The contemporary singer-songwriter space is celebrating a major return from one of its most emotionally resonant voices. Tony nominee and Grammy-winning artist Sara Bareilles has officially announced the upcoming release of her seventh studio album, titled Good Grief. The highly anticipated project marks her first full-length studio record in nearly seven years, stepping back into the recording booth following her acclaimed 2019 release, Amidst the Chaos.
The sweeping multimedia rollout features a deeply personal foundation. Bareilles revealed that the collection of songs emerged as an organic healing mechanism while navigating severe personal loss, including the tragic passing of her close friend and Broadway star Gavin Creel. To give fans an intimate window into her creative headspace, a companion documentary tracking the album’s raw creation is making its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival. The announcement of the Sara Bareilles Good Grief album tour has sent a wave of excitement through her fanbase, promising an incredibly cathartic musical chapter.
To give audiences an immediate taste of the record’s underlying themes, Bareilles simultaneously dropped the album’s lead single, “Home,” on all major streaming platforms. The gorgeous, vulnerable track explores the complex realities of grappling with grief and attempting to reconstruct inner peace in the aftermath of sudden trauma.
The initial inspiration for the record’s focal concept sparked from a profound, televised conversation between late-night host Stephen Colbert and journalist Anderson Cooper on Cooper’s popular podcast, All There Is. Bareilles shared on social media that hearing the two figures discuss their own historical family losses gave her the profound courage to unearth and articulate her own. The track leans beautifully into the organic, acoustic-driven instrumentation that has long defined her signature style, featuring stellar contributions from long-term band collaborators Butterfly Boucher and Misty Boyce.
The live performance rollout kicks off shortly after the album officially lands in late August. Produced in partnership with Live Nation, the headlining tour will visit major theater venues and amphitheaters across North America throughout September and October. The highly anticipated run launches on September 9, 2026, at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, making premier stops at historic landmarks like New York’s Radio City Music Hall and Toronto’s Massey Hall before wrapping up on the West Coast.
• Album Release Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
• Tour Kickoff: Monday, September 9, 2026
• Ticket Availability: Artist and Citi cardmember presales begin on Monday, June 8, followed by the general public on-sale on Wednesday, June 10.
True to her long-standing philanthropic values, the artist is utilizing the entire rollout to champion vital healthcare resources. Bareilles has committed to donating 100% of the album sales purchased directly through her online store to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Additionally, one dollar from every single concert ticket sold will be automatically directed to The Jed Foundation to protect emotional health and fund suicide prevention programs for teens and young adults. Moving forward, the beautiful blend of music, visual documentary, and live connection ensures Good Grief will stand as a monumental, deeply human pillar in her celebrated career.
