Just 18 months after making her official foray into country music with “REBEL,” Anne Wilson unveils “Stars.” The fast 12-track follow-up maintains the country sheen of its predecessor, while continuing to cultivate lyrics that radiate the Gospel.
Wilson had a lifetime to pen her debut, “My Jesus,” and another two years to design “REBEL.” Conversely, “Stars” was crafted in a matter of months with Wilson sketching out ideas in real time alongside a small circle of trusted collaborators.
“This past year, I’ve spent so much time writing and praying through new songs while reflecting on the incredible story God’s been writing with my life. ‘Stars’ is the sound of surrender — of letting go of my own plans and stepping fully into His,” Wilson shares. “Every song is a piece of my heart and a reminder of His faithfulness.”
Four of those pieces appeared on an EP that dropped in August in conjunction with Wilson’s high-profile summer dates, which saw her opening for country superstar Morgan Wallen. Wilson commanded her first stadiums with the freshness of songs like lead single “God Story” and the make-every-moment-count bounce of “’Til The Road Runs Out.”
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Her most personal project to date, “Stars” isn’t simply another genre-blurring installment from the singer who has firmly established herself as a crossover sensation. In many ways, the collection is a wistful search for her younger self.
The piano-led title cut sets the reflective tone, as Wilson ponders her original dream of becoming an astronaut before acknowledging she traded her childhood aspirations for an even bigger purpose. The second verse finds the songstress now recognizing herself in the eyes of the little girls who fill the seats at her concerts. The memoir-kissed track beautifully holds the tension of the life we envision in tandem with the plans God has for us and the unique, unexpected ways they often unfold.
While the record begins with a hefty dose of full-circle nostalgia, it ends with “Twenty Three,” a bittersweet tribute to her late brother, Jacob. In February, Wilson turned 23, the same age as her brother when he was killed in a tragic car accident, a moment that forever marked the chart-topping artist’s family and changed the trajectory of her life. On the moving benediction, she celebrates how much life Jacob managed to squeeze into his short 23 years, while simultaneously pledging to honor him by making her own 23 years count.
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Meanwhile, “Carry Me,” one of the full-length offering’s finest, recalls a similar vulnerability to “Milestones” — a deep cut from “REBEL.” The poignant ballad bears the weight of Wilson’s silent grief as she longs for the freedom and innocence she once relished before knowing the pain of suffering. She quietly wonders who will carry her.
Although she often misses the girl she once was, Wilson hasn’t forgotten what that former version of herself needed most in moments of adolescent confusion. Namely, sage advice from other women she admired. Now, the “Strong” singer gets to be that trusted advisor for other young girls, who look up to her.
Just like she chats self-worth and relationships in her new devotional, “Hey Girl: You Are Seen, Loved, and Made for More,” she talks boys and dating on cautionary tale “Devil Is Too,” as well as on album standout “Hold Your Horses,” a clever tongue-in-cheek singalong encouraging girls to keep their standards high and their values in check. She counsels “Hey Girl Nation” to wait for the cowboy who can love them the way they deserve to be loved.
Elsewhere, the Kentucky native channels Carrie Underwood on “Dead In The Water” as she tells the well-crafted narrative of a former alcoholic who discovers freedom from the bottle via redemption in Jesus. (Think “Spinning Bottles” meets “Something In The Water.”) In addition to addicts, Wilson speaks to the self-righteous quick to pass judgement on “Those People” and the remorseful sinner on “Still Do.”
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While the blossoming songstress walks in the shoes of various characters with empathy across “Stars,” her best efforts arrive when she slips into her own sparkly, rhinestone-studded boots. The autobiographically driven selections are what, ultimately, make “Stars” shine.
With the help of a loyal group of lyricists, including her tightest confidants, Matthew West and Jeff Pardo, Wilson continues to create music that belies her age. Losing her brother when she was only 15 obviously forced her to grow up fast, yet it feels like Wilson was born an old soul.
She doesn’t water down the truth on her third studio effort, but she does tell it with more longing than ever before. It’s a yearning that was absent on previous projects. It’s as if she finally unlocked a door into her heart that she previously kept closed. Now, new feelings are pouring out, unfiltered. Along the way, as brief glimpses of young Anne start to emerge, it’s easy to see how God was writing her story all along. In turn, Wilson’s latest endeavor gives listeners permission to dream again and invites them to trust the One who made the stars.
