“This expanded version means a lot to me because it shares songs we purposely held back from the original album, not because they didn’t belong, but because they were so special we wanted to give them their own moment,” says Ward. “Altogether, the deluxe album shows more sides of my artistry and feels like both a celebration of the music and a personal milestone.”

With the original Liberation, Ward delivered a bold declaration of independence, blending fierce originals with inspired takes on blues standards. The Deluxe Edition continues that story, completing the arc with songs that deepen the album’s emotional range and highlight her raw live energy. “The original album was about breaking free and finding my own voice, and this expanded edition builds on that journey with songs that add even more context and emotion,” she explains. “Some of the tracks we held back originally now feel like they complete the picture of the entire collection of songs.”

Among the highlights is Ward’s electric performance of “Cadillac Man,” recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis. “Recording at Sun was especially powerful for me, given its incredible history and the artists who came before me,” she shares. “There’s a magic in those walls, you can almost feel the spirits of the artists who recorded there, and capturing that in my own music is something I can’t wait for listeners to experience.”

Watch the “Cadillac Man” video here.

Raised on the sounds of Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Etta James, and Big Mama Thornton, Ward started singing the blues at the age of 8 and performing by 12 with her father’s band. After a decade on a major label, she reemerged on her own terms, signing with Sun Records and fully embracing the music she’d always been destined to make.

(Photographer credit: Charlie Ward; download high-res image here)

Her recent single “Mother” and the Mother EP chronicled her journey into motherhood with grit and authenticity, setting the stage for Liberation earlier this year. That LP debuted at #5 on the Billboard Blues Chart and reached #1 on Billboard’s Blues Album Sales chart, showcasing both her own originals and fearless reimaginings of catalog gems. With the Deluxe Edition out today, Ward continues to shape a new chapter in Sun’s legacy while carving her own as one of modern blues’ most distinctive voices.

“This is who I’ve always wanted to be—a blues artist, on my terms,” she says. “It just took me a long time to get here.”

Buy/stream Liberation: Deluxe Edition here.