Holly Williams Has a Good Excuse for the Delay in New Music
For the better part of two years now, country music fans with any sort of taste have been waiting not-so-patiently for the long-awaited arrival of the Dave Cobb-produced fourth album from 3rd generation performer Holly Williams. You can’t blame fans for their impatience after the performance she turned in on her 3rd record, The Highway, which announced the granddaughter of Hank Williams as a serious force in songwriting in country and Americana music.
Some prospects had her fourth album coming out in late 2015. Then the schedule got pushed back to early 2016. Now here it is mid 2017, and we’re still waiting, but Holly Williams has a good excuse for the delay. Actually, she has two of them.
On March 8, 2016, Holly Williams gave birth to her second child, Lillie Mae Louise. And then on Friday, May 12th, 2017, Holly Williams gave birth to her third child, and her first son. Her husband and fellow musician, Chris Coleman, was by her side for the birth. Though Holly has been touring upon occasion and performing through her pregnancies, waiting for a proper window to finish and release an album while she populates her young family is something most of her fans will probably understand.
“We started it in February,” Holly said about the new album back in 2015. “I’ve been writing this summer and on tour a lot, so that kind of pushed it back … [Dave Cobb] is incredible.”
At the moment, there is no name for the newest addition to the Williams family, and the christening does have a small amount of intrigue to country music, possibly, since as a male the new baby could carry the legendary “Hank” name that made her family famous. But of course, that’s for her and husband Chris Coleman to decide. “Hank” was the stage name of Hank Sr., a.k.a., Hiram King, and the middle name of Hank Jr. (Randall), and Hank3 (Shelton).
Meanwhile fans are also waiting for the name of the new album and a release date. But given the circumstances, it’s understandable. With Holly Williams, it’s family first.
Allbenny
May 16, 2017 @ 12:39 pm
Looking forward to it. The 1st 3 albums weren’t exactly released back to back either. 2004, 2009, 2013. She’s right on schedule. ; )
Allbenny
May 16, 2017 @ 12:49 pm
She’s been producing almost as much as Dave Cobb.
Monique Lavalette
May 16, 2017 @ 12:45 pm
Seen Holly live in Amsterdam some years ago, she is very talented and it was a great show.
Kevin Davis
May 16, 2017 @ 12:54 pm
The Highway was by far my favorite album of that year. And she’s as good live as on the albums, plus an all-around good person. I’m not surprised that she has put her family first.
JB
May 16, 2017 @ 1:22 pm
I can’t wait for this one. HW is so sincere in her writing, and her delivery is perfectly executed. She has more talent in her pinky finger than a truck bed full of Peach Pickers.
CountryCharm
May 16, 2017 @ 1:28 pm
Holly is amazing. Watch her NPR Tiny Desk concert if you want to treat yourself. Miranda Lambert’s boyfriend accompanies her on guitar. They made some good music together. It’s funny watching some of her older videos and lyrics IMO you can see where Miranda and team drew inspiration from for her new look/direction.
Sam Cody
May 16, 2017 @ 3:03 pm
I don’t think I can handle another Dave Cobb album. Does he play any of those five guitar riffs he knows on this album? He was great for the first few albums, now they’re all starting to run together. Come on people – do something new!
Marky Mark
May 17, 2017 @ 6:05 am
Right. …because whiskey Meyers sounds just like Chris Stapleton who sounds just like Sturgil. I like a producer that gets out of the way. In my opinion, Cobb’s talent is finding talent and then helping them get their sound on record. This site, and the music applauded here, is much better off for Cobb’s limited knowledge of riffs, thank you.
Scott S.
May 17, 2017 @ 7:23 am
Cobb has been hit or miss for me. He’s done awesome work with Shooter Jennings, Stapleton, Jamey Johnson, and Sturgel, and even though it’s not doing as well as some of her previous works, I love Miranda’s new album. But the band you mentioned Whiskey Meyers, I felt their last two albums with Cobb failed to live up to the Leroy Powell produced Firewater. And even though I like the new Brent Cobb album, it doesn’t have the same excitement as his first album, which coincidentally was also produced by Leroy Powell with Shooter Jennings. One of my favorite rock bands is Rival Sons, and they too have disappointed since Cobb has taken over production.
The guy is good at what he does, but sometimes maybe his hands off approach can lend to a less dynamic album, or an album that ends up flat with no tempo changes. Or maybe some bands need someone to prod them along a bit.
Marky Mark
May 17, 2017 @ 6:00 am
Waiting on June brings me to tears every time I hear it. The rest of that album was stellar too, but oh boy, the depth of emotion and quality of writing on that song made it one of the best I have heard in years. I wait with bated breath to hear her next release.
jimsouls
May 17, 2017 @ 1:07 pm
When I saw Holly open for Jason Isbell, I thought she stole the show.
Jack Williams
May 17, 2017 @ 1:22 pm
I saw her for Isbell, too. Jan 2014, I think. She was absolutely great (much, much that when I saw her open for John Hiatt a few years earlier. Better material, I guess) and contributed to one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. However, I thought Isbell was transcendant that night, too. That night’s version of Cover Me Up was one of the best concert song experiences of my life.