Carly Pearce is embracing her bluegrass roots with a new song, out now. The Kentucky native just released “What If You Loved Me,’ a song she sings with Dan Tyminski and Molly Tuttle. “What If You Loved Me” is part of Pearce’s forthcoming new album, Honest Woman, out on August 28.

“Bluegrass is such a cherished part of who I am as it’s where I got my start,” Pearce says. “To record a song that honors my roots with two artists that I have deep respect and admiration for is not only a special moment, but very emotional. Ten-year-old Carly, who grew up singing in bluegrass bands, would be over the moon to know she has a song with Dan and Molly (as is present-day Carly!). This is the perfect moment in my career to show fans this side of my heart.”

In a video shared on social media, Pearce reveals more of the inspiration behind “What If You Loved Me.” It started when Tyminski reached out to Pearce, after hearing that she was a fan of his and his music.

“When I started making my new album, Honest Woman, I got a random e-mail, saying that he had heard about the fact that I loved him, and that he was a fan, and that if I ever wanted to work with him, to let him know. I asked him to be a part of this album in a lot of different ways.”

Pearce goes on to reveal that she met Tuttle when Pearce was hosting CMA Country Christmas one year, and Tuttle performed on the show with her band.

“I just fell in love with her,” Pearce says. “She’s one of the greatest guitar players of all time, so I’m so excited to have her on this song.”

What Carly Pearce Says About “What If You Loved Me”

After years of hits that lean more towards modern country music, Pearce is happily leaning into her deep love of bluegrass.

“I wanted this song to feel traditional, and to feel truly bluegrass, from start to finish,” Pearce explains. “So it’s only Molly and Dan playing the instruments. Molly’s playing the clawhammer banjo and acoustic guitar, and Dan is playing the mandolin. It’s just the three of us singing.

“This song is one of my favorites on the album,” she continues. “It kind of tells the story of somebody who wonders all of the what-ifs, if the roles were reversed in a relationship that has broken up, where one person really still is in love with somebody, but the other is not. This really is such a part of my story. Really, I think it’s one of the best songs I’ve ever put out.”

What Carly Pearce Says About Her Love of Bluegrass

Pearce has had a lot of success in country music. But the time has never felt more right to return to her deep love of bluegrass, with “What If You Loved Me.”

“I’ve always loved bluegrass,” Pearce tells Everything Nash. “It’s always been something that I wanted to find the right time. I’ve wanted to do a bluegrass record, which I think I will at some point, but I got my start singing bluegrass. When I was 11, I was in a bluegrass band. A lot of the bluegrass artists would tell you, I used to go to bluegrass festivals when I was a kid. They all know me that way. So it’s always been a very big part of my love of music. But this was the right moment to kind of show that part of me.”

Honest Woman also includes her “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” duet with Riley Green, plus “Dream Come True,” “Church Girl,” “Who’s Lying Here,” also with Tyminski, and more.