"Ghost Story"
Single by Carrie Underwood
from the album Denim & Rhinestones
ReleasedMarch 18, 2022 (2022-03-18)
GenreCountry pop
Length3:01
LabelCapitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Carrie Underwood
  • David Garcia
Carrie Underwood singles chronology
"If I Didn't Love You"
(2021)		 "Ghost Story"
(2022)		 "Hate My Heart"
(2022)
Music video
"Ghost Story" on YouTube

"Ghost Story" is a song by American singer Carrie Underwood, released as the first single from her ninth studio album Denim & Rhinestones.[1] It is the only song from the album that Underwood did not have a hand in writing.[2] The song was released digitally on March 18, 2022.[3]

Writing and composition

"Ghost Story" was written by Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, and David Garcia.[4] Underwood said of the single, "Ghost Story is a thrilling, dramatic song that David, Hillary and Josh wrote for me. They are such talented, amazing songwriters who know me so well, and from the first time I heard it I knew I had to record it. I have always loved performing songs that tell a story and inspire some kind of cinematic imagery when you hear them, and that is definitely true of 'Ghost Story.' It creates a mood and a vibe that is different than anything else I've recorded before."[5]

The song is written in the key of G major and a 6/8 time signature. It has an approximate tempo of 48 beats per minute and a vocal range of E3 to D5. The song's main chord pattern on the verses is CMaj7-Asus2-Em-D.[6]

Critical reception

The Nash News gave a positive review of the song, writing, "One of Underwood’s strengths has been the storytelling within her songs...["Ghost Story"] is ethereal in style and vulnerable in message and it brings a new sound to the current radio climate.[7] Rolling Stone gave a positive review, praising its "slowed down, waltzing rhythm" and "eerie atmosphere", noting its departure from another of Underwood's breakup hits, "Before He Cheats".[8] Taste of Country praised Underwood's vocal performance, saying, "[she] belts emotively on the chorus, displaying her unbridled desire to hold her old flame captive" and calling the song "vividly-painted".[9]

Promotion

Underwood performed the song live for the first time at the 64th Grammy Awards, held in Las Vegas, on April 3, 2022.[10] The official lyric video was posted to YouTube on March 18, 2022.[11] She again performed the song live for the 2022 CMT Music Awards on April 11 wearing a purple asymmetric jumpsuit and bare feet, being carried into the air on a ribbon toward the end of the performance.[12] She included "Ghost Story" as part of her set at Stagecoach Festival, along with "Denim and Rhinestones" and "Crazy Angels".[13] She performed it again at CMA Music Fest in June 2022.[14] When Apple Music debuted its Sessions EP feature in July, Underwood was the first artist featured; she performed three songs, including "Ghost Story" and "Blown Away."[15] She included it for the setlist during an iHeart concert special, which aired September 29.[16]

Commercial performance

"Ghost Story" marks Underwood's thirtieth top ten on the Country Airplay;[17] it also reached No. 61 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Music video

The video for the song premiered on April 29, 2022.[18] The music video was filmed in the Los Angeles Theatre[19] and was directed by Randee St. Nicholas.[20] Underwood said of Nicholas, "I am very visually-oriented and from the first time I heard 'Ghost Story,' I had a vision for how I wanted to bring this song to life in performance and Randee always takes everything to a whole other artistic level beyond my own imagination." The male lead in the video is Craig Geoghan.[21] An alternate version of the video premiered in July.[22]

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[31] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ @carrieunderwood (April 7, 2022). "I can't wait any longer!! I have a new album coming June 10! Get ready for #DenimAndRhinestones! Pre-order beginning at midnight ET!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ Dukes, Billy (April 8, 2022). "JUST IN: Carrie Underwood Drops 'Denim & Rhinestones' Track List". Taste of Country.
  3. ↑ DeSantis, Rachel (March 18, 2022). "Carrie Underwood Shares 'Thrilling, Dramatic' New Single 'Ghost Story': 'A Great Story Song'". people.com.
  4. ↑ Freeman, Jon (March 18, 2022). "Carrie Underwood Exacts Mental Revenge in New Song 'Ghost Story'". Rolling Stone.
  5. ↑ Major, Michael. "Carrie Underwood Releases New Single 'Ghost Story'". BroadwayWorld.com.
  6. ↑ "'Ghost Story' sheet music". MusicNotes.com. March 18, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  7. ↑ Janes, Lesley (March 18, 2022). "Carrie Underwood "Ghost Story" Song Review". The Nash News.
  8. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Exacts Mental Revenge in New Song 'Ghost Story'". Rolling Stone. March 18, 2022.
  9. ↑ Chua, Jeremy (March 18, 2022). "LISTEN: Carrie Underwood's 'Ghost Story' Is a Haunting Breakup Story". Taste of Country. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  10. ↑ "See Carrie Underwood Haunt the Grammys with Live Debut of 'Ghost Story'". Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Carrie Underwood is someone's 'Ghost Story' in new song". UPI. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Watch Carrie Underwood defy gravity in a dazzling aerial performance at CMT Awards". April 12, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Stagecoach 2022: Carrie Underwood and Guns N' Roses vocalist Axl Rose bring Day 2 to a rockin' close". Daily News. May 1, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  14. ↑ Paulson, Marcus K. Dowling, Rachel Wegner, Molly Davis, Matthew Leimkuehler and Dave. "CMA Fest updates: Carrie Underwood closes Saturday night with a Louisville Slugger". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 12, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ "Apple introduces Apple Music Sessions". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Powerfully Performs Career-Spanning Hits In Unique VR Show". iHeartCountry Radio. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Hits Country Airplay Top 10 … with Help from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow". Billboard.
  18. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Posts Haunting Teaser Of Unreleased 'Ghost Story' Video". iHeart. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  19. ↑ JessJess (April 30, 2022). "WATCH: Carrie Underwood Haunts Old Flame in Theatrical 'Ghost Story' Video". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  20. ↑ "WATCH: Carrie Underwood's 'Ghost Story' Music Video Is a Visual Masterpiece". Country Now. April 30, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Who Is The Actor In Carrie Underwood's "Ghost Story" Music Video? Meet Craig Geoghan". Music Mayhem Magazine. May 9, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Carrie Underwood's Cinematic 'Ghost Story' Video Gets Alternate Version: 'How Many Differences Can You Spot?'". iHeartCountry Radio. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Country Airplay – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  31. ↑ "American single certifications – Carrie Underwood – Ghost Story". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
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