Nashville singer/songwriter Bre Kennedy leads with vulnerability on “Willow,” the latest glimpse into her most personal and transformative album yet – returning softer, stronger, and more self-assured as she opens a powerful new chapter.
Stream: “Willow” – Bre Kennedy
I’ve learned that if I’m telling the truth, even if it’s a little weird or messy, it’ll resonate. But if I try to sugarcoat it, it won’t land.
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Bre Kennedy has always written from the heart, but her upcoming album The Alchemist takes things even deeper.
Honest and unfiltered, the record feels like a personal journal that traces the path from heartbreak to healing with all the messy, meaningful moments in between.
Her new single, “Willow,” out now, sets the tone. It’s a quiet reflection on what it means to break down and rebuild. “I am soft and resilient,” she sings, summing up the tension and balance at the core of the song. It’s a clear glimpse of what to expect from her highly-anticipated fourth studio album, due January 30, 2026.
Some days, I feel like a tree
Growing in me
Starting to sweep the floor and
Some days, I feel in between
Who I used to be
And who I’m still reaching for
When the sun goes down
At the end of the day
Can you hear me say
“Who am I anyway”?
I’m the girl in the front seat
Putting on her face
Carrying the weight
Of yesterday
The project was born from a season of collapse. In 2023, Kennedy ended a relationship that spanned most of her twenties, which left her emotionally gutted but ultimately led her back to herself.
“It was a foundational demolition,” she says. “I had to walk into the really scary, dark rooms of my life and not shy away.”
Rather than shy away, Kennedy did what artists do best: She documented it. Across 10 tracks, The Alchemist traces the real-time unfolding of grief, grace, and personal and artistic growth. Through it all, her voice remains steady, even when trembling. These aren’t songs written after the dust had settled – they’re snapshots from inside the storm.
For Kennedy, creating The Alchemist wasn’t just artistic; it was spiritual. Inspired by writers like Glennon Doyle, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Rebecca Solnit – all of whom have written about dismantling identity – she began to see storytelling as a kind of salvation.
“Their willingness to be brave in public helped me find the courage to do the same,” she says.
Just like a willow’s
So sweet but it’s so heavy
Just like a halo’s
Holy hard to hold steady
Still, even with years of Nashville songwriting under her belt, Kennedy admits that this record feels different.
It’s more exposed, more confrontational, and also more generous. These aren’t just heartbreak songs, they’re survival guides for anyone navigating their own becoming.
With a birthday-week release for “Willow,” a full album on the way, and a headlining tour slated for next year, she’s stepping boldly into her next chapter.
Atwood caught up with Kennedy to talk about songwriting as a healing process, how Kate Winslet inspired the record, and why she’s finally learned to give herself grace.
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:: stream/purchase Willow here ::
:: pre-save The Alchemist here ::
:: connect with Bre Kennedy here ::
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A CONVERSATION WITH BRE KENNEDY
Atwood Magazine: This album has been called your most vulnerable and confident yet, which feels so appropriate. What experiences shaped this new level of openness in your songwriting?
Bre Kennedy: That’s really been my work – unlearning a lot of the ways I used to cope. I went through a breakup in 2023 after nearly a decade-long relationship, basically all of my twenties. It felt like a foundational demolition. Suddenly, I was back at the core of everything again.
That brought up inner child work, and it made me really look at the woman I was. That chapter of my life was beautiful, but now I’m in a different room, or maybe in the hallway, on my way to a new one. I had to get really honest with myself to become the woman I love. And that meant walking into the dark, scary rooms of my life instead of avoiding them, which is what I’d done before. That’s what got me there.
The last two years have been about grieving – not just the relationship, but also grieving a version of myself that didn’t protect her own heart. I’m learning how to give myself grace. I used to think I needed to find that in someone else, but I’ve realized I get to give that to myself.
That’s how this album came about – truly from being broken. Some people go their whole lives without getting to that place.
It sucks that you had to go through that…
Bre Kennedy: Yeah, and I’ll probably go through it again. Maybe I’ve been here before. I don’t know. There are still moments when it really sucks. I’m watching my mom go through it for the first time, and it’s wild. We have to remind each other: It’s okay to not have it all together. This stage is gross and humbling and silly… and then there’s Jeni’s Ice Cream.
