Carly Pearce Talks “You Can Have Him,” Returning to Her Roots, and Creating Music Her Way
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Pearce marks her birthday by releasing “You Can Have Him,” calling the song a “little birthday present” for her fans.
Carly Pearce is marking her 36th birthday by surprising fans with new music, releasing her latest track, “You Can Have Him,” as what she calls a “little birthday present.”
The GRAMMY-winning country artist’s new song offers an early look at her upcoming album and leans into her traditional country influences, featuring classic instrumentation like steel guitar, fiddle, bass, and dobro.
Speaking by phone as she headed to Bowling Green, Kentucky to begin a run of shows, Pearce said the project reflects a return to her musical foundations.
“I think the album as a whole is really a return to form of my bluegrass and traditional country roots,” she explained. “I feel like it really gets showcased in the song… what would a Carly Pearce song be back in the 1960s on stage at the Opry? I really wanted to showcase that part of my story.”
Pearce co-produced the track with Ben West and co-wrote it with Tofer Brown, Carter Faith, and Lauren Hungate. “You Can Have Him” takes a playful, tongue-in-cheek approach to a man who flirts with nearly everyone he meets, with Pearce ultimately stepping away from his wandering attention.
“If he’s lookin’ at you that way with a look on his face… if you can take him, you can have him,” she sings on the chorus.
She shared that the idea came naturally while on tour with Carter Faith. “We were on the road last year together… and I just asked her to write a song with me,” Pearce said. “We wrote this song really fast on the road, just kind of as a fun, tongue-in-cheek, honky-tonk drinking song.”
While the song centers on a flirtatious character, Pearce said there was no real-life inspiration behind him, only a creative spark between collaborators.
She also noted her desire to show a lighter side of her artistry. “I’ve been wanting to show a different side of myself that’s a little less serious and more just fun,” she said.
The new track is part of her forthcoming album, the follow-up to 2024’s hummingbird. Pearce described the project as deeply personal and free from outside expectations.
“I’ve really gone to places that I never have before because I just simply am making this record for me,” she said. “I think you’re going to really hear that sonically and lyrically… and I’m really excited about that.”