Fans of Oliver Anthony have a new release to look forward to this month. The independent country-folk singer-songwriter announced that new music will arrive on July 21, sharing the news while celebrating his 34th birthday.
Anthony revealed the update in a video posted on Instagram. Alongside the clip, he wrote, “It’s been a good birthday. New Music coming July 21st. Doing Lemonade Days in Bluefield August 29th. Farmville at Longwood August 30th. Life is good.”
The announcement marks Anthony’s latest return to music after spending much of the past year away from social media and releasing only a small amount of new material.
In the birthday video, Anthony thanked fans for their continued support and reflected on reaching another year.
“I have new music coming out on July 21st. I love you all. I really appreciate you.”
While he confirmed the release date, Anthony did not say whether the project will be a single song, several tracks or a full album.
During the video, Anthony also spoke about other recent developments in his life. He told followers that he recently bought a church in West Virginia. Although the building still needs work, he said he hopes to hold a church service there in October.
Anthony also confirmed two live performances scheduled for the end of August. He is set to appear at Lemonade Days in Bluefield, West Virginia, on Aug. 29, followed by a show in Farmville at Longwood on Aug. 30.
The new music announcement comes after a quieter period for the Virginia native. He stepped away from social media for several months before returning in May, when he shared a message discussing algorithms, artificial intelligence and politics. He also reduced his live performances before gradually returning to the stage.
His upcoming July release will be his first new original music since 2025, when he released the songs “Only God Can Save Us Now” and “Scornful Woman.” Before that, he had also shared a handful of live cover performances during 2026.
Anthony’s name became known around the world in 2023 after “Rich Men North of Richmond” went viral online.
The acoustic performance, filmed outdoors in rural Virginia, quickly spread across social media before the song became available on streaming platforms. The independent release later debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Anthony the first artist ever to enter the chart at the top without any prior chart history.
Rather than signing with a major record label after his breakthrough, Anthony chose to remain independent. He has repeatedly said he prefers to move at his own pace instead of chasing mainstream fame.
That approach continued after the release of his debut album, Hymnal of a Troubled Man’s Mind, in March 2024. Since then, Anthony has focused on releasing music on his own terms while limiting his public appearances.
The success of “Rich Men North of Richmond” has also allowed him to continue recording without changing the way he makes music. More than two years after the song’s breakout success, it has accumulated more than 300 million streams, showing that interest in his work has continued beyond its viral moment.
Anthony, whose real name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford, adopted the stage name “Oliver Anthony” as a tribute to his grandfather. Before becoming a full-time musician, he worked industrial jobs in Virginia and North Carolina and began writing songs in 2021.
Now, as he celebrates his 34th birthday, Anthony is preparing to begin his next chapter.
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