What was your mom’s reaction to the song?
Bre Kennedy: I haven’t played her any of the new ones yet. She’s currently going through her own unraveling, starting a new chapter in her life. I’m still processing that in real time. I’ll show her the songs once the storm settles.
At the very end of The Alchemist, you hear my grandma talking about the 2020 tornado. I was reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle at the time, and I remember thinking, “There’s a tornado inside of me, too.” Now, I just want to be there for my mom and grandma as they walk through their own storms. When the time is right, I’ll sit with my mom and share the songs.
You mentioned Untamed, and I know Glennon Doyle and Elizabeth Gilbert were big influences for you. How did their writing shape this album?
Bre Kennedy: Reading their stories – how visceral and open they were about dismantling the stories they thought they were supposed to live – blew my mind. It showed me the importance of sharing your story and taking up space, especially as an artist.
Sometimes I’ll put out a song and see it only has 8,000 views, and I think no one’s listening. But then I’ll play a show and someone will come up to me after and say, “That one lyric got me through my divorce.” Those moments remind me that honesty matters.
Books like Untamed and Big Magic, A Field Guide to Getting Lost rocked my world. They made me realize that where I am right now is part of a bigger story. And that’s worth sharing.
Is there a lyric on the album that gives you chills when you sing it live?
Bre Kennedy: Yes, in “The Alchemist,” the first verse came straight from my journal: “My mother cried when she opened her eyes / she was born…”
It sounds like I’m talking about myself, but really, I’m talking about my mom, learning how to make friends with her, understanding she’s just doing her best. It’s about watching my mom go through her journey with her mom, and realizing that inside, she’s still that little girl. I’m feeling so much love and grace for her in a way I never have before.
Earlier, you talked about becoming the woman you want to be. Are you able to describe who that is, or is it something you’re still figuring out?
Bre Kennedy: It’s definitely still unfolding. But I had this life coaching session – and I used to roll my eyes at that kind of thing – but a friend offered, and I was fresh out of the breakup and said, “Sure, why not.” She asked me to picture a table surrounded by women who inspire me – the people I admire, maybe even feel jealous of. Who are they?
At my table, there’s someone who shows up on time, full of integrity. Someone who takes up space unapologetically and encourages others to do the same. Someone who fills the table with food and shares it and wants everyone to experience it. And then, Kate Winslet.
That exercise helped me understand the kind of woman I want to become. I want to be someone who turns what happened in her life into something meaningful. That’s what The Alchemist is about. I’m working toward becoming that person every day – even when I fall back.
I was feeling really grounded from January to May, like, “I’m doing great!” Then one little thing knocked me off balance. And another. I was like, “I just did all that work… how am I back here?”
But my therapist reminded me: That’s how healing works. One step forward, two steps back; it means you’re witnessing your own patterns and making progress.
Is there a song on the album that captures that idea the most?
Bre Kennedy: “Becoming” centers around the moment I realized I was the one I’d been looking for all along. I didn’t need to find myself in anyone else, especially not in a man. I was always it.
I’ve never been a songwriter, never shared something so personal on stage. How do you prepare for the world to hear something this vulnerable?
Bre Kennedy: I think I’ve just learned – through trial and error – that when I try to hide something, it connects less. And if it connects less with others, it connects less with me. And I crave connection. I hate small talk; I live for conversations like this.
So, I’ve learned that if I’m telling the truth, even if it’s a little weird or messy, it’ll resonate. But if I try to sugarcoat it, it won’t land.
That said, I’m really struggling right now with how to share content around this album. I want to be honest, but sometimes I wonder: “Who even cares if I’m vulnerable when the world feels like it’s on fire?” But then I remember how other people’s honesty – in books, in interviews – helped me be honest. And that has a ripple effect.
We just need more Kate Winslets in the world. Honestly, I just want her to hear this album.
We should definitely tag her in the article! Is there a particular Kate Winslet role that resonates most with you?
Bre Kennedy: Honestly, all of them. She’s always so strong and grounded; she really captures what it means to be a woman. I saw this interview where she talked about someone commenting on her weight during the Titanic press tour, and she still cries about it. She was so young, and someone made her feel ashamed just for being a woman. That moment stuck with me. We’re just out here doing our best, and our bodies are literally built to bring life into the world. We’re like wildflowers. It’s magnificent.
