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

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.”

Photo Credit: Kory Thompson

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.

UNFILTERED: LANIE GARDNER REVEALS NEW PICTURE-PERFECT EP, POLAROIDS, AVAILABLE NOW

Named a “2025 Artist to Watch” by the Recording Academy/GRAMMY and Amazon Music, Lanie Gardner, unveils her highly anticipated new EP, Polaroids, via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. A six-track collection full of vivid storytelling, boundary-pushing soundscapes, and emotional truth, Polaroids is the perfect soundtrack for long drives, golden-hour moments, and everything in between. Listen to Polaroids here.

 

Produced by Oscar Charles, Jonathan Singleton, and Chris Ganoudis, Polaroids blends modern country grit with alt-pop edge and acoustic soul, capturing a 25-year-old artist fully stepping into her voice and vision. Building on the raw intimacy of her 2024 debut album A Songwriter’s Diary, Gardner widens the lens with this new project, giving each co-written song a mellow mix of feel-good energy and message-driven meaning.

Polaroids feels like a time capsule of everything I’ve lived and learned these past few years,” shares Lanie. “Each song is a snapshot of a moment that shaped me — the highs, the heartbreak and everything along the way.”

Alongside previously released standouts like “Buzzkill”—called “searing and sultry” by Billboard—and the emotionally charged “Concrete Cowboy,” Polaroids features a mix of new tracks that further showcase Gardner’s range. Highlights include the breezy opener “Takin’ The Slow Ride,” a windows-down anthem blending country rock with Southern soul, and the bright, roots-pop groove of “Hold Your Horses,” a playful reminder to slow down and soak it all in.

 

Gardner celebrated the release of Polaroids with a string of appearances at CMA Fest 2025, including standout performances at Spotify House, the Reverb Stage, and Ole Red’s On The Rise Opry celebration, as well as a surprise spotlight set at Darius Rucker and Friends at The Ryman. Today, she will perform at this year’s CMT Next Women of Country program at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, followed by her Polaroids EP release party at Chief’s Bar in downtown Nashville. To cap it off, Lanie will be featured as Apple Music Country's "Riser of the Month," joining host Ward Guenther for weekly in-depth conversations on Country Risers Radio HERE

Gardner continues to earn praise and high-profile collaborations across the Country music landscape. Her recent duet “What Could Go Right” with Thomas Rhett remains a fixture on top country streaming playlists, while her heartfelt team-up with Warren Zeiders on “Loving in Letting Go” showcases her emotional depth and vocal power.

 

This year alone, she made her Stagecoach debut, joined Corey Kent’s Black Bandana Tour, and will hit the road again this fall with Gavin Adcock. She was also named to CMT’s 2025 Next Women of Country class and was recently invited to make her Opry debut, further solidifying her place as one of the genre’s most exciting new voices.

 

Lanie first gained attention with her viral cover of “Dreams” (55M+ views), which hit No. 25 on the Billboard Rock charts and led to collaborations with David Guetta and MORTEN and her original music has been featured on the soundtracks for both Twisters and Queen of the Ring. As Billboard put it, she’s “a true artist with staying power,” and MusicRow calls her “one of the most exciting rising stars today.”

KEEP UP WITH LANIE GARDNER

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Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen