Lauren Alaina made a surprising move earlier this year, by leaving her longtime label, Mercury Records, and joining the roster at Big Loud Records instead. At the time, Alaina said she wanted to “tap into my country roots,” a vow she says she is already fulfilling.
“It’s definitely very country. Very, ” Alaina tells Everything Nash of her new project. “I would say that it really represents my personality well. I’ve just been writing for it and preparing and listening, but it represents Lauren Alaina from Rossville, Georgia, very well, I would say.”
The American Idol alum is an established songwriter, penning several of her own hits, including “Doin’ Fine,” “Road Less Traveled,” her “Getting Over Him” duet with Jon Pardi and more. But while she loves writing, Alaina will definitely have songs written by other people as well on her next record.
“I’m doing a little bit of both,” Alaina reveals. “I think I’m at the point where I don’t have to write every song I put out. I’m writing a lot of them, but I just want the best album I can possibly make. And if that means I don’t write a single song on it, so be it. I just wanna put out the best album I’ve ever made.”
Alaina makes it clear that nothing happened at her former label to make her upset or angry. Rather, she was just ready for a new chapter, and a new musical season.
“Sometimes I think it’s best to to do something different, and pivot a little bit,” Alaina acknowledges. “11 years into my career, it just felt like time to try something new. And I’m such a fan of [label founders] Joey Moi and Seth England, and everything that they’re doing over at Big Loud. They take such a fresh approach to everything. They have a really young crew, and they don’t really do things by the book. They have very fresh perspectives on how to do things, and they believe in putting out a ton of music. So I think the thing I’m most excited about being over there is just their work ethic and how they view the industry. And obviously, it’s working.”
Alaina also considered the other artists on Big Loud Records, when making her decision. Their roster already includes Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Ernest, Jake Owen, Chris Lane and Hailey Whitters, among others — all artists Alaina respects and admires.
“There’s just so many great people over there. And I just was excited to come over and be a part of it and be a girl on the roster, and dominate over there,” she adds with a laugh.
2022 has already been a big year for Alaina. She saw one of her biggest dreams come true in February, when she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by her good friend, Trisha Yearwood, who also invited Alaina to become a member.
“I don’t even know still how to explain what it means to me,” the 28-year-old tells Everything Nash. “My entire life, all I remember is being a little girl and thinking that I’ve gotta make it to the Grand Opry. If I ever get to the Grand Ole Opry, I will have made it. So to not only get there and get to perform, but to be welcomed into the family. It’s just unbelievable. It was my dad’s dream to play at the Grand Ole Opry, so I inherited it from him. And as a daddy’s girl, those are some big shoes to fill.
“It’s meant so much to me, and honestly, I will never, ever, ever achieve anything that means more to me than that, genuinely, ever,” she adds. “It was the best day of my life.”
Alaina’s new album is tentatively scheduled to be released in early 2023. Keep track of music and tour updates at LaurenAlainaOfficial.com.