The cover image of Michaela Anne’s new album ‘These Are the Days’ is a powerful statement about how being an artist and a mother is not only possible, it is natural and normal. It’s wild this kind of image still feels radical in 2026, and yet it is. The music industry is still a tough place for women, let alone mothers, and we just have to be thankful to artists like Michaela Anne willing to share the both the beauty and challenges of their lives through their music.
From the first song Michaela Anne’s voice is so welcoming, she immediately sings of forgiveness and seeing beyond the mistakes that people make on ‘We’re All Good’. The sound is open hearted too, lifting us up beautifully in the chorus.
Then she’s appreciating the simple wonders of life on ‘These Are the Days.’ Even the challenges of motherhood become something to celebrate. She sings that we should ‘count the clover’ and see that the ‘humdrum is holy’.
The album also has some thoughtful love songs too like ‘Will You Still Love Me with a Broken Heart’ which asks questions about how to cope with all the suffering and scars life brings. The optimistic tone of these first few songs suggests that love does endure through it all.
There’s a vulnerability and simmering sense of doubt to that song which is explored further on ‘Two Pianos’ with Caroline Spence. A slower, sad turn which starts with a sense of darkness and builds slowly into a gorgeous song about appreciating what you have. There’s some lovely strings on this song too.
The heart of the record is ‘That’s What I Tell Georgia’ a heartfelt ode to her daughter which has to be one of the loveliest songs she’s ever recorded. It celebrates the joy of motherhood and the appearance of her daughter singing at the end is enough to reduce even the toughest to tears.
Then we have ‘If Your Body Fails You’ which is one of the most powerful songs on the album. Here we have a song about being a thoughtful and kind hearted person who looks beyond the physical into the soul of a person. She offers her care, her love and promises to be someone who will ‘see you inside’. It’s a song about caring, about love, and acceptance which I know I will go back to again and again.
When I was writing about Emmylou’s ‘Luxury Liner’ I discovered Michaela Anne’s beautiful cover of the song ‘Me & Willie’ and how much she appreciated under appreciated songs like that one. So on ‘B-Sides’ she uses that idea as inspiration for an anthem celebrating all the deep cuts, the outsiders, the underdogs and the places off the beaten track. Musically this one leans into something more soulful too, really letting the band bring the joy.
‘The Shadow of a Star’ is a ballad of longing, love and finding your place in the world. She concludes ‘it’s cool to want more and hold on to all I’ve worked for’.
The album finishes with a song for that dream ‘We’ve Got Bigger Plans’ which sings of how she wants to ‘love better than I have before’. She won’t give up dreaming, planning and longing but now that doesn’t mean she has to dismiss all she has already found in her life. She looks at her daughter and wants her ‘to love better than we have before’. It’s a beautiful, hopeful end.
Musically this album is so warm, rich, nurturing and optimistic, just like you’d hope every mother, and human being, should strive to be. A total delight.
I’ve added ‘That’s What I Tell Georgia’ to my playlist of songs from 2026 album reviews which you can follow here: Highway Queens 2026
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