Award-winning Americana firebrand Sara Petite will release her highly anticipated eighth studio album, HerStory: Snakes, Wolves and Honky Tonk Angels, with a special album release party at the legendary Belly Up Tavern on September 2 at 7:30 p.m.
An outlaw country headliner whose music reaches far beyond the genre’s borders, Petite has built an acclaimed career with songs that owe as much to the rock & roll roadhouse as they do the honky-tonk. Her music is raw, fearless, and deeply human — the sound of an artist who has spent nearly two decades carving her own lane through the Americana landscape.
A five-time International Songwriting Competition finalist, Petite has earned Top 40 Americana chart success, international airplay, and ten San Diego Music Awards trophies while building a devoted audience across the U.S. and Europe. Critics have hailed her as “the benchmark for what Americana music should be about in the 21st century,” while American Songwriter praised her work as “breathtakingly beautiful.”
Her 2023 album The Empress drew widespread acclaim for its grit, storytelling, and swagger. Americana Highways described Petite as possessing “a Janis Joplin crossed with Loretta Lynn country spirit,” while calling the album “an impressive set by a lovely energetic & sassy lady.” Another reviewer called the record “a no-holds-barred travelogue fit for lovers, fighters, and just plain folks who enjoy a rowdy ride in the country.”
Now, with HerStory: Snakes, Wolves and Honky Tonk Angels, Petite delivers what may be her most fearless and personal work yet — a record filled with stories of survival, rebellion, heartbreak, feminine strength, and redemption.
“This album is deeply personal to me. Every song comes from a real place — the heartbreaks, the mistakes, the late nights, the hard lessons, and the moments that changed me forever. Some of these stories are mine, and some belong to people I’ve loved, lost, or met along the way, but all of them are rooted in truth. I’ve never known how to write any other way. I want these songs to feel lived-in — honest, gritty, vulnerable, and authentic — because that’s what life really is.”
The album includes the fiery “Honky Tonk Angels,” inspired by Petite and her fellow female performers, the provocative “I Hate Snakes,” her reinterpretation of the Eve story, and “She Runs With the Wolves,” a song celebrating feminine intuition and empowerment.
The new album was recorded at Track Star Studios in La Mesa with producer Josquin Des Prés, whose past collaborators include Bernie Taupin and Jason Mraz. The sessions brought together an extraordinary cast of musicians, including legendary guitarist John Jorgenson and acclaimed drummers Kenny Aronoff and Aaron Sterling.
Critics have consistently praised Petite’s songwriting and live performances. Americana UK wrote, “Petite doesn’t just perform songs, she inhabits them,” while audiences across the U.S. and the United Kingdom have embraced her high-energy blend of outlaw country, Americana, and rock & roll.
All songs on HerStory: Snakes, Wolves and Honky Tonk Angels were written by Sara Petite except:
- “I Hate Snakes,” written by Sara Petite and Josquin Des Prés
- “In the Names of Dark Angels,” written by Josquin Des Prés, Bernie Taupin, and Mark Paladino
Album Personnel
- Sara Petite — lead vocals
- John Jorgenson — all guitars
- Kenny Aronoff — drums
- Aaron Sterling — drums
- Josquin Des Prés — bass, orchestrations, arrangements
- Chloe Lou — background vocals
- Lauren Lee — background vocals
- Bobby Furgo — violin
- Scott Gorham — keyboards
Recorded by Josquin Des Prés, mixed and mastered by Ian Sutton at Track Star Studios. Produced by Josquin Des Prés. Executive Producer: Sara Petite.
The September 2 album release show at Belly Up Tavern will feature HerStory: Snakes, Wolves and Honky Tonk Angels performed live in its entirety, followed by Sara Petite’s Americana Roundup – Honky Tonk Angels — a high-energy country revue celebrating the music and spirit of country music’s most iconic women. The showcase will feature Sara Petite alongside a lineup of standout female performers delivering original songs, classic country favorites, and honky-tonk anthems in what Sara describes as a “powerhouse celebration” of women in country music.