Sara Bareilles Releases 'Good Grief' Album and Documentary to Process Loss
Sara Bareilles releases her seventh studio album, 'Good Grief,' on August 28, 2026, accompanied by a documentary of the same name. The project processes her grief over the deaths of friends Chad Joseph and Gavin Creel, as well as her IVF journey. Bareilles produced the album collaboratively without a traditional producer, recording at Dreamland Studios in New York. She is launching a free public installation at Lincoln Center and a fall tour to share these themes of communal mourning.
Key points
- The album 'Good Grief' arrives on August 28, 2026, via Epic Records, marking Bareilles' first release since 2019.
- A companion documentary premiered at the Tribeca Festival in June 2026, filmed at Dreamland Recording Studios in upstate New York.
- The record addresses the 2020 death of manager Chad Joseph, the 2024 death of actor Gavin Creel, and Bareilles' IVF experiences.
- Bareilles produced the album collaboratively with her band, rejecting a traditional producer to avoid centralized power structures.
- A free installation titled 'Good Grief: Stories and Song' runs August 28-30 at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont lobby.
- Bareilles has established a grief hotline for fans to share stories, receiving thousands of voicemails.
Background
This release follows a period of significant personal loss for Bareilles, including the death of her close friend and former manager Chad Joseph in 2020 and Broadway star Gavin Creel in 2024. Her previous album, 'Amidst the Chaos,' was released in 2019. The current project contrasts with her earlier work by emphasizing raw emotional vulnerability and communal sharing over polished production.
How outlets are covering it
The Hollywood Reporter highlights Bareilles' decision to forgo a traditional album producer, framing it as a political statement against corporate power consolidation. Playbill emphasizes the communal aspect of the release, detailing the free installation at Lincoln Center that integrates fan stories with live performances. RIFF Magazine provides a critical review, praising the album's sparse, piano-driven arrangements and its refusal to resolve grief neatly, noting contributions from Brandi Carlile and Ingrid Michaelson. KOTA Territory News focuses on the physical release, reporting on a 'first listen' party at Black Hills Vinyl in Rapid City, South Dakota, ahead of the digital release.
Why it matters
The release marks a significant shift in Bareilles' creative process, moving away from traditional producer-led models to a collaborative, democratic approach. The accompanying documentary and public installations suggest a broader cultural movement toward communal processing of grief, moving beyond private mourning to shared public rituals.
What to watch
Bareilles will begin her fall tour on September 9 in Boston. She is also developing a musical adaptation of Meg Wolitzer's novel 'The Interestings,' slated for a world premiere at Berkeley Rep this winter. The grief hotline and public installations may lead to further community-driven projects.
- Sara Bareilles Isn’t Afraid to Show the Messy Side of Grief The Hollywood Reporter
- Sara Bareilles to Present Free Performance Series Good Grief: Stories and Song Playbill
- Sara Bareilles’ new album ‘Good Grief’ coming to Black Hills Vinyl ahead of release KOTA Territory News
- ALBUM REVIEW: Sara Bareilles gives hurt a sound all its own on ‘Good Grief’ RIFF Magazine
- How a Sara Bareilles 'Good Grief' listening event hit home 1 Minute Critic
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