I’ve seen interviews with Britney Spears when she was younger, and they were heartbreaking – the kinds of questions people would ask her.
Bre Kennedy: It’s total idiocracy, and unfortunately, it’ll always exist. People will always project their insecurities onto others – some even make a career out of it. But I think the real bravery is in being ourselves despite all that. That’s what people connect with.
Those are the people I root for, like, “Yes! Go. Screw up. Be messy. Just go.” I don’t have time for the critics. I’m busy.
You’ve worked with some incredible people, including Sheryl Crow. Did she give you any advice that stuck with you?
Bre Kennedy: When I released “Jealous of Birds,” I got the call about Sheryl maybe a week later. I was working at a brewery in Nashville at the time, and I just remember writing her a card that said: “From one songbird to another.”
When I met her, she just looked at me and said, “Go tell them who you are.” I’ll never forget that. It was so empowering. She’s always done her own thing, and that’s always inspired me.
That’s very cool. Is there a moment during the recording process that you think back on and it still makes you smile?
Bre Kennedy: Yes! I’m really glad you asked that because I’ve been having a hard time remembering how much good came from making this record, and that question brought it all back.
I have so many videos on my phone from when we were recording “Willow” of just me and my longtime bandmates, the same people who made my first record with me. Coming back to them felt really healing. We were just playing and being silly, making something grassroots and honest. I remember thinking, “Wow, this is some new energy I’m in. This is special.”
I had just come off tour with Stephen Wilson Jr., and I felt really proud of where I was – like I was stepping into a new phase. I’ve been talking about this stuff onstage, and when Melissa Fuller and I finally finished writing “The Alchemist,” it was such a breakthrough moment. We had tried to write it three times before that.
The lyric about my mom came out, and we both just sat there like, “Whoa.” It was so healing. That whole process was incredibly healing. Thank you for reminding me of that.
So, who did you play the album for first – from start to finish – and what was their reaction?
Bre Kennedy: You know what’s funny? I actually haven’t played it all the way through for anyone yet. But I probably will for my best friend. She’s one of my co-creators on this record – she’s doing all the artwork and content. She’s also my roommate and has seen me grow through all of it. She’s the one who really pushed me to be brave and share this message.
What’s going through your mind when you’re about to release an album? Is it relief, excitement, or something else?
Bre Kennedy: “Baby Blue” and “Idiot” are two songs I’ve released so far. “Baby Blue” felt really exciting – it was fun, the video was beautiful, and it featured so many important people and women in my life. It felt like a celebration.
With “Idiot,” I was scared. I care deeply about people, and I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. That was hard for me.
But when this full album comes out, I think I’ll just feel deep relief, like I’m finally letting go of something that was truly healing to make.
You’ve talked a lot about growth throughout the process. Thinking back to the person you were when you started writing this album, how have you changed?
Bre Kennedy: I’ve been reflecting on that a lot. I think I’m softer now. Kinder to myself. And I’m proud of that.
When I get it all out on paper, I look at it and think, “Wow, that was a lot you just walked through.” I let myself be flirty, I let another side of me out, and I was brave enough to try things. Sometimes when I listen back to the songs, it feels like future me was speaking to me through them, like she already knew something I didn’t.
Right now, I feel like I’ve caught up with the person who was writing those songs. I was in such a creative, open-hearted place back then because I allowed myself to be broken and gave myself grace in that.
As I put this record out into the world, I can feel that little voice – the gremlin – saying, “You’ve got to do this right. You’ve got to control everything.” And this album is reminding me that’s not where the magic is.
So right now, I feel like a willow tree: Grounded, wise, bending with the wind. I feel both seasoned and still growing. I still have work to do, and I’m grateful this album reminds me of that.
When listeners hear this album from start to finish, what’s the one thing you want them to take away? Is there a feeling or lesson?
Bre Kennedy: That they already have everything they need. Even the broken parts – the things in their life that feel completely out of their control – those can become the material for transformation. Take those broken pieces and write down your story. That’s where the alchemy happens.
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:: stream/purchase Willow here ::
:: pre-save The Alchemist here ::
:: connect with Bre Kennedy here ::
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Stream: “Willow” – Bre Kennedy
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