Denim & Rhinestones is the ninth studio album by American country music singer Carrie Underwood. The album was released on June 10, 2022, through Capitol Records Nashville. The album was recorded throughout the years of 2021 and 2022, with production from David Garcia, who previously produced Cry Pretty (2018) and My Savior (2021), with co-production from Underwood as well.
The cover and release date for the album were first revealed on April 7, 2022. Underwood revealed the tracklist for the album through social media the following day. The album contains twelve tracks, eleven of which were co-written by Underwood.
On March 18, Underwood first spoke about the atmosphere of the album, saying, "I feel like people are going to hear everything and [get] some warm fuzzies and hopefully it'll just make people happy to listen to. It's a very 'sing into your hairbrush, in your house, in your room' kind of album." She later elaborated, saying, "When I walked in to start making this album, it was like, what do you want to do? My co-producer and co-writer, David Garcia, was like, 'What do you want to do?' And I was like, 'I just want to have fun."
In April, Underwood spoke about the album's title track, saying, "The song 'Denim & Rhinestones' is super fun, with a bit of a retro vibe – we just go together, like a sweet tea and a lemon, like denim and rhinestones. You have these things that are great on their own and then you put them together and they just fit. That's how this album feels."
When the album's trailer aired on April 8, Underwood said, "We cover a lot of ground on this album. We have a lot of songs that have a bit of a “throwback” feel, but they sound super fresh. I grew up listening to so many different kinds of music and that is extremely evident in this body of work. These are musical influences that are all in me and working their way out, and I just decided this time not to get in their way. I think this whole album ended up being a big reflection of me as a person and as an artist." When asked about lead single, "Ghost Story", Underwood praised songwriters Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, and David Garcia, saying, "They are such talented, amazing songwriters who know me so well. From the first time I heard it I knew I had to record it."
Sittin' there wrapped up tight
In your flannel button-up
With your arms around me
Watchin' those flames dance high
Where nobody could find us
Oh, but you sure found me
Yeah, we were lightin' that fire
Heatin' up the sky like a July rocket
No, we never got tired
We'd stay up all night and watch it
[Chorus]
Burn
Like whiskey in my glass
Even though it's sittin' on ice
It's always gonna burn
Little too hot real fast
Like when you were mine, yeah
That's the thing about your memory
It's keeping me warm, but it's killing me
Ev?ry time I think about you now
Even though our love di?d out
It's always gonna burn, burn, burn
[Verse 2]
Riding 'round rag top down
Little beach town
Weekend on the water
Under that gold moonshine
Your lips on mine
Couldn't get no hotter
Yeah, we were soakin' it up
Buzzin' on love and margaritas
When I see the sand and the sun
The salt in the air, I swear, I feel the
[Chorus]
Burn
Like whiskey in my glass
Even though it's sittin' on ice
It's always gonna burn
Little too hot real fast
Like when you were mine, yeah
That's the thing about your memory
It's keeping me warm, but it's killing me
Every time I think about you now
Even though our love died out
It's always gonna burn, burn, burn, yeah
[Bridge]
It's always gonna burn, just like this whiskey
It's always gonna burn and make me wonder if you miss me
[Chorus 2]
That's the thing about your memory
It's keeping me warm, but it's killing me
Baby, when I think about you now
Even though our love died out
It's always gonna burn, burn, burn
[Outro]
It's always gonna burn, burn, burn