Folky Country Singer Katie Pruitt Rocks CBS Saturday Morning

Acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician Katie Pruitt returned to “CBS Saturday Morning” this past weekend to perform three songs from her acclaimed new album, Mantras: “All My Friends,” “Worst Case Scenario,” and “White Lies, White Jesus, and You.”

Watch “All My Friends” by Katie Pruitt

Watch "Worst Case Scenario" by Katie Pruitt

Watch "White Lies, White Jesus and You" by Katie Pruitt

Pruitt is an artist who moved to Nashville from the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Her music covers topics such as religion, mental health, and contemporary love songs with a modern twist. Her passionate delivery and powerful message have earned her a place in the lineups of festivals like Americana, 420 Fest, Pilgrimage, and she has played sold-out shows all across the US and internationally.

Produced by Jake Finch and Collin Pastore (both known for their work with boygenius and Lucy Dacus), Mantras was released last month via Rounder Records (stream/purchase here).

Vulture recently selected the album track “Self Sabotage” as one of the “Best Songs of 2024 So Far,” praising, “The anthem builds from a whimper to a full-throated cry, amplified by wailing electric guitars and pounding drums,” and continues, “Pruitt may fashion herself a folky country singer in the vein of her hero Brandi Carlile, but here she sounds closer to the exposed indie-rock songs of Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus.” 

“Watch Self Sabotage” by Katie Pruitt

Known for her powerful live performances, Pruitt is currently amid an extensive headline tour with upcoming stops at Chicago’s Thalia Hall, Milwaukee’s Vivarium, St. Paul’s Amsterdam Bar & Hall and Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl among others. She will also perform at several major festivals this year including Railbird Festival, Austin City Limits, Outside Lands and Calgary Stampede.

Reflecting on the project, Pruitt shares, “Mantras is a full circle journey from self-sabotage to self-compassion. Writing this record forced me to stop seeking external validation from the rest of the world and turn my focus inward. After hitting a low point that caused me to seek extensive therapy, I realized I had a problem with negative self-talk,” she said.

“So, I started writing down phrases of encouragement and repeating mantras in the mirror. Through this practice, I learned how to be a kinder friend to myself and, ultimately, a kinder friend to others. When life gets heavy and the future feels overwhelmingly out of our control, we can learn to turn inwards and build a home inside of ourselves.”

In addition to Pruitt, Finch, and Pastore, Mantras also features musicians Maggie Chaffee (strings), Dave Cohen (keys), Anthony Da Costa (guitar), Kris Donegan (guitar), Laura Epling (strings), Camille Faulkner (strings), Will Honaker (guitar, keys), Taylor Ivey (bass), Kevin McGowan (drums) and Johnny Williamson (guitar). 

The new music adds to a series of breakout years for Pruitt following Expectations, of which NPR Morning Edition praised, “such clarity of expression and disarming intimacy—Expectations is aesthetically warmhearted even in its tensest moments of confrontation.”

After the 2018 release of her live Ourvinyl EP, Pruitt was named NPR's Slingshot Artist for 2019 and was also featured on All Songs Considered for her song "Grace Has A Gun." Not long after that, she was chosen as the Luck Reunion Artist on the Rise for SXSW 2019. Pruitt has no plans of slowing down, and when she isn't on the road, you can find her in the studio writing and recording her debut record.

Watch “Grace Has A Gun” by Katie Pruitt

She has been highlighted as a Rolling Stone “Artist You Need To Know,” one of NPR Music’s “Slingshot: 20 Artists To Watch” and has performed as part of CBS Mornings’ “Saturday Sessions” series and NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk (Home Concert)” series. In addition to numerous sold-out headline shows, Pruitt has also toured with artists such as Brandi Carlile, Indigo Girls, Shakey Graves, My Morning Jacket, American Aquarium, Lucero, City and Colour, and more.