February 13, 2026 –Willa Ford has shared her new single, “Carousel” – listen HERE. “Carousel” is the third new track to be unveiled from amanda, her first new album in over two decades, to be released on March 6th. amanda is a triumphant return for the pop icon, delivering equal parts pure pop pleasure and daring self-revelation.
As the spellbinding centerpiece to the new album, the extravagantly composed “Carousel” fully showcases the immense depth of Ford’s sonic vocabulary and musical imagination. Recorded with award-winning arranger/composer/producer Vincent Ott, the gorgeously shapeshifting track surfaced as Willa revisited the symphonic pop of Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys (an essential touchstone since childhood), bringing lavish strings and wildly alternating tempos to a tender reflection on the adventure of being alive.
Willa explains, “‘Carousel’ is a song about hope and resilience. I grew up on the harmonies and genius of Brian Wilson. When I was looking for inspiration, I thought why not try to channel that into a pop song. I marched into the studio feeling like it could go well or terribly wrong. I built it part-by-part vocally thinking ‘what would Brian do?’ while also making sure the song showcased my sound. I’m so proud of how it turned out. It’s a richly layered pop song about life and its cycles. The ups and downs are inevitable, if we are lucky enough to live fully. I hope when anyone is struggling this song will remind them that things will get better. We just have to hold onto hope.”
“Carousel” comes on the heels of new tracks “Love4Life,” a euphoric ode to her husband, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Ryan Nece, and “Burn Burn,” a glorious dance anthem of self-salvation.
It’s been an exciting time for Willa Ford. She kicked off 2026 announcing her new album with a performance on NBC’s Today – watch it HERE. Following red carpet sightings at the Super Bowl, Willa performed at an exclusive party last night for CFDA Fashion Designer Christian Siriano celebrating his New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2026 Show.
Willa Ford’s new album amanda, (its title taken from her birth name), marks the first complete manifestation of her dynamic musicality—an element honed through her classical training as an opera singer, as well as her background in writing alongside luminaries like Grammy-winning hitmaker Diane Warren. It’s both a bold rebirth and a brave reclaiming of a dream nearly destroyed. After joining a longtime friend for a series of informal songwriting sessions in 2023, the Northern California-based artist quickly reconnected with her long-dormant musical passion, tapping into her formidable talent.
But as she delved deeper into the creative process, Ford suffered her first bout with a type of seizure known as PNES—a phenomenon later found to be triggered by unresolved trauma closely tied to her past experience in music. While working through that trauma and learning to cope with her condition, she dove back into music with an even fiercer sense of purpose, soon arriving at the sublime catharsis of amanda.
Ford made a splash in the early 2000’s with her Top 40 breakout hit “I Wanna Be Bad” from her formidable debut, Willa Was Here. Her impressive career spans multiple disciplines including music, film, television, producing, modeling and her own successful interior design company. Her varied resume includes notable pop culture moments guest-hosting TRL, appearing on Dancing with the Stars, starring in Friday the 13th, and a turn on the E! reality show Flip It Like Disick with Scott Disick, among others.
