Michael Ray just performed a new song, “Smoke,” inspired by his longtime girlfriend, Audrina Partridge. Ray performed the song while he and Partridge were guests on Howie Mandel’s Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast.
Ray also reveals he is working on a new project, this one on a brand-new record label as well.
“I’m about to start working on a new record,” Ray announces. “I’m switching labels right now. I was with Warner Brothers for ten years, and now I’m finding a new home, and going to be making a new record, and getting into the studio hopefully the end of the summer. … I’ve been writing a lot.”
View this post on Instagram
Ray and Partridge went public with their relationship in early 2024. The happy romance comes after Ray was previously married to Carly Pearce for less than a year, divorcing in 2020.
“I come from a broken family. So a little bit for me was like, ‘Am I repeating the process?’ ” Ray previously reflected to People. “I never understood depression or had depression. All of a sudden, I was getting very angry. I didn’t trust anybody.”
Ray did the hard work in therapy after the relationship ended, determined to not repeat any former mistakes.
“Two people were involved in something, and two people dropped the ball individually,” he said. “However I dropped the ball, I don’t want to continue that. I did a lot of introspective work.”
Elsewhere on the podcast, Ray and Partridge reveal they plan on staying together forever, with Ray jokingly proposing to Partridge during their conversation with Mandel, and Partridge saying yes.
Earlier this year, Ray hinted that he was working on new music.
“I’ve taken the last couple months, pretty much off of social media,” Ray shared on social media. “Did a lot of hunting and fishing and just re-centering myself and my life spiritually and mentally. Sometimes in life, you go and go and somewhere in that process, you start feeling like you lost touch with yourself. you lose who you are or why you even started the journey in the first place. You’re told if you take time off you’ll be forgotten. But the truth is if you don’t take care of yourself and love yourself you’re no good for anyone else anyway.”
“I want to thank y’all for allowing me to have this time, and I want y’all to know I’m back,” Ray continued. “And I have NEVER been better!! I’ve never been more close to God and clear-minded. I cannot wait to catch y’all up on things and to fill y’all in on what’s to come. I feel more creative and ready than ever to get new music out to y’all and see y’all out on the road. To my family and friends you know who you are you inspire me and I’m so grateful for each of you.”
Ray’s last album, Dive Bars & Broken Hearts, was released in 2023. Keep track of updates at MichaelRayMusic.com.