Caroline Jones embraces “a deeper well of strength and empathy” in her first album since becoming a mother.

Jones, 35, debuted Good Omen on Friday (February 13). The 12-track project is her first in just over two years (since October 2023’s Homesite), and her first since welcoming her son in November 2023. Good Omen continues Jones' widely-influenced musical style. She “honed in more” on her craft, digging deeper into her sharp-witted lyrics with an “emotional richness” and evolved perspective on life since becoming a mother. Jones described a “rootsiness” in the album's style, with influence from Appalachian, folk, bluegrass, rock, country and pop. Lyrically, “I think being a mom has made me stronger and more able to tackle some harder subjects and some darker shades of life that are on this record. And I think that just comes from the empathy that comes with motherhood. There's definitely more emotional richness on this record.

“You just grow so much,” the solo artist and Zac Brown Band member continued in a recent conversation with iHeartCountry. “In this chapter, there's just been real jet fuel on the personal growth. And I think that shows in the lyrics of this album, and hopefully connects to people and makes them feel less alone in some of those emotions.” Jones added that she aims to be “as honest as possible in my writing,” including in her projects moving forward, “and I feel like that's a theme that we've been seeing a lot more in country. I mean, obviously there have been some extremely honest and vulnerable writers in the history of country music. That's what is one of the hallmarks of country music. But I feel like in recent years we've been seeing that a lot more, especially from the females, and it's so refreshing. It's just so beautiful to see. So, that's inspired me, too.”

The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist spotlighted Kelsea Ballerini’s “I Sit in Parks” as an example of a vulnerable, raw ballad that instantly resonated with her. Jones said she “was blown away,” when she heard it the first time. “It’s a great time for music, and I’m inspired by music from all different genres. …We [Zac Brown Band] literally cover, but we also just cover so much ground musically. Zac is so fearless and genreless. That really inspires me, too. I take a little bit of inspiration from all of those places. And then being a musician, trying to push myself and challenge myself harmonically and musically, in addition to digging deep lyrically and emotionally, all of those things. I mean, I'm always wanting to get better at all of those things and learn more.”

Jones laid the groundwork for her Good Omen chapter with a few previously-released songs, including the title track, “No Tellin’,” “All The Things” (and its acoustic version), “You’re It For Me, Honey” and “Divorce In A Small Town.”

Good Omen Track Listing:

No Tellin’ (Written by Caroline Jones, Lauren McLamb, and Clara Park)
All The Things (Written by Caroline Jones, Brandon Hood, Liz Rose, and Emily Weisband)
You’re It For Me, Honey (Written by Caroline Jones, Rob Grimaldi, Lauren McLamb, and Brandon Ratcliff)
The Bridge (Written by Caroline Jones, Sarah Buxton, and Lauren McLamb)
Forever Love (Written by Caroline Jones, Brandon Hood, and Eric Paslay)
Storm Chaser (Written by Caroline Jones, Jamie Kenney, Lauren McLamb, and Brandon Ratcliff)
Cutting It Close (Written by Caroline Jones, Gabe Faust, and Lauren McClamb)
Good Omen (Written by Caroline Jones, Sarah Buxton, and Joy Williams)
Family (Written by Caroline Jones and Bobby Hamrick)
Divorce in a Small Town (Written by Caroline Jones, Sarah Buxton, and Eric Paslay)
Becca (Written by Caroline Jones, Lauren McLamb, and Brandon Ratcliff)
All The Things (Acoustic) (Written by Caroline Jones, Brandon Hood, Liz Rose, and Emily Weisband)

Jones is in “full tour mode” now. Her headlining “Good Omen Tour” kicks off on Tuesday (February 17) in Nashville, Tennessee, with stops in New York, Georgia, Colorado, California and other destinations before wrapping up on May 1 in Chicago, Illinois. The “Good Omen Tour,” her first headlining run since her pregnancy, arrives shortly after Jones and the rest of Zac Brown Band took the stage at Sphere Las Vegas. She beamed as she looked ahead to the performances with her “amazing band,” playing stripped-back renditions of her songs, and the “awesome” three-part harmonies. “I think meeting people who listen to my music and who are touched by my music is a privilege, and honestly, just playing live is a joy. ...Mac McAnally says, 'they pay us to travel, we would play for free.' So that's kind of how I feel, too. Just playing live shows in front of people is such a privilege. It's such a joy.

“I'm so proud,” Jones said when asked how she feels reflecting on the full Good Omen project. “I’m so proud of this record….It's just so fun to make albums. I can't believe it's my job. It's so fun. We had so much fun making this one, and everyone is so proud of the music, so I can't wait to go out and tour it and make the next one.”

Jones took iHeartCountry through her album track by track, sharing her inspiration behind each one. Find those stories below, and keep scrolling to see her list of “Good Omen Tour” destinations.

“No Tellin’”

“‘No Tellin’’ is a song about an abusive relationship that I was in when I was younger, and it took me a really long time to be able to process through the relationship and the manipulation and confusion that I had endured. (It) really stuck with me for a long time, and it took a lot of work and a lot of therapy for me to even process through the situation, let alone be able to write about it and share it. So, I feel like this was a song that was being written in my heart for a really long time before I had the courage to put it in a song. And it's a really powerful, empowering song that I know a lot of people need to hear, because I’m not alone in having encountered a situation like that. And I really hope it goes out in the world and touches the people who need to hear it.”

Denise Plante