The breakthrough project helped transform Carter Faith from one of Nashville’s most promising newcomers into one of country music’s fastest-rising stars. Now, as she prepares to release the deluxe edition Cherry Valley Forever, Faith is opening up about why she believes the world she created already feels timeless.
According to Faith, the secret lies in the album’s influences.
Rather than drawing inspiration from a single era of country music, she intentionally blended sounds, stories, and aesthetics from multiple generations. The result is a project that doesn’t feel tied to one specific moment in time.
“I think the Cherry Valley universe is timeless,” Faith explained, noting that the record pulls from different eras of life, country music, and music in general. That combination, she says, is what gives the project its classic feel.
What’s even more surprising is that Faith never expected the album to become such a success.
She revealed that when she and producer Topher Brown were creating the record, they were primarily making something they personally loved rather than chasing commercial success. Faith says she would have been proud of the album even if nobody ever heard it, which makes its overwhelming reception feel surreal.
Released in October 2025, Cherry Valley quickly became one of the most acclaimed country albums of the year. The project earned widespread praise from critics, appeared on several year-end best-of lists, and even secured a historic Academy of Country Music Album of the Year nomination, making Faith the first artist in a decade to receive the honor for a debut album.
Now she’s inviting fans back into that world with Cherry Valley Forever, a deluxe edition featuring new songs and collaborations, including a highly anticipated duet with Wyatt Flores titled “Nothin’ Better to Do.” Additional tracks include “Dead Horse,” “Pearl Handled Pistol,” “If a Man’s From Texas,” and “Ain’t Over Me Yet.”
For Faith, however, the music is only part of the story.
She believes Cherry Valley has evolved into a place where fans feel welcome, connected, and understood. What started as a personal creative escape has become a shared universe embraced by listeners around the world.
And while she’s already writing new material and thinking about future projects, Faith says the influence of Cherry Valley isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
For a debut album that was created simply out of love for the music, that’s a pretty remarkable legacy.
