Ashley Ray follows her April 14 single “Married” (chronicling the devastating loneliness of her first marriage, wanting a divorce because she “wants to be married”) with “Break My Heart” featuring Ruston Kelly, releasing Friday, June 16 at DSPs.

Co-written and produced by Ray’s frequent collaborator and fellow GRAMMY nominee Sean McConnell, “Break My Heart” is about finding love in the aftermath of shattering heartbreak — and mustering the courage to do it all over again.

“This song is about letting go of what you thought was meant to be for what is, and surrendering to the fact that you’re falling in love again,” says Ray, who has remarried and recently welcomed a new daughter into her growing family. “Sean and I wrote this one in about 30 minutes, it just flew out. After recording, we felt that it needed a feature and Ruston was at the top of my wish list. I am so grateful for the emotion that his voice brought to the song.”

Ruston Kelly adds, “When Ashley first played this song for me I was hooked in immediately. It feels so classic and unique at the same time, with a hook I’m still not able to get out of my head. I loved singing on this with her.”

“Break My Heart” and “Married” mark the first looks at the upcoming album Ray will release later this year, as well as her first releases since Pauline, the critically acclaimed 2020 album that received praise from Rolling Stone, The Boston Globe and Stereogum. Named one of the year’s Top 50 records by NPR, Pauline found her teaming up with producer Sean McConnell, with whom she, along with Karen Fairchild, co-wrote Little Big Town’s GRAMMY-nominated hit single “The Daughters.”

Ray, who “tells stories with unapologetic candor about herself and her people” (The Boston Globe), wrapped a spring tour in May, alternating between solo shows and an amphitheater performance opening for Texas legend Bob Schneider at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, followed by a handful of shows with Little Big Town, ending with an arena performance in her home state of Kansas.

Ashley is currently in the studio, with a new album slated for release later this year.