Sara Evans Discusses Reuniting with Husband Jay Barker, Writing an Album About Their Troubled Relationship: ‘The Story Is Mine to Tell’

From the opening line of her new single, “Pride,” which releases today, Sara Evans doesn't hold back. “You left a mark on my face,” Evans sings unflinchingly, “and brought a dozen red flags in a vase.” More from Billboard Maren Morris Announces Dates For 2024 RSVP Redux North American Tour Post Malone Proves ‘Teamwork Makes the Dream Work' In Snippet of Unreleased Morgan Wallen Collaboration ‘Road House' Star Lukas Gage Apologizes For ‘Wasting' Wedding Singer Shania Twain's Time After Quick Divorce Since releasing her debut album Three Chords and the Truth in 1997, the 2006 ACM Awards top female vocalist has earned five No. 1 Country Airplay hits, including both light-hearted love songs such as 2005's “Real Fine Place to Start” and empowering ballads such as 2010's “A Little Bit Stronger.” But her new music is a rawer representation of that debut album title's mission (and songwriter Harlan Howard's oft quoted definition of country music), as she excavates some of the darkest moments — including verbal and physical abuse — in her marriage to former University of Alabama quarterback Jay Barker . “Pride” is the centerpiece of her 11-song album, Unbroke , out June 7 via Nashville's Melody Place, in partnership with Evans' label Born to Fly. The album, her first collection of new music in seven years, chronicles the relationship's highs and lows, and Evans' ultimate decision to reconcile with Barker. “I'm forcing myself to do something scary in talking about this,” Evans tells Billboard , of reflecting on the pair's troubled past and her decision to reunite with him. Evans wrote “Pride” just weeks after what she calls Barker's “rock bottom,” when he was arrested in Nashville in January 2022, after getting into a verbal fight with one of their daughters and then rapidly backing up his truck, narrowly missing the car Evans was sitting in. The daughter called the police, and Evans unsuccessfully tried to call Barker to warn him that the police had been called. When Barker returned to the location later, police were still there and he was charged with aggravated assault with a […]