Billy Strings will drop So Much for Goodbyes, his fifth studio album, on August 28. The story behind the ever-growing icon's new record could hit fans differently, however. While not using lyrics taken from his late mother's poetry, as he previously suggested, the new album will very much be a reflection of her.
The album's artwork was created by his mother, Debra Apostol. Strings posted on X that he believes she was working on the piece the night she died. Nearly exactly a year ago, on June 20, 2025, she died in her sleep.
As for the lyrics based on her poetry, Strings said that he still hopes that will happen, but he couldn't quite find the best way to mix his music with her stream-of-consciousness words. Honoring his mom while also producing an album that fans will like has proven to be a bigger challenge, but definitely not one he is saying no to forever.
Billy Strings announces new album whose late mother will heavily influence
As for the name of the new record, Strings suggested there was much melancholy on his part. However, after talking to his manager, that view changed. His mother would always be with him, and while he didn't have a chance to say a proper goodbye, she remains with him in memory and emotion.
Strings wrote as part of a lengthy social media post, "All her (art) pieces had a story. The piece we ended up using for the cover was the one she was working on the night she died. I believe her intention was to show it to me when it was finished to see if I would use it for the cover."
This album came at a time in my life when I had a lot to write about. I had just lost my mother last June and still felt the talons of grief piercing my back. Before she passed, she and I had planned on trying to use some of her poetry to make songs from, but that just hasn’t… pic.twitter.com/2c31DBE4Y5
— Billy Strings (@BillyStrings) June 30, 2026
As part of the announcement of the new album, Billy Strings also dropped a new single, "Burn the Other End." Like all of the 16 tracks on the record, the song was produced by Strings and legendary producer T Bone Burnett.
The tracklist for the new album, So Much for Goodbyes, is as follows:
- 1. "I'm One of Those"
- 2. "Burn the Other End"
- 3. "Carry Us Home"
- 4. "Lay Me Down"
- 5. "Lucid Daydream"
- 6. "Mill Town Flood"
- 7. "Live to Tell"
- 8. "Bluewater Breakdown"
- 9. "Light the Wall"
- 10. "I Like Train Songs"
- 11. "10,000 Miles From a Friend"
- 12. "Still I Crash"
- 13. "I Wish I Wanted To"
- 14. "Remember to Cry"
- 15. "Wrestling an Angel"
- 16. "Debra's Waltz"
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