Photo Credit: Max-Thompson

Double-platinum recording artist Haley Reinhart is entering a new chapter with the release of her latest single, “Promise,” arriving April 10. Warm, heartfelt, and deeply personal, the track is a tribute to the people who anchor our lives — the loves that shape us, steady us, and stay with us in ways both ordinary and profound.

For Reinhart, that idea reaches far beyond romance. Promise is dedicated not only to partners, but to children, parents, best friends, and even pets — the figures who become emotional landmarks in a life. In a cultural moment that often reduces love songs to one dimension, Reinhart’s latest release expands the frame, offering something more generous and universal: a song about devotion in all its forms.

It feels like a fitting return for an artist who has never been easy to contain within one lane. Since first breaking into public consciousness as one of the most unforgettable finalists on American Idol, Reinhart has built a career defined by range rather than repetition. Across the years, she has moved fluidly through pop, soul, jazz, and rock, carving out a sound that feels classic without ever becoming nostalgic.

That versatility has become one of her defining strengths. Her viral rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” has now surpassed 550 million Spotify streams, while also making a significant impact on the charts, reaching No. 17 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and No. 31 on Adult Pop Airplay. But Reinhart’s story has never been just about one breakout moment. It has been about longevity, taste, and the ability to keep evolving while remaining unmistakably herself.

That evolution is especially visible in the way she has approached her career in recent years. As an independent artist, Reinhart has continued to shape her own path, balancing artistic freedom with the demands of an industry that rarely rewards subtlety. And yet, that independence seems to have sharpened rather than diluted her voice. There is something meaningful about an artist arriving at this point in her career with a song like Promise — one that feels intimate, unforced, and emotionally direct.

It also arrives at a moment of renewed visibility. Reinhart has collaborated with a remarkably eclectic list of artists over the years, including Tony Bennett, Slash, and Jeff Goldblum, the latter of whom she recently reunited with for three sold-out shows at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. That list says a great deal about the kind of musician she is: one equally at home in elegance, grit, theatricality, and soul.

If Promise is any indication, Reinhart’s next era may be less about reinvention than refinement — deepening what has always been there, and giving it new emotional focus. With a new album also expected later this year, the single feels like both a statement and an invitation: a reminder that some of the strongest songs are the ones that speak softly, but land exactly where they need to.

In Haley Reinhart’s hands, Promise becomes more than a song about love. It becomes a song about presence — about the people who remain, the people who raise us, the people who change us, and the quiet vows that connect us to one another long after the moment has passed.

“Promise” feels like a deeply universal tribute to the people who shape us. What was the emotional starting point for writing this song? 

Hailey Reinhart: I wanted to write a ballad that would channel the same emotional gravitas that my version of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” achieved. I’ve had an overwhelming amount of stories come to me through comments over the years. I want to continue to spread love in all forms and be an outlet for people. I see my music as a place people can rest their hearts for a moment. A vessel really — something they can pour their own memories, promises, and feelings into. Writing “Promise” felt like opening the door wider and inviting even more love in.

The idea of “the loves of our life” extends beyond romance in this track. How did you approach capturing that broader, more layered definition of love? 

HR: I think of the love I have for my dogs over the years and my blue heeler pup I have now, Pepper. She’s my baby and I’d do anything for her. Love truly comes in all forms and I don’t take the unconditional love of an animal/pet for granted. She reminds me what it means to show up every day with care and presence. “Promise” is my love letter to that devotion — to all the ways love finds us and asks us to be better.

Your music has always moved fluidly between pop, soul, jazz, and rock. Do you see genre as a limitation, or as something you intentionally blur to tell your story? 

HR: I am happy listing all the different genres I continually bend and blend together. I am first and foremost a music lover and with that — a vocalist whose mission is to explore whatever creative downloads I’m given. My feeling is, if you have