Lucinda Williams offers raw & fearless commentary on political chaos with forthcoming album 'World's Gone Wrong' - out January 23, 2026

Photo credit: Daryl Weisser

Catch up on breaking news as it relates to Lucinda Williams' forthcoming album "World's Gone Wrong," set for release on Jan. 23, 2026. The acclaimed singer-songwriter is joined by several high-profile guests on the LP including Mavis Staples and Norah Jones. You can also listen to the first advance track from the album via the link below. Read my review of Williams' memorable performance at the Pure Imagination Festival in 2023 HERE...Robert Kinsler

MULTI-GRAMMY AWARD WINNER LUCINDA WILLIAMS RETURNS ON JANUARY 23RD WITH WORLD’S GONE WRONG A RAW AND FEARLESS COMMENTARY ON MODERN AMERICA NEW ALBUM FEATURES SPECIAL GUESTS MAVIS STAPLES, NORAH JONES AND BRITTNEY SPENCER WATCH LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO OF POWERFUL NEW SINGLE “WORLDS GONE WRONG” HERE

“…much like the roots of rock music itself, the core sources of her sound — country, blues, folk — converge into the heart of it all, as if to say: she's not just a vein of rock and roll; she's in its blood.” – NPR Music Nashville, TN – Three-time Grammy Award winner Lucinda Williams confronts America’s socio-political chaos head-on with her forthcoming album World’s Gone Wrong (out January 23rd via Highway 20 Records). World’s Gone Wrong is a raw and unapologetic set of songs that were written and recorded with a sense of urgency during the spring of 2025. The album opens with the powerful title track, featuring Brittney Spencer, which speaks to the plight of the working class during these turbulent times, and the resiliency to move forward with the underlying plea of “come on baby we gotta stay strong” in the chorus. Watch the live performance video of “World’s Gone Wrong” HERE. Throughout nine original tracks, Williams offers songs that do not just chronicle our times but challenge us to rise above them. A timely cover of Bob Marley’s “So Much Trouble In The World” features a captivating duet with the incomparable Mavis Staples. The bluesy “How Much Did You Get For Your Soul” revisits the spiritual reckoning of Williams’ celebrated 2020 release Good Souls Better Angel. “Freedom Speaks” is a soul-stirring anthem that personifies liberty as a voice rising against oppression and apathy warning us of the dangers of complacency in the face of injustice. The album closes with the deeply moving “We’ve Come Too Far to Turn Around,” featuring Norah Jones on piano and harmony vocals. The hymn-like track is rooted in struggle and redemption while acknowledging the challenge to maintain the fortitude and spiritual conviction needed when turning back is not an option. Jones’ and Williams’ emotive vocals blend seamlessly, offering a breathtaking finale to an essential work for these times. World’s Gone Wrong serves as a wake-up call and a battle cry, finding beauty, grit, and grace in a world on edge. The album reaffirms Williams’ place as one of the most vital and uncompromising voices in American music.  World’s Gone Wrong was co-produced by Tom Overby and longtime Williams’ collaborator Ray Kennedy, who recorded and mixed the album at his Room & Board Studio in Nashville, TN. Listen to the song “World’s Gone Wrong” at your preferred DSPs HERE Pre-order / Pre-save the album World’s Gone Wrong HERE For news and updates, visit LucindaWilliams.com