Sara Bareilles opens up about fertility struggles and processing grief in new album
Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles is learning to extend grace to herself and others as she navigates the messy realities of being human. In her latest work, she's opening up about struggles that often remain hidden from public view, including her personal challenges with fertility and the profound grief of losing close friends.
Speaking on NPR's Wild Card with Rachel Martin, a podcast named one of the 10 best podcasts of 2024 by The New York Times, Bareilles reflected on the themes explored in her new album and accompanying documentary, both titled "Good Grief." The project marks her seventh studio album and first release in seven years, following 2019's "Amidst the Chaos."
"Being a human is so complicated for so many reasons," Bareilles told Rachel Martin during the 51-minute conversation. That complexity runs throughout the album, which was recorded over six days in 2025 at a studio in Upstate New York. The intimate recording process was captured in the documentary, which premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival before its nationwide theatrical release on September 2, 2026. The album itself dropped on August 28, 2026.
Bringing fertility conversations into the light
One of the most significant aspects of Bareilles' new work is her willingness to discuss fertility struggles openly. Her experience is far from unique. According to the World Health Organization's 2023 report, approximately one in six people globally have experienced infertility at some stage in their lives. In the United States, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development reports that about 11% of women of reproductive age have encountered fertility problems.
Yet despite these numbers, conversations about fertility challenges often remain private, leaving many who struggle feeling isolated. By sharing her own journey through "Good Grief," Bareilles is helping bring these experiences into broader public discourse.
Processing loss through music
The album's creation emerged from what Bareilles describes as a season of loss. The period included the death of Tony Award-winning actor Gavin Creel, her former stage co-star and close friend. The grief from losing dear friends became woven into the fabric of the new music, giving the project its title and emotional core.
This isn't Bareilles' first time channeling difficult emotions into her art. The artist who first gained widespread recognition when "Love Song" reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2007 and earned her two Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year, has built a career on emotional honesty.
Her versatility as an artist extends beyond recording studios. Bareilles received a Tony Award nomination in 2016 for Best Original Score for the Broadway musical "Waitress," which she composed. The following year, she made her Broadway acting debut by stepping into the lead role of Jenna in the same production, demonstrating her willingness to take creative risks and push beyond her comfort zone.
Embracing vulnerability
In her conversation with Martin, Bareilles also discussed becoming what she calls an "unapologetic crier" and other ways she's changed over time, including outgrowing low-rise jeans. These personal revelations, both serious and lighthearted, reflect a broader theme in her recent work: the importance of being authentic about the full spectrum of human experience.
The "Good Grief" project represents more than just new music from an established artist. It's an invitation to acknowledge that grief, fertility struggles, and emotional complexity are natural parts of life that deserve to be discussed openly rather than hidden away.
By creating space for these conversations through her art, Bareilles is doing what she's always done best: using music to connect with others over shared human experiences, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable they might be to discuss.
