Stronger Than the Truth

Stronger Than the Truth is the thirty-third studio album by American country music singer Reba McEntire. It was released on April 5, 2019, by Big Machine Records. The album was nominated for Best Country Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

Stronger Than the Truth
Studio album by
Reba McEntire
ReleasedApril 5, 2019 (2019-04-05)
RecordedSeptember 2018[1]
Studio
  • The Tracking Room (Nashville, TN)
  • Blackbird Studios (Nashville, TN)
GenreNeotraditional country
Length47:20
LabelBig Machine
Producer
Reba McEntire chronology
Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope
(2017)		 Stronger Than the Truth
(2019)
Singles from Stronger Than the Truth
  1. "Freedom"
    Released: March 22, 2019

Background

On September 18, 2018, McEntire posted a picture on Instagram stating that she was back in the studio,[1] and told The Boot that; "It's gonna be probably the most country album I've ever recorded." She also described it as "real country", and was inspired by the music she grew up listening to."[2] In a press release, McEntire explained her inspiration and song selection, saying, "The response to Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope reinforced my love for recording songs that speak to the heart. So when I started selecting songs for this album, I stuck with that same formula – go with the songs that touch my heart, and hopefully when you hear me singing it, they'll touch yours too. That honesty once again revealed itself."[3]

The track "Cactus in a Coffee Can" was originally recorded by Jerry Kilgore on his 1999 album Love Trip.[4]

Promotion and release

The album was announced on February 11, 2019.[3] The first promotional single from the album, "Stronger Than the Truth", was released on February 15, along with the album's pre-order. McEntire also announced that a new song from the album would be released each Friday leading up the album's April 5 release date. "No U in Oklahoma" was released as the second promotional single on February 22.[5] On March 1, "In His Mind" was released as the third promotional single.[6] "Tammy Wynette Kind of Pain" was released on March 8 as the fourth promotional single.[7] The fifth promotional single, "Storm in a Shot Glass" was released on March 15.[8] "Freedom" was released as the album's lead single on March 22.[9][10]

On March 28, the album became available for streaming exclusively on NPR Music's website as a part of their First Listen series.[11]

McEntire also performed the album's single "Freedom" on the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards on April 8, 2019[12]

Commercial performance

Stronger Than the Truth debuted at No. 4 on Billboard' Top Country Albums, with 20,000 traditional albums sold (21,000 in equivalent album units). It is her 27th top 10 in the Top Country Albums chart, the first of which she achieved 33 years ago in April 19, 1986 with Whoever's in New England.[13][14] The album has sold 57,500 copies in the United States as of March 2020.[15]

Critical reception

Rating it 4 out of 5 stars, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it a "pure, unadorned country album" and "flinty even when it's tender". He also wrote that "She channels this empathetic toughness into a series of songs that plays like short stories...and that deft, subtle blend of music and message gives Stronger Than the Truth a lasting emotional resonance."[16]

Track listing
Stronger Than the Truth[3][17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Swing All Night Long with You"
4:42
2."Stronger Than the Truth"
  • Hannah Louise Blaylock
  • Autumn McEntire
4:10
3."Storm in a Shot Glass"
3:02
4."Tammy Wynette Kind of Pain"
3:58
5."Cactus in a Coffee Can"
4:27
6."Your Heart"Kellys Collins3:57
7."The Clown"
5:07
8."No U in Oklahoma"
3:08
9."The Bar's Getting Lower"
3:27
10."In His Mind"
  • R. McEntire
  • Hengber
  • Tommy Lee James
3:33
11."Freedom"
3:50
12."You Never Gave Up on Me"
  • Billy Aerts
  • Burton Collins
3:59
Total length:47:20
Target edition bonus tracks[18]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."While You Were Sleeping"
3:07
14."Ain't Got Nothin' on My Pain"
3:08
Total length:53:35

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.

