Sunny Sweeney, the irrepressible country artist and host of SiriusXM’s Sunny Side Up (Willie’s Roadhouse) and Sunny Side of Life (Outlaw Country), is set to release her new album, “Rhinestone Requiem”, on 1st August 2025 via Aunt Daddy Records/Thirty Tigers.
A return to her roots, the record is a sparkling yet soul-baring exploration of resilience, heartbreak, and honky-tonk healing featuring Sweeney’s signature blend of raw honesty and wry wit. “Rhinestone Requiem”, which was co-produced by Sweeney with her longtime guitarist Harley Husbands, showcases a more vulnerable and defiant voice.
It draws on her East Texas upbringing and years of cutting her teeth in the Nashville and Austin music scenes; the album marries traditional country twang with hard-earned truths and a few rhinestones for good measure. “Rhinestone Requiem”, recorded at Cherry Ridge Studio in Texas, is described as a declaration of self-assurance and artistic freedom. Whether channelling heartbreak, joy, or resilience, Sweeney’s songs connect deeply with both women and men, offering comfort, camaraderie, and catharsis. For Sweeney, the goal remains simple yet powerful: to make music that feels like a trusted friend talking directly to the listener.
You can pre-save/ pre-order “Rhinestone Requiem” right here.
The lead single, ‘Diamonds & Divorce Decrees’, sets the tone with its tongue-in-cheek lyricism and ironically upbeat instrumentation, detailing the life of a woman stuck between the beginning and end of a marriage. “I was moving out of my house in Austin ‘cause the rent got too high, and it was a sudden decision, but I called my mom and said, ‘Hey, can I just store some of my stuff at y’all’s house for a little bit while I figure out what I wanna do?’ My mom is the best, so she said yes, and I moved all my stuff in and basically went on the road,” explains Sweeney of the inspiration behind the song. “I was a gypsy for a couple of years, but finally ended up buying a house and moved all my stuff into my new house – except my safe. It’s like two cubic square feet. Very small. She kept saying, come get your stuff; it’s in our way. So, after I jokingly told her to put a lamp on it and make it a table, I said, ‘All that’s in there anyway is grandma’s diamonds and my divorce decrees.’ My country songwriter brain kicked on, and I was like, wait…what? I have to write that.”
