Wynonna Judd Announces First Solo Album In A Decade 'The Hard Truth' With Lead Single Kentucky Queen
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Thomas Crabtree
Wynonna Judd has announced her first solo album in a decade.
'The Hard Truth' will arrive on October 2 via ANTI- Records and marks the first time the legendary American country star has co-written an entire project, collaborating with Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers, The War and Treaty, and Iron And Wine, alongside contributions from her husband, producer and musician Cactus Moser. Commenting on the album, which she desribes as her most personal and powerful yet, Judd said:
"I’ve spent a lifetime singing about heartbreak, healing, faith, and survival, but I’ve never made a record like this one. These songs tell the truth about where I’ve been, what I’ve lost, what I’ve overcome, and who I’ve become. This album asked me to be brave enough to tell the truth — even when my voice shook. It challenged me to let go of perfectionism and embrace the beauty of honest emotion. My hope is that when you hear these songs, you feel what I was feeling while writing and recording them. If they help someone feel seen, understood, or a little less alone, then every hard truth was worth telling."
Moser added: "Being a part of this record, and helping bring these songs to life as its producer, has been the most important work I’ve known. We started with nothing but a feeling and emotion and ended up with an entire album that captures Wynonna’s story with a level of honesty she’s never experienced in her career. It’s the kind of record that makes a difference and reminds you why music exists in the first place."
As a preview, Judd has shared the record's lead single, Kentucky Queen, written with Moser, Sarah Siskind and Justin Weaver. It features the traditional instruments heard across the album and reflects on overcoming hard times while celebrating Judd's home state.
The Grammy Award-winning vocalist will play a handful of solo US shows, before embarking on a co-headline US tour with Melissa Etheridge throughout the summer. Following that, she'll play some headline shows in Kentucky later this year, including a hometown performance in Ashland. Tickets are on sale now.
Judd's most recent studio album is 'Wynonna & the Big Noise', released in 2016. Since then, she's put out a number of singles, including collaborations with Lainey Wilson, Waxahatchee and the late Bob Weir, as well as the 2024 live record 'Back To Wy: LIVE' and 2018 complitation 'All-Time Greatest Hits'.
'The Hard Truth' tracklist:
1. Prelude (All Downhill From Ashland)
2. All Downhill From Ashland
3. Everything (feat. Patterson Hood)
4. Am I Missing Out
5. Broken And Blessed
6. Hear Me Now (feat. Iron & Wine)
7. The Hopeful Lie” (feat. The War And Treaty)
8. Kentucky Queen
9. Girl Who Could Sing
10. Drive
11. Love Ain’t Got The Best Of Me
Wynonna Judd Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Thu June 11 2026 - JACKSON HOLE Wyoming - Silver Dollar Showroom (USA)
Thu June 18 2026 - PELHAM Tennessee - Caverns (USA)
Wed June 24 2026 - VIENNA Virginia - Wolf Trap (USA)
Thu June 25 2026 - WILLIAMSBURG Virginia - Williamsburg Live (USA)
Sat June 27 2026 - CHAUTAUQUA New York - Institution (USA)
Sun June 28 2026 - BETHEL New York - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (USA)
Tue June 30 2026 - HUBER HEIGHTS Ohio - Rose Music Center at The Heights (USA)
Thu July 02 2026 - CHARLESTON West Virginia - Sternwheel Regatta (USA)
Fri July 03 2026 - TERRE HAUTE Indiana - MILL Amphitheater (USA)
Sun July 05 2026 - WAITE PARK Minnesota - Ledge Amphitheater (USA)
Mon July 06 2026 - CHISHOLM Minnesota - Minnesota Discovery Center (USA)
Thu July 09 2026 - GRAND JUNCTION Colorado - Las Colonias Park Amphitheater (USA)
Sat July 11 2026 - SAN DIEGO California - Rady Shell at Jacobs Park (USA)
Sun July 12 2026 - IRVINE California - Great Park Live (USA)
Fri July 17 2026 - LINCOLN California - Thunder Valley Casino (USA)
Sat July 18 2026 - ROHNERT PARK California - Weill Hall and Lawn at the Green Music Center (USA)
Sun July 19 2026 - RENO Nevada - Ballroom (USA)
Tue July 21 2026 - SARATOGA California - Mountain Winery (USA)
Thu July 23 2026 - BEND Oregon - Hayden Homes Amphitheater (USA)
Fri July 24 2026 - WOODINVILLE Washington - Chateau Ste Michelle Winery (USA)
Sat July 25 2026 - AIRWAY HEIGHTS Washington - Northern Quest Amphitheater (USA)
Tue July 28 2026 - BONNER Montana - KettleHouse Amphitheater (USA)
Thu July 30 2026 - SALT LAKE CITY Utah - Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series (USA)
Sun August 02 2026 - DENVER Colorado - Red Rocks Amphitheatre (USA)
Tue August 04 2026 - ROGERS Arkansas - Walmart AMP (USA)
Wed August 05 2026 - ALBERTVILLE Alabama - Sand Mountain Amphitheater (USA)
Fri August 07 2026 - ATLANTA Georgia - Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park (USA)
Sat August 08 2026 - BEAVER DAM Kentucky - Amphitheater (USA)
Sun August 09 2026 - WEST ALLIS Wisconsin - Wisconsin State Fair (USA)
Thu September 10 2026 - FORT MADISON Iowa - Tri State Rodeo (USA)
Fri September 11 2026 - ALLEGAN Michigan - Allegan County Fair (USA)
Wed September 30 2026 - LEXINGTON Kentucky - Lexington Opera House (USA)
Thu October 01 2026 - SOMERSET Kentucky - Virginia (USA)
Fri October 02 2026 - ASHLAND Kentucky - Paramount Theater Ashland (USA)
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