Vocals

  • Wyatt Beard – background vocals (tracks 1, 3, 7–9, 11, 13, 14)
  • Buddy Cannon – background vocals (track 5)
  • Melonie Cannon – background vocals (tracks 3, 5)
  • Sonya Isaacs – background vocals (track 4)
  • Reba McEntire – lead vocals
  • Jenifer Wrinkle – background vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4, 7–11, 13, 14)

Production and musicians

  • Jim "Moose" Brown – piano (tracks 1–10, 13, 14), B-3 organ (track 3), synthesizer (track 11)
  • Buddy Cannon – producer
  • Alex Carter – recording assistant (tracks 1, 14)
  • Tony Castle – recording, mixing (tracks 1–14)
  • Taylor Chadwick – mastering assistant
  • Tony Creasman – drums, tambourine (track 13)
  • Nick Davison – recording assistant (tracks 3, 7–9)
  • Shannon Finnegan – production coordination
  • Bobbi Geil – mastering assistant
  • Mike Johnson – steel guitar, dobro (track 5)
  • Jeff King – electric guitar (tracks 1–4, 6–11, 13, 14)
  • Catherine Marx – piano (track 12)
  • Brent Mason – acoustic guitar (track 5), electric guitar (tracks 1–4, 6–11, 13, 14)
  • Reba McEntire – producer
  • Andrew Mendelson – mastering
  • Jason Mott – recording assistant (tracks 3, 4, 11–13)
  • Larry Paxton – bass
  • Megan Peterson – mastering assistant
  • Deanie Richardson – fiddle, viola (track 5)
  • Bryce Roberts – recording assistant (tracks 1–11, 13, 14)
  • Ned Singh – recording assistant(tracks 3, 7–9)
  • Joe Spivey – fiddle (tracks 1–4, 6–11, 13, 14)
  • Bobby Terry – acoustic guitar (track 5), banjo (track 3)

Other

  • Brett Freedman – hair, make-up
  • Loretta Harper – wardrobe
  • Allison Jones – A&R
  • Robby Klein – photography
  • Leslie Matthews – wardrobe
  • Justin McIntosh – art direction, graphic design, wardrobe
  • Janice Soled – copy coordinator
  • Brianna Steinitz – copy coordinator

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[19] 18
Scottish Albums (OCC)[20] 36
US Billboard 200[21] 22
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[22] 4
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References
  1. "Reba on Instagram: "Back at it in the studio #newmusic #comingsoon 📸: @ryanrcamp"". Retrieved March 25, 2019 – via Instagram.
  2. Liptak, Carena (October 10, 2018). "Reba McEntire's New Project Is 'Probably the Most Country Album' She's Ever Made". The Boot. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  3. Despres, Tricia (February 11, 2019). "Reba McEnitre Returns With New Album, Stronger Than the Truth". Taste of Country. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  4. "Love Trip". Allmusic. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  5. Betts, Stephen L.; Betts, Stephen L. (February 22, 2019). "Reba McEntire Goes Western Swing in New Song 'No U in Oklahoma'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  6. Betts, Stephen L.; Betts, Stephen L. (March 1, 2019). "Hear Reba McEntire's Sorrowful New Song 'In His Mind'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  7. Houghton, Cillea. "Reba McEntire's 'Tammy Wynette Kind of Pain' Is Gut-Wrenching". Taste of Country. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  8. Whitaker, Sterling. "Reba McEntire Gives Fair Warning on 'Storm in a Shot Glass'". Taste of Country. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  9. Stefano, Angela. "Reba McEntire Finds 'Freedom' in New Single [LISTEN]". The Boot. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  10. Dukes, Billy. "Listen: Reba McEntire's 'Freedom' Is a Fist-Pumping Anthem". Taste of Country. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  11. "First Listen: Reba McEntire, 'Stronger Than The Truth'". NPR.org. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  12. "Reba McEntire Shifts Back to Performance Mode For New Song 'Freedom' at 2019 ACM Awards". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  13. Trust, Gary (April 16, 2019). "Brett Young's 'Here Tonight' Hits No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart". Billboard.
  14. Trust, Gary (April 17, 2019). "Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, Reba McEntire (And Billy Ray Cyrus) Party on the Charts Like It's 1993". Billboard.
  15. Bjorke, Matt (March 10, 2020). "Top 10 Country Albums Pure Sales Chart: March 9, 2020". RoughStock. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  16. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Stronger Than the Truth". AllMusic. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  17. Betts, Stephen L. (February 11, 2019). "Reba McEntire Details New Album 'Stronger Than the Truth'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  18. "Reba McEntire Stronger Than The Truth (Target Exclusive)". www.target.com. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  19. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  20. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  21. "Reba McEntire Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  22. "Reba McEntire Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
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