Named by the Recording Academy as a “2025 Artist to Watch,” Lanie Gardner has officially announced her highly anticipated sophomore album Faded Polaroids, set for release on September 5 via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Alongside the announcement, the North Carolina native has released the album’s powerful lead song, “High Divin,’” featuring legendary Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood on the drums. Listen below.

A full-circle moment for the 25-year-old artist — whose breakout came from a viral cover of “Dreams” (now at over 100M views) — “High Divin’” is an atmospheric anthem with a heart of self-reflection. Wrapped in shimmering guitars and soaring vocals, it captures the emotional leap of the journey of self-sabotage, while honoring the path that led her there.

“It’s one of the most important songs on the album for me,” Gardner shares. “I was going through a pretty rough patch and needed to give myself a little tough love.”

Produced by Oscar Charles, Jonathan Singleton, Chris Ganoudis and Don Miggs, Faded Polaroids expands on the raw honesty of Gardner’s 2024 debut A Songwriter’s Diary, offering a sonic scrapbook of self-discovery, family roots, romantic twists, and personal healing. Across 18 tracks, Gardner blends country storytelling with indie-rock grit, small-town pop, and boundary-free emotion — a genre-bending vision uniquely.

“I created the idea of Faded Polaroids using actual polaroids. Some brand new, others nicotine-stained, withered, torn and worn from being passed down through the years,” says Gardner. “It felt like zooming out on my whole life and finally seeing the bigger picture. These snapshots — these songs — are the most beautiful parts of me. They tell the story of where I come from, who I come from, what I’ve learned and who I’m becoming. I hope these songs encourage people to take the time to make their own version of that too. I think it’s important that we all do.”

Born and raised in the tiny Appalachian mountain town of Burnsville, NC, Gardner grew up in a family of natural musicians, learning to sing from her mother and guitar from her father. A loner-turned-artist with a gift for turning diary entries into cathartic anthems, she eventually left home for Nashville, chasing the Grand Ole Opry dream of her late grandfather — a dream that comes full circle with her Opry debut on August 6. Get tickets here.

Following her recent Polaroids EP and breakout debut album — which earned her a “2025 Artist to Watch” nod from both the Recording Academy/GRAMMY and Amazon Music — Faded Polaroids finds Gardner stepping fully into her sound. From the soul-cleansing “Takin’ The Slow Ride” and smoldering “Concrete Cowboy,” to the rootsy, nostalgic title track and breezy “Love You Like Appalachia,” the album captures a rising star in her magic hour — honest, unfiltered, and unforgettable.

Gardner will bring Faded Polaroids to life on the road this summer and fall, with a run of headlining dates and festival appearances, including support on select shows for Gavin Adcock. Visit laniegardner.com for ticket information.

KEEP UP WITH LANIE GARDNER

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Rising country talent Lanie Gardner capped a breakout week with the release of her new EP Polaroids (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville) and a string of standout performances across CMA Fest 2025.

The six-song project blends country grit, alt-pop edge, and acoustic soul into what Entertainment Focus hails as a “confident leap into Southern pop-country terrain, bringing groove, grit, and a whole lot of attitude.” Produced by Oscar Charles, Jonathan Singleton, and Chris Ganoudis, the project includes standout releases like the “searing and sultry” (Billboard) “Buzzkill," the emotionally charged “Concrete Cowboy,” and the breezy new opener “Takin’ The Slow Ride.” Listen to Polaroids here.

To celebrate the release, Gardner performed across CMA Fest stages, including Spotify House, the Reverb Stage, Ole Red’s On The Rise Showcase, and a surprise spotlight at Darius Rucker and Friends at The Ryman alongside Morgan Wallen, Luke Bryan and more. She also joined the CMT Next Women of Country showcase and hosted a packed release party at Chief’s Bar in downtown Nashville.

She closes out the week as Apple Music Country’s “Riser of the Month,” featured throughout June on Country Risers Radio with Ward Guenther. Listen here.

With Polaroids, Gardner proves she’s "a dynamic artist who can shift between moods, genres, and personas with ease,” writes Entertainment Focus. “She’s not only got the voice, but also the vision, to claim her space in modern Southern pop and mainstream country.”

ABOUT LANIE GARDNER:

Lanie Gardner’s extraordinary journey is a testament to her unmatched talent and unwavering determination, from her roots in the Appalachian Mountains to international stages. A gifted storyteller and songwriter from an early age, Lanie crafted a distinctive blend of classic rock and country influences that quickly set her apart. Her career skyrocketed after her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” went viral, amassing over 60 million views. With her debut self-penned album A Songwriter’s Diary, released in late 2024, Gardner held her own offering a deeply personal 10-track journey through her roots and creative beginnings. Now, Gardner unveils her highly anticipated new EP, Polaroids (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville)— a six-track blend of feel-good energy and message-driven meaning, featuring standout tracks like the previously released “Buzzkill” and the emotionally charged “Concrete Cowboy.” Acclaimed by Billboard as “a true artist with staying power" and by MusicRow as “one of the most exciting rising stars today,” Lanie’s rise has been marked by significant milestones, including being named by the Recording Academy and Amazon Music as a “2025 Artist to Watch” and to CMT’s Next Women of Country: Class of 2025. From being featured on the movie soundtracks for Queen of the Ring and Twisters to touring with the Jonas Brothers, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson and ZZ Ward, Lanie is on the fast-track to stardom. Most recently, she collaborated with country superstar Thomas Rhett and Warren Zeiders, being featured on their just-released tracks “What Could Go Right” and “Love In Letting Go,” respectively. This year alone, she made her Stagecoach debut, joined Corey Kent’s Black Bandana Tour, and will hit the road again this summer/fall with Gavin Adcock. She was also recently invited to make her Opry debut, further solidifying her place as one of the genre’s most exciting new voices. Her soulful sound and captivating stage presence have earned her widespread acclaim and a dedicated fan base. As she continues her ascendancy, Lanie remains a genre-defying artist.

LANIE GARDNER ANNOUNCES SOPHOMORE ALBUM FADED POLAROIDS, DUE SEPTEMBER 5

LANIE GARDNER DROPS NEW EP POLAROIDS, SHINES AT CMA FEST 2025