Willow Avalon announced herself as one of country music’s most compelling new voices with her January 2025 debut Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell — Whiskey Riff called her “a star, with talent in spades” and named it one of the best country albums of the year, and that verdict has only been reinforced by everything that’s followed. Now she’s back with new album Pink Pocket Pistol, out June 26 via Atlantic Outpost/Assemble Sound, and today she’s sharing its latest single ‘Cardinal Sin’, featuring six-time Grammy-winner Jason Isbell. It is very good.
Avalon’s excitement about the collaboration is infectious: “I have four Jason Isbell CDs in my car, another 400 in my house, and I have driven around for the last five years harmonizing with his voice and thinking how insane it would be to sing with him.” That kind of genuine, unguarded enthusiasm tends to translate into the music, and ‘Cardinal Sin’ is exactly the kind of song that could only come from two artists who really mean it.
Pink Pocket Pistol promises “more darkness, mystery and a ’60s country feel” alongside the sharp lyricism and sassy storytelling that made her debut so exciting. Avalon has described walking into the studio with a clear vision and walking out a week later with it fully realised — that kind of creative certainty tends to produce good records. It also includes recent single ‘Easy On The Eyes’, which should already be on your radar.
Her story is worth knowing too. Originally from Georgia, now based in Nashville, she grew up playing piano in church and taught herself guitar at twelve, using songwriting as an escape through a life that was, by her own account, anything but straightforward. Her first word was apparently “Elvis,” which feels like useful context. She’s since performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS Mornings and the Grand Ole Opry — where she made her debut last year and has since been named one of the Opry’s class of 2026 NextStage artists. She’s shared stages with Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Zach Bryan and Cage the Elephant. She made a surprise appearance during Zach Bryan’s Stagecoach headline set last year and will return this month for her own official Stagecoach debut.
Pink Pocket Pistol is available to pre-order now.
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