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Carly Pearce offered a compassionate message about love and acceptance in her new single, “Church Girl,” which made its debut on Friday (January 23).
The Grammy-winning artist addresses feelings of judgement and shame, and goes on to offer comfort and hope for healing. Pearce previously said she believes “the world could use a little more love and acceptance, and a whole lot less judgement.” She added on Friday that she hopes the heartfelt ballad, written by Cameron Bedell, Seth Ennis and Carter Faith, “meets you [listeners] where you are,” on their respective faith journeys.
“So, you like to get high/ When you talk to Jesus/ So, you love who you love/ And you go out on the weekends/ So, you drink, and you think for yourself/ That don’t mean you’ll go to hell/ When you leave this world/ Just ‘cause you heard it in church, girl”
“I am someone who grew up in the church,” Pearce said in a clip she shared on Instagram as she opened up about her open experience with faith and the inspiration behind “Church Girl.” “I’ve grown up in my Christian faith. I am very much led by my Christian faith today. I wanted to release this song because I feel that through a lot of different parts of my life I have come to the understanding that we’re all on a journey. Over the last several years, for any of you fans who have come to my shows, you have poured your heart into sharing your stories with me as I’ve shared mine with you. And I think we’re all trying to figure it out. If you are on a journey with your spirituality, or you feel lost or confused, or shameful or judged by something that has happened to you or is happening to you, what I hope this song does and what I hope this message does and what I hope that you carry with you this year is the message that you are welcome at my shows. You are loved. I hope that this song meets you wherever you are and gives you a sense of love and acceptance, and not judgement.”
“Church Girl” is the latest song from Pearce since she released “Dream Come True,” a vulnerable single that she said is “about the sacrifices we make when chasing our dreams. If you’ve ever felt that push and pull, know that you’re not alone. Writing this song has allowed me to return to my original dream, to reconnect with my roots and why I first fell in love with singing Country music.” That song marked Pearce’s “re-direction to reconnect” with her love of country music. “And if you’re feeling like you don’t know how to do all of this, you’re not alone and we’re more than enough.”
Listen to “Church Girl” here: