Little Big Town Brings Fresh Energy to New Album, ‘It’s a Dying Art’: ‘There Is a New Excitement’

In 2024, country music group Little Big Town marked its 25th anniversary together. When it came time to create their first new album since the milestone, frontwoman Karen Fairchild, bassist Kimberly Schlapman, lead vocalist Phillip Sweet, and drummer Jimi Westbrook felt a renewed sense of purpose. "We felt like we should turn the page a bit and see what the next chapter could become," Fairchild says of recording their 12th studio album, "It’s a Dying Art," set for release on August 28 via MCA Nashville.

"We don’t really have any boundaries on us at the moment from anybody saying, ‘You need to make this kind of music.’ We definitely just did whatever we wanted to do," Fairchild adds. "There was a new excitement that we hadn’t felt in a while," agrees Westbrook.

The excitement also stemmed from shaking up their process. For their first studio album since 2022's "Mr. Sun," the quartet turned to producer Gena Johnson, who had previously worked with Jason Isbell and Dolly Parton, to produce the set alongside Fairchild. Jason Isbell contributed guitar to "The Door," while country singer Kelsea Ballerini sang on "Closing Time," and Ashley Monroe collaborated on "Sucker for a Sad Song."

While the album features a few upbeat tunes like the fun "Crickets," much of it delves into the complexities of relationships and the highs and lows. The first single, "Hey There Sunshine," addressed mental health. After performing on Today as part of Today's Citi Concert Series, the band embarks on the For the Art of It tour starting September 24 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Fairchild and Westbrook discussed the making of the album, collaborating with famous friends, and where they see themselves in 25 years. The band approached this album differently than the previous 11, according to Westbrook. "We didn’t have as a whole a group of songs that we were going, ‘This is what this record’s going to be like.’" Fairchild agreed, stating that they were pickier about the songs they chose, aiming for those that held a high standard and blew their minds.

The production process was further energized by Gena Johnson, who had previously worked with Jason Isbell and Dolly Parton. Johnson's nurturing spirit and straight-shooting approach brought a fresh energy to the recording. "A female brings an energy of nurturing," Fairchild explains, adding that Johnson's openness to creativity and lack of pretense made her an ideal fit for the band.

Celebrating 25 years together, the band felt this album represented a fresh start with newfound energy.