Emily Nenni Readies New Album “Movin’ Shoes”
There are few more valuable assets in the arsenal of present-day country music than the voice of Emily Nenni, and how she so deftly wields it through her enveloping original songs. Two years removed from her last album Drive & Cry, and we still can’t get enough of it. All the more reason to start salivating over the new one she’s got coming called Movin’ Shoes that will be making its way to our ears on May 1st.
Though Nenni promises her underlying country influences are still there and this isn’t a wholesale departure, the new album won’t be a strictly honky-tonk affair like her last one. She pulls inspirations from Memphis and Muscle Shoals on this one, giving the work a bit more soul, Southern rock, and Outlaw texture. “It’s still all the same influences,” Nenni explains. “I’m just drawing from more artists and genres than I have in the past.”
To help her in this endeavor, Emily Nenni solicited the services of John James Tourville of The Deslondes as producer, and used Matt Ross-Spang (Margo Price, Arlo McKinley) for mixing. It was recorded at Southern Grooves in Memphis to give it that greasy feel. The results are what she feels are the album of her career.
“When I was writing these songs, I was thinking about just how hard it is to live in this world,” Nenni says. “How are we leaving our mark in this world? How are we interacting with other people and with ourselves, too? The world is scary, but there’s so much beauty to it. And so much of that beauty comes from how we treat each other and ourselves. That’s the album’s entire message.”
You definitely hear this in the first single from the album, “Livin’ In Shame.” To go along with the song is a very unique video (see below) that was shot in reverse by Joshua Shoemaker. Emily Nenni had to work with a linguist to recite the song backwards to fit the concept of slowly unmasking herself to center natural beauty.
“I’m proud to work with Joshua Shoemaker for the third time. ‘Livin’ in Shame’ is encouraging myself and others to be kinder to ourselves and our bodies, because we have been too critical for too long,” Emily Nenni says.
Along with a bunch new original Emily Nenni songs on the 13-track album, Nenni also includes a cover of Paul Simon’s “Tenderness.” Movin’ Shoes is now available for pre-order/pre-save.
Track Listing:
1. Movin’ Shoes
2. Talkin’ To Your Toothbrush
3. Take My Money
4. Not A Winner
5. Livin’ In Shame
6. What Have I Done Wrong
7. Tenderness
8. Honky Tonkin’
9. Home With My Dog
10. Good Ma’am
11. Yes It Hurt
12. Talk To Me
13. You Only Said It To Hurt Me
February 21, 2026 @ 9:34 am
I love that throwback album cover.
February 21, 2026 @ 11:24 am
With so many people doing it, when does it stop being a throwback?
February 21, 2026 @ 9:45 am
This is gonna be so rad. She’s a top 5 current for me.
February 21, 2026 @ 10:12 am
I heard “Livin’ In Shame” for the first time this week and liked it. I really feel the new crop of traditional female country singers are outperforming their male counterparts overall
February 21, 2026 @ 8:44 pm
you align her with Ella langley or kat hasty or both i guess), and who would the male counterparts be?
February 21, 2026 @ 10:47 am
I lived with Amarillo highway like 30 years & was reasonably well satisfied then had her blow the doors right off of that one… pretty intrigued, greasy Nenni?
Yeah pour me a double, and we’ll go from there.
February 21, 2026 @ 8:47 pm
That’s interesting. I love Nenni, and I put her version as a clear number three.
February 22, 2026 @ 1:18 pm
Just for me, but that song requires a certain and deliberate frantic-ness or urgency to buy in… like we gonna bust a hub fr? OK lfg…
REK got that, and the band hopped right in the van even before the motel bill was squared – still dude ties his shoes with talent so not surprising.
She knocked it out the park, great listen.
February 21, 2026 @ 3:29 pm
Really enjoy her music. Own all her vinyls. Can’t wait to add this to the collection.
February 21, 2026 @ 6:17 pm
Same Here. She Is Fo’ Sho’ Maturing…..Great She Has Her OWN Unique Voice
February 22, 2026 @ 4:12 am
Love this early 70’s Maria Muldaur/ Linda Rohndstat greasy sound. It fits her beautiful voice perfectly.
February 22, 2026 @ 6:36 am
Her voice has always been like nails on a chalkboard to my ears. Like if Fran Drescher was from the southwest and was tone-deaf.
Especially live. Terrible hipster country.
No thanks.
February 22, 2026 @ 7:50 am
Don’t know John James Tourville, but I’m going to ease out on a limb and guess this dude loves the Rolling Stones
February 24, 2026 @ 11:04 pm
He’s a member of the Deslondes, and is a fantastic guitarist. Produced her last album, and the production/instrumentation is one of the best things about it (not to diminish Nenni’s excellent and unique vocals, and great songwriting). Recommend listening to lay of the land through a great pair of headphones. They make a great team.
This album is sure to sound great.
February 22, 2026 @ 8:24 am
I like her voice, not many female acts i can say that of. Ill be on the watch for this as it comes out. The song here is prettt good.
February 22, 2026 @ 5:44 pm
Enjoy all of her output since I learned of her on this sight years ago. Wish she would get north of Chicago when she heads out on the road. She is bad-ass.
February 22, 2026 @ 9:12 pm
More power to her in choosing to expand her sound palette and embrace more of her influences on wax. Especially when the Muscle Shoals sound has started to become more prevalent again as of late. =)
“Livin’ In Shame” definitely matches her mission statement of the album reflecting finding beauty in how we treat each other and ourselves. Definitely feels like it’s going to be a more songwriting-focused record with how succinct and anthemic this appetizer was. Looking forward to this as I feel much like we dearly needed Emily Scott Robinson’s “Appalachia” at this time, we could use more forward-looking, heartfelt music like “Movin’ Shoes”. =)
February 23, 2026 @ 7:06 am
Already preordered last week – can’t wait to hear these new tracks! I hope she expands on her current tour dates – do not miss her live show if you get the chance. And on top of everything else, she’s very sweet & humble.
February 24, 2026 @ 10:55 pm
Had my favorite record of 2024, really looking forward to this one.
February 26, 2026 @ 9:23 am
My favorite female country artist by miles. Got to meet her at the Sagebrush in Austin a few weeks back and she couldnt have have cooler. New single is amazing.