2020 wasn’t easy for anyone, but especially Carly Pearce. The singer went through a very public divorce with fellow country music singer Michael Ray, while being forced to stay away from the one thing that brought her comfort: the stage.
“I truly thought I was going to die at the beginning of quarantine,” Pearce admits to The Christian Post.
If there is a silver lining to the struggles, Pearce says it forced her to dig even deeper into her faith, admitting that she learned plenty amid the struggles.
“He actually promises us that we will walk through hardships on this Earth,” Pearce says. “But He doesn’t walk us through anything that He’s not going to use for good, and I see now how some of the most horrific parts of my life are now being validated and redeemed for good to be helpful for other people.”
The Kentucky native joined her good friend, Matthew West, on a new version of his “Truth Be Told” single, a collaboration that came at the perfect time.
“Nobody wants to talk about divorce, especially as a woman under 30,” Pearce reflects. “I just felt like it was the perfect song for me to speak to because it resonated so much with me, and I knew that the message of ‘not being OK is OK,’ is something that more people need to accept.”
Now that Pearce is on the other side of her grief, she hopes her experience can help and inspire others.
“I think [women] strive to be perfect and to have it all together and have this picture-perfect life,” Pearce says. “Our persona is we can do anything; we are superwomen, we are warriors, we are resilient. And yes, women are amazing, but women can also have challenges. … I wish that more women would be vulnerable with other women because none of us on this side of Heaven will ever reach perfection. I think that needs to be normalized.”
Pearce is also returning to the road, heading out with Lady A on their What a Song Can Do Tour in July. More than just the chance to perform again, the 31-year-old is also eager to spend time with Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood.
“Their vulnerability is what kept me alive,” Pearce maintains. “I’m so excited to be able to share this tour with them. It’s so special because I feel like this is a tour that none of us will ever take for granted. I can’t even explain how excited I am to be able to see smiles and people gathered to listen to music.”
Pearce shared much of her story in her telling 29 EP, inspiring plenty of her fans to share their own personal stories of heartbreak and loss as well.
“I feel like I’m like a country music therapist,” Pearce says. “This is my third record, but I feel closer to my fans than ever before because I was so honest and truthful. All the pain that I went through — I would do it all over again just because of how I’ve been a vessel to spread light to people.”
Pearce hopes that other people can see her story, and know that she empathizes with whatever heartache they are going through.
“I understand your pain,” she adds. “I understand your confusion. But if you lean on God, He will show you at the right time that He is working on something so special that will bring you so much peace and understanding. Your story is one of redemption. You are refining yourself; it will not define you. God works everything together for our good.”
