Ethel Cain Announces New Music And North American/European Tour
Ethel Cain has announced her second album of 2025, Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You, set to release this August. The album follows January’s Perverts, an experimental project that marked a departure from her earlier work. The upcoming record is billed as a prequel to her 2022 debut, Preacher’s Daughter, and will be supported by an extensive North American and European tour.
before everything, there was you. 1986, the year everything changed forever ♡ Photo: Instagram/@mothercain
Cain’s Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You draws inspiration from her past, notably a relationship with her high school boyfriend, Willoughby Tucker, a name familiar to fans of Cain’s previous music. The relationship is mentioned in Preacher’s Daughter, specifically in the song “A House in Nebraska.” The album explores themes of love, loss, and memory, with Cain describing it as an emotional continuation of her narrative.
In addition to the new album, Preacher’s Daughter will be released on vinyl for the first time on April 4, offering fans a new way to experience the critically acclaimed debut.
Supporting the Trans Community: Cain Partners with The Ally Coalition for Tour
Cain is also giving back with her Willoughby Tucker Forever Tour. The singer has partnered with the Ally Coalition, a nonprofit organization that supports LGBTQ+ rights, and will donate $1 from each ticket sold to causes benefiting the trans community. The tour will take Cain to major cities across North America and Europe, including New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, London, and Paris, with more stops to be announced.
North America and Europe Tour Dates for Willoughby Tucker Forever Tour. Photo: Instagram/@mothercain
Ethel Cain’s Personal Journey: Coming Out and Embracing Her True Self
Ethel Cain’s journey of self-discovery has been deeply intertwined with her upbringing in a Southern Baptist household. As the eldest of four children, she grew up with her father serving as a deacon and was actively involved in the church choir alongside her mother. Cain came out as gay to her family at the age of 12, and on her 20th birthday, she publicly came out as a trans woman, saying, “As I got older, I found out there were other options.” Reflecting on her upbringing, she recalled the tension she faced, stating, “It was made clear to everyone that I was not like other people. Whenever I started to develop, I started to come into my own as a trans woman. We were a house divided—it was me versus my whole town.”
Cain, who identifies as bisexual, also discovered in her adulthood that she is autistic, a diagnosis that has helped her better understand herself. Her experiences of feeling like an outsider are woven throughout her music, which often explores themes of identity, faith, and resilience. Cain’s upbringing, particularly her relationship with her father and the church, serves as a profound backdrop for much of her work, especially in her debut album Preacher’s Daughter, and continues to influence her music and advocacy today.
For those excited about the new album and tour, Cain’s latest music is poised to further establish her as one of the most unique and thought-provoking voices in contemporary music. Fans are encouraged to keep an eye out for more tour dates and updates in the coming months.
