful work yet. ANTI- is proud to continue its tradition of embracing American legends and giving them a platform to reach new heights. Pre-order limited edition color vinyl in her webstore HERE.
WATCH ‘KENTUCKY QUEEN’ VIDEO
PRE-ORDER ‘THE HARD TRUTH’
