Lanie Gardner is set to release her newest album on the fifth of September. Credit to Alysse Gafkjen.
Los Angeles, California (July 11. 2025)- Country music’s rising star Lanie Gardner is stepping fully into the spotlight with the announcement of her highly anticipated sophomore album, Faded Polaroids, set for release on September 5 via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Accompanying the news is the release of the album’s first single, “High Divin’,” a sweeping, soul-baring anthem that marks a full-circle moment for the 25-year-old Appalachian-born artist — and features none other than Mick Fleetwood on drums.
For Gardner, whose meteoric rise began with a viral cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” (now surpassing 100 million views), having the legendary drummer play on her original song is more than a dream come true — it’s a moment of cosmic alignment. “High Divin’” blends shimmering guitar tones, soaring vocals, and lyrical self-awareness to deliver a song about the dangerous thrill of emotional risk. “It’s one of the most important songs on the album for me,” Gardner shared. “I was going through a pretty rough patch and needed to give myself a little tough love.” The track sets the tone for an album that is unflinchingly honest, emotionally expansive, and unapologetically her.
Faded Polaroids arrives just one year after Gardner’s acclaimed debut A Songwriter’s Diary, which introduced her to the world as a bold new voice in country and Americana. But this second album feels even more personal. “I created the idea of Faded Polaroids using actual polaroids,” she explains. “Some brand new, others nicotine-stained, withered, torn and worn from being passed down through the years. These snapshots — these songs — are the most beautiful parts of me. They tell the story of where I come from, who I come from, what I’ve learned and who I’m becoming.”
Produced by Oscar Charles, Jonathan Singleton, Chris Ganoudis, and Don Miggs, Faded Polaroids spans 18 deeply introspective tracks that blur the lines between country, indie rock, and alternative pop. From the confessional intimacy of “Takin’ The Slow Ride” to the rootsy swagger of “Concrete Cowboy” and the gentle nostalgia of “Love You Like Appalachia,” the album is a genre-bending scrapbook of Gardner’s life, loves, scars, and strength. With writing credits on every single track, the Burnsville, North Carolina native proves once again she’s not just a singer — she’s a storyteller.
Gardner’s musical journey reads like something out of a modern American folktale. Raised in the Appalachian mountains by a family of musicians, she learned guitar from her father and singing from her mother. She moved to Nashville to chase the dream her late grandfather once held — to perform on the Grand Ole Opry stage. That dream comes true on August 6, when she makes her Opry debut, a moment she’s described as the most emotional milestone of her career so far.
The momentum behind Gardner has only grown. She’s been named a 2025 Artist to Watch by both the Recording Academy and Amazon Music, and is part of CMT’s Next Women of Country: Class of 2025. Her voice — both literally and lyrically — has found its way into major motion pictures like Queen of the Ring and Twisters, and she’s already shared the stage with acts like the Jonas Brothers, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, and ZZ Ward. This year alone, she made her debut at Stagecoach, joined Corey Kent’s Black Bandana Tour, and will hit the road this fall for headlining dates and select shows with Gavin Adcock.
But no matter how big the stages get, Lanie Gardner remains grounded in her roots — and Faded Polaroids reflects that in every line. It’s not just a collection of songs. It’s a portrait of a young woman growing into her voice, her identity, and her truth.
Faded Polaroids drops September 5, and “High Divin’” is available now on all streaming platforms. To hear Lanie Gardner live or get tickets to her upcoming shows, visit laniegardner.com.
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