Sunny Sweeney Gets Ready for a “Rhinestone Requiem”
If you’re looking for the summer’s newest supply of saccharine bops for breezy moments and puppy love, you best turn back now. Her name might be Sunny, but her music is filled with accounts of broken hearts and broken homes like the best of country music. It’s music for those whose lives didn’t exactly turn out as planned, which basically accounts for most all of us. But at least we’ve got great country music from artists like Sunny Sweeney to get us through.
Taking time from touring and recording her shows for SiriusXM’s Outlaw channel and Willie’s Roadhouse, Sunny Sweeney is readying the release of her latest album Rhinestone Requiem on August 1st. If you’re wondering just what kind of country music you might get from it, Sunny leaves nothing to speculation with the debut track “Diamonds and Divorce Decrees” (listen below). This will be a COUNTRY record.
“This is the first time I’ve made a record when I don’t have relationship problems,” Sunny Sweeney says. “My last album, ‘Married Alone,’ was made right after my divorce. I’ve lived some life. Not all of it’s been pretty. But I feel like that’s what makes really good music.”
Sunny Sweeney didn’t solicit some swanky producer for this one. Instead she co-produced it with her guitar player and right hand man Harley Husbands. It was recorded at Tommy Detamore’s Cherry Ridge Studio in Floresville, Texas. Sunny’s originally from the Lone Star State, but recently has been living just outside of Nashville in Hendersonville.
“I am so glad I’ve been able to get this far in this business and still hold my music values,” Sweeney says. “Being independent has given me the freedom to do more of what I want.”
Co-writers on the album include long-time friend Brennen Leigh, Erin Enderlin, Gary Nicholson, Ben Chapman, and others. Sunny also records her version of “Last Hard Bible” by Kasey Chambers.
“I really do love country music,” Sunny continues. “For me, it’s the stories and hooks … I really wanted this album to be a mixture of all the old styles of country music: Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn. I make music for myself and hope other people like it.”
Sunny Sweeney’s Rhinestone Requiem is now available for pre-order.
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Track List:
1. “Find It Where I Can” (Douglas Van Arsdale/Micheal Clark)
2. “Diamonds and Divorce Decrees” (Sunny Sweeney/Buddy Owens/Galen Griffin)
3. “Traveling On” (Sunny Sweeney/Brennen Leigh)
4. “As Long as There’s a Honky Tonk” (Sunny Sweeney/Buddy Owens/Galen Griffin)
5. “Houston Belongs To Me” (Sunny Sweeney/Brennen Leigh)
6. “Last Hard Bible” (Kasey Chambers)
7. “Waiting for a Reason to Stay” (Sunny Sweeney/Brennen Leigh)
8. “Is Tonight the Night (I Make You a Memory)” (Sunny Sweeney/Erin Enderlin/Ben Chapman)
9. “I Drink Well with Others” (Sunny Sweeney/Erin Enderlin/Gary Nicholson)
10. “Half Lit in ¾ Time” (Sunny Sweeney/Buddy Owens/Monty Holmes)
May 29, 2025 @ 8:48 am
Can’t wait! I saw her perform “Diamonds and Divorce Decrees” in Austin last month, and it’s great.
May 29, 2025 @ 8:49 am
I saw Brennen Leigh co-writes, so you can count me in!
May 29, 2025 @ 8:52 am
Definitely one to look forward to and it will definitely be country.
May 29, 2025 @ 9:15 am
Man, I’m looking forward to this. Saw her years ago opening for Brad Paisley and she was fantastic. Been hooked since.
May 29, 2025 @ 10:56 am
I love Sunny and have seen her perform many times at Mile 0 Fest and in Wisconsin. I came back a day early from a trip to New Zealand in March to just see her at a club in Milwaukee. She is a good song writer and performer. And funny! Look forward to the new record.
May 29, 2025 @ 2:16 pm
Hear Sunny’s really good,and a half-century after the late,great Glen Campbell’s defining hit,”Rhinestone Cowboy,” it’s time for a rhinestone cowgirl.(I’d look good as the first black rhinestone cowboy !!!!!)
May 29, 2025 @ 3:28 pm
oh man she’s so good. I’m looking forward to this.
May 29, 2025 @ 4:25 pm
She’s a national treasure!
And she plays great country songs on Sirius no one else plays. She’s the real deal.
May 29, 2025 @ 9:40 pm
Since we lost Mojo, Sunny and Elizabeth Cook are my favorite DJs at XM’s Outlaw Country.
May 30, 2025 @ 12:54 pm
Completely agree. Honestly they are the only reason I keep listening.
May 30, 2025 @ 4:50 am
She’s great, i’ve seen on her instagram that she’s been here in italy last here. Unfortunately just as a tourist since nobody knows her down here, Shame.
May 30, 2025 @ 6:01 am
Looking forward to this. Sunny truly seems to get better as her career goes along.
May 31, 2025 @ 6:39 am
Nice…
As Trigger says, “Diamonds and Divorce Decrees” might not have the most upbeat of subject matter, but listening to this song brought a BIG smile to my face.
Next time Sunny plays in the UK, I’m hoping that she can bring the band – so we can see Harley let loose on electric 😉
May 31, 2025 @ 1:18 pm
Sunny Sweeney puts on a hell of a show. The first track released has some terrible final mixing. I really hope the whole album doesn’t sound that off
June 1, 2025 @ 7:54 am
I’m a new fan recently from Ottawa Canada. I listen to you on Willie’s Roadhouse and here you talk about your gigs so I thought I would check you out on line. Great song Diamonds and Divorce Decrees as well as many others I listened to on You Tube.
Great stuff all round. Keep it going and keep it country.
Fred D
June 4, 2025 @ 10:54 am
Love her!!!!!!!!