Howard returns with first disc in 17 years
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Howard returns with first disc in 17 years

Friday, January 24, 2025 – Two-time GRAMMY and IBMA winner Rebecca Lynn Howard released the song "Heart Still Does" todaty, an upbeat track from her forthcoming album, "I'm Not Who You Think I Am," due out May 2 via Lee Brice's imprint, Pump House Records.

Produced by Elisha Hoffman, Howard's husband, and executive produced by Brice, the disc merges country, roots and soul, and is Howard's first LP since 2008's "No Rules."

A native of Eastern Kentucky, Howard co-wrote the entire 11-track album (alongside hitmakers including Nathan Chapman, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Marti Frederiksen, Jason Matthews and Rachel Thibodeau) and plays acoustic guitar, bass and hammered dulcimer throughout.

"Heart Still Does" was written by Howard (who plays both acoustic guitar and bass on the song) with Hoffman (ukulele) and Jenee Fleenor (who adds her five-time CMA Musician Of The Year and ACM Award-winning musical skills and background vocals) — the path to resilience is paved with humor. The song also includes four-time ACM Keyboard Player Of The Year Dave Cohen, 14-time ACM Guitarist Of The Year Brent Mason on electric guitar, and Brad Pemberton (Ryan Adams, Steve Earle, The Cardinals) on drums.

"Laughter is the best medicine, and when I hear 'Heart Still Does,' I can't help but cackle," said Howard. "One of my favorite things to do in writing a song is to take a somewhat serious topic like love-gone-wrong and see if there's any way to lighten it up. It's a song I think will give folks who may be going through a bad heartbreak a little solace and maybe help them see their circumstance in a different light. Sometimes resilience comes through not taking yourself so seriously."

Brice, who co-founded Pump House Records with producer Hoffman and songwriter Rob Hatch, said, "Rebecca Lynn is one of the most talented humans I've ever had the pleasure of working with. She has a voice that has been touched by God, and I can not wait for the world to get the chance to hear her new music."

Howard's songs have been cut by Trisha Yearwood, Runaway June, and Martina McBride.

Howard will join Brice for a run of dates on his "You, Me & My Guitar Tour."

Howard said, "I'm still here because of my love of music, and I sing and write songs that influence people to learn how to love themselves so they can love others."

The track list is:
1. How High (Rebecca Lynn Howard, Elisha Hoffman, Marti Frederiksen)
2. Seventeen (Rebecca Lynn Howard, Rachel Thibodeau)
3. Hoedown (Rebecca Lynn Howard, Elisha Hoffman, Nathan Chapman, Stephanie Chapman)
4. Heart Still Does (Rebecca Lynn Howard, Elisha Hoffman, Jenee Fleenor)
5. Strong (Rebecca Lynn Howard, Elisha Hoffman, Trey Smith, Jennifer Fiedler)
6. I'm Not Who You Think I Am (Rebecca Lynn Howard, James LeBlanc)
7. Flowerbed (Rebecca Lynn Howard, Elisha Hoffman, Rob Hatch)
8. Holler (Rebecca Lynn Howard, Elisha Hoffman, Cliff Audretch)
9. Good Place To Turn Around (Rebecca Lynn Howard, Jon Mabe, Jason Matthews)
10. I Am My Mother (Rebecca Lynn Howard, Rachel Thibodeau, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Jamie Floyd) b11. Mess Down Here (Rebecca Lynn Howard, Elisha Hoffman, Rob Hatch, Lance Miller)


CD reviews for Rebecca Lynn Howard

Rebecca Lynn Howard's second album may be well titled. Howard, of strong voice, may need to send a "forgive me" note to country music fans after coming up with a dozen songs that suggest she is not sure whether she wants to be a country singer or pop rock. She comes out of the box with "Beautiful to You," which is loud and more rocking than it is country. But she does a 180 immediately on the next song, "Dancin' in God's Country" whre a distinctive country twang is intact recalling Patty Loveless ...
Rebecca Lynn Howard has a voice uniquely suited to sounding both warm and powerful - sometimes even at the same time. Here on her debut she has plenty of opportunities to reveal these and other fine vocal qualities. It should come as no surprise to find superstar soul guitarist Steve Cropper listed on the credits, since Howard also knows how to slip comfortably into a churchy diva voice. Especially impressive is how she slides up and down between notes on the gently swaying "Out Here In The Water. ...


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