Carly Pearce has a new song, “Church Girl,” out now. The song, from her next album, is personal to Pearce, written as encouragement to anyone who is on a faith journey.

“I think the whole theme for me with new music right now, I want to be bold,” Pearce tells Everything Nash. “And I want to really stand on vulnerability, in maybe a way that people haven’t heard from me. I know they’ve heard it relationship-wise. But ‘Church Girl,’ for me, I’ve grown up a Christian my whole life. My faith is very important to me. And I think that throughout my life, I’ve had some not-so-perfect things happen to me that have sent me on a journey with my faith. Over the last several years, fans have come to my shows, and they’re also on a journey.

“I think at this point in my life, and at this point in my career, I’m reflecting a lot,” she continues. “And I just felt like this song is so important right now, of all times, for anybody who has felt shame or guilt or judgment or left out, to know that no matter where you are on your journey, you’re welcome at my shows.”

“Church Girl” says in part, “So you like to get high when you talk to Jesus / So you love who you love and you go out on the weekend / So you drink and you think for yourself / That don’t mean you’ll go to Hell when you leave this world / Just ’cause you heard it in church, girl.”

Carly Pearce Talks Evolution As An Artist With “Church Girl”

In 2020, Pearce released “Next Girl,” the first single from her vulnerable 29: Written in Stone album, about her painful divorce. In the six years since then, Pearce has grown and evolved as an artist and a person.

“I love a good play on words,” Pearce admits. “And that song was like an anthem that really, if you listen to the lyrics, was pretty tough to think about. But I think what that album, 29, and what songs like ‘Next Girl’ taught me is just who I am as an artist. I think about all of the life that I have lived since then. I don’t even think that I’d processed at that time what had gone on in my life. So I sit here now ready to sing a song like ‘Church Girl,’ ready to stand proudly as a woman of faith that says, ‘You’re accepted by me.’ It is not me preaching to anybody. It is not me questioning the church or God or anything. It is just me taking this song and really wanting people to feel accepted.”

Carly Pearce Talks About Her Faith Journey and Spiritual Beliefs

Pearce has been open about her faith and her spiritual beliefs. For the Grand Ole Opry member, it’s the only way to show fans who she really is, both on and off stage.

“It’s a big part of who I am,” Perce maintains. “It always has been. I feel like I’ve always been somebody who, long before I was a successful artist, that’s what I turned to. But even more so, it’s something that’s really the north star of my life. And in a life of chaos, that is a constant, and probably the only thing that is truly constant and unconditional in my life. And so, it’s a strong, strong pillar for me, and something that I like to share with fans. I like to share verses that mean something to me, or different things that help me on days that maybe are a little harder than others.”

Pearce has a new single, “Dream Come True,” at radio now.

Photo Credit: Luke Rogers