Rissi Palmer Drops Truth Bombs on New 'Perspectives' EP

Rissi Palmer just served up some real talk with her latest offering, a four-song collection called Perspectives that hits different than anything she's dropped lately. The Apple Music Country host behind Color Me Country hadn't blessed us with new music since 2019, but this EP proves the wait was worth every minute. Working alongside producer Shannon Sanders, Palmer crafted a project that balances personal storytelling with her signature authenticity.

The standout track "Old Black Southern Woman" came together after Palmer chopped it up with co-writer Kyshona Lamiere about a heavy realization. Palmer found herself older than her mother ever got to be, which sparked some deep reflection about perspective and gratitude. "I'm realizing now how much she missed," Palmer explained during her recent Music Row visit. "We always think about how bad it is to get old, but how lucky we are to see the people we love grow up." That's the kind of wisdom that only comes from living and learning.

Another gem on the project, "Good To Me," took five years to complete after Palmer started it in Los Angeles with Hilton Wright II. She finished it last year with Sanders, and the song captures how relationships evolve as we mature. Palmer, now 44, reflected on how different her needs are compared to when she got married at 29. The track speaks to wanting those "simple, but very important things" that matter most in love and life.

Beyond the music, Palmer stays busy championing Black women's contributions to country music. She's co-editing a children's book with journalist Kelly McCartney called Color Me Country: A Celebration of Black Women Who Shaped Country Music, with illustrations by Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens. The book drops in May with proceeds supporting the Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund, continuing Palmer's mission to highlight overlooked stories in the genre.