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| God Must Really Love Me | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 12, 2026 | |||
| Recorded | January 2026 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | Epic Records | |||
| Producer |
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| Tori Kelly chronology | ||||
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| Singles from God Must Really Love Me | ||||
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God Must Really Love Me is the upcoming sixth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Tori Kelly. It is scheduled for release on June 12, 2026, via Epic Records, to CD, LP, digital download, and streaming formats. The album's fourteen tracks were produced by Kelly alongside Jason Gill, Oskar Widen, and Tommy King. God Must Really Love Me was supported with the release of two singles, including "Control" and "Dive", which were both released concurrently on May 8, 2026. The former of which peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart. God Must Really Love Me is characteristic for its thematic references to the blessings Kelly has experienced in her life, and the gratitude she has for her recently born son Zayden.
Release and promotion
editGod Must Really Love Me was announced on May 5, 2026, when Kelly revealed the album cover and release date in an Instagram post. It was also announced that two tracks from the album, "Control" and "Dive", would both be released as singles on May 8, 2026.[4] Upon release, "Dive" was supported with the release of a music video, which was uploaded to YouTube.[5][6] In promotion of the album's release, Kelly would tour alongside Forrest Frank, Cory Asbury, and the Figs in the highly successful[7] Jesus Generation Tour, which would reach twenty-nine dates in the United States and last from June until August 2026.[8][9]
Development
editKelly began developing the album while touring with Ed Sheeran in the summer of 2025; along the tour's routes she would book studios when finding an opportunity and record demos for the album. Following the completion of the tour, the majority of God Must Really Love Me was recorded in Los Angeles, California over a two-week period in January 2026. Kelly had recently given birth to her son Zayden; as a result of holding him on her lap while recording, he is occassionally heard on the album.[1] Creation of the album took a significantly short amount of time; previous releases of Kelly's often took years to develop.[10]
Style and production
editA pop, R&B, and gospel[10][2][3] with soul and acoustic influences,[11] God Must Really Love Me contains a much more restrained style than Kelly's previous works so as to "[allow] the message of the songs to ring out more clearly". It was for this reason that Kelly described the release as a "slow-down type of album".[1] With the album, Kelly wanted to create a record containing more soul influences and more live instrumentation than previous albums.[10] The album has been noted for its "warm low end" style, while being "small, contained, and quiet" and maintaining a "rounded, modern-pop beat".[3]
Lyrics and meaning
editIn the process of developing content for God Must Really Love Me, Kelly attempted a "write-what-you-know" approach, with the goal to cover the topics of her faith, marriage, and motherhood. Kelly believed that, at the time of creating the album, she had been experiencing "contentment that she's never before experienced", which resulted in many of the album's songs to contain emotions of gratitude. It was also because of this that that the album was named God Must Really Love Me, which was intended as a nod to the idea that God has rewarded Kelly with many blessings.[1][12] Billboard wrote that the album explores topics of "love, identity and 'the quiet work of protecting your peace amid the constant noise of the outside world.'"[4] Much of the album was inspired by the birth of Zayden. Kelly has also noted that the album's are more personal than earlier releases, citing the track "Bird" specifically "one of the more vulnerable songs I've ever written".[10]
Kelly explained the idea behind the song's writing, saying that she "really challenged myself to peel back the layers and go much deeper with my lyrics"; previously she had "held back from getting too specific in my songs" but with God Must Really Love Me Kelly "just completely let go".[13] Much of the album also contains references to Christianity, in an attempt for Kelly to "incorporate singing about God and how He's been in my life".[14]
Reception
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Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | June 12, 2026 | Epic Records |
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 Horowitz, Steven J. (May 5, 2026). "Tori Kelly Announces New Album 'God Must Really Love Me,' Inspired by Faith, Marriage and Motherhood (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
- 1 2 Foust, Michael (May 7, 2026). "Tori Kelly Embraces Faith and Family on New Album, 'God Must Really Love Me'". Crosswalk.com. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Rochel, Charlotte (June 11, 2026). "Album Review: God Must Really Love Me by Tori Kelly". Shatter the Standards. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- 1 2 Harrigan, Annie (May 5, 2026). "Tori Kelly Announces New Album 'God Must Really Love Me': 'This Time I Just Completely Let Go'". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ Tori Kelly - Dive (Official Music Video) (video) (Media notes). Epic Records. May 8, 2025. Retrieved June 11, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Tori Kelly Releases Two New Singles "Control" & "Dive"". Shore Fire Media. May 8, 2026. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (December 17, 2025). "Forrest Frank Sees Huge Demand for Upcoming The Jesus Generation Tour: Here's How Many Tickets Sold So Far". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ Moore, Jessica (January 10, 2026). "Forrest Frank announces first-ever US stadium tour, get tickets today". USA Today. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ McGowan, Chloe (June 10, 2026). "Tori Kelly returns to Indianapolis ahead of new album, 'God Must Really Love Me'". Indianapolis Recorder. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Wysong, David (June 9, 2026). "Tori Kelly talks new music, tour and why she's a big Wemby fan". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved June 10, 2026 – via MSN.
- ↑ "Tori Kelly releases new singles 'Control' & 'Dive'". Niagara Frontier Publications. May 8, 2026. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ "New Mom Tori Kelly's Baby Boy Makes His Debut on Her New Album". Entertainment Now. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Tori Kelly previews upcoming 'God Must Really Love Me' LP with the tracks "Control" and "Dive"". KTTS. June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Tori Kelly's New Album Is All About Faith and Motherhood". Movie Guide. June 10, 2026. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Hot Christian Songs: Week of May 23, 2026". Billboard. May 23, 2026. Retrieved June 11, 2026.