After almost two years since the exceedingly successful “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd,” fans have been impatiently waiting to see where Lana Del Rey will go next. Finally, we have been given a clear answer. Lana Del Rey officially announced her next album, “The Right Person will Stay,” which is scheduled to release on May 21, 2025. However, with vast amounts of rumors and predictions circulating, what can we expect from this new era?
On November 25, Lana Del Rey’s Instagram post confirmed the 10th album everyone was awaiting. So far, Lana Del Rey has teased a snippet of the song “Henry, Come On,” which fans are speculating will be one of the lead singles on the album. The remainder of the album’s make-up is still uncertain; however, the singer has been hinting at her shift into a new genre: country.
Lana Del Rey’s transition to country music will not begin with this album. Ever since the release of her sixth album, “Chemtrails Over The Country Club,” the singer has taken inspiration from Americana and bluegrass music, both of which originated from country roots. Nevertheless, Del Rey was never considered a true country artist due to the way she blended her music with alternative and pop instrumentals that overshadowed the other genres. On December 1st, 2023, she released a cover of the beloved classic, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” marking her transition into a new era. It was not until 2024 that Del Rey made her next move. The country-trap single “Tough” by Quavo and Lana Del Rey debuted at No. 33 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list in early July. The mix of Quavo’s seamless rap verses and Del Rey’s alluring vocals created a perfectly addictive combination that dazzled fans of both artists. Considering the successes of these two singles, Del Rey enthusiasts are understandably awaiting the release of an official country album.
In reality, the journey to “The Right Person will Stay” has been quite complicated. Originally, the album was named “Lasso” and was scheduled to be released in September 2024. At Billboard’s Pre-Grammy event, the artist stated that she had been working alongside Jack Antonoff, a producer she has collaborated with since her sixth album on a classic country album. However, after September came and went with no new releases, fans started to become suspicious. Additionally, in an interview with Vogue, Del Ray said that two more singles were on their way before the end of 2024. Besides a few “Lasso” remixes, no new music was released during the year, and fans grew restless, wondering what was and was not true about this supposed album.
After covering for Vogue Italia’s November edition, Lana Del Rey eventually addressed the situation, explaining, “It had too much ‘American storytelling flair‘…I put it on hold because I didn’t recognize myself in it.” Instead of the classic country that was expected, she stated this next album will be “something more ‘Southern gothic,’ like it was meant to be from the start.”
Although many statements from Del Rey have been proven false, one thing is for sure: the next album will mark a new era for this cherished artist. While she is known for her lyrics about the female experiences of heartbreak and tragic romance, Del Rey expressed that her new album will focus on new subjects while still implementing her iconic Del Rey flair.
“It has a lot to do with living in Oklahoma and feeling different. My eyes have seen so many open spaces; I’ve felt the wind, and that’s the kind of energy I want to talk about now,” said Del Rey.
Even though many details remain a mystery, “The Right Person will Stay” will finally give us a look into the next period of this iconic singer.
