The song is from her forthcoming Rhinestone Requiem album
Country neo-traditionalist Sunny Sweeney channels heartbreak and hard-won freedom into a gritty, soul-stained journey through love, loss, and letting go with her latest single “Traveling On.” With a dusty saloon sway and a steady mid-tempo chug, the song, co-written by Sweeney with Brennen Leigh, finds the songstress putting one foot in front of the other to move on post-breakup.
“This song was written about a person who became a stranger that we used to know,” Sweeney says of the song’s inspiration. “He had the most intense eyes. Sometimes, you have to really get a hold of yourself when those people come into your life.”
“Traveling On” comes ahead of Sweeney’s highly anticipated new album, Rhinestone Requiem, out August 1st. A bold, unapologetic return to her roots, the record is a sparkling yet soul-baring exploration of resilience, heartbreak, and honky-tonk healing. In May, Sweeney released the album’s debut single, ironically upbeat and tongue-in-cheek “Diamonds and Divorce Decrees.”
Crafted with Sweeney’s signature blend of raw honesty and wry wit, Rhinestone Requiem – co-produced by Sweeney with her longtime guitarist Harley Husbands – showcases a more vulnerable and defiant voice than ever before. Drawing on her East Texas upbringing and years of cutting her teeth in the Nashville and Austin music scenes, the album marries traditional country twang with hard-earned truths and a few rhinestones for good measure.
Rhinestone Requiem, recorded at Cherry Ridge Studio in Texas, is a declaration of self-assurance and artistic freedom. Whether channeling heartbreak, joy, or resilience, Sweeney’s songs connect deeply with both women and men, offering comfort, camaraderie, and catharsis. For Sweeney, the goal remains simple yet powerful: to make music that feels like a trusted friend talking directly to the listener.
