Country-Rock Star Makes Bold Political Declaration in Fiery New Song

Brandi Carlile‘s latest release can be taken as a scathing commentary on the current administration, and fans feel it’s a strong contender for the “song of 2025” after hearing the fiery new lyrics pointing out that what’s “here today” will one day be “gone forever.”

The country-rock artist shared a snippet of the upcoming track on social media on Friday, Oct. 17, teasing a brief line of lyrics that goes, “And when the frailty overcomes them / And they begin to crawl / Reaching out their bloody hands / Guess who gets to make the call?”

The track, called “Church & State,” leans into a more rock-forward sound, with pounding drums and electric guitar riffs reminiscent of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, in an anthem that one fan declared perfect for The Handmaid’s Tale, were it still airing, as the “Hard Way Home” songstress crooned, “And they don’t see what we see but we believe, we believe that they’re not gonna live forever / Burn tomorrow, never say / They’re here today, then they’re gone forever,” and quoted Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists, which officially declared a separation of church and state in the United States of America: “I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.”

Fans already have the song “on repeat,” praising the artist for “Absolutely meeting the moment! 👏🏼” as they drew attention to the impeccable “timing of this release 🤌🏼🫰🏼🤘🏼” amid growing political strife.

One shared they were “Screaaamiiiingggg🤘🏻😍” over the bold new song, while another emphatically commented, “REPEAT 🔥 REPEAT 🔥REPEAT 🔥 REPEAT 🔥AND REPEAT AGAIN!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.”

Another dubbed it the “Song of 2025 👏,” while more applauded the message Carlile was sending.

“Brilliant,” one called it, adding that they “wish[ed] The Handmaid’s Tale was still on the air,” noting that it “would have been a great addition to that show.”

“Church & State” features on Carlile’s upcoming album, Returning to Myself, due out on Oct. 24.

Related: Pink and Brandi Carlile Join Forces for Moving Rendition of Sinéad O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’

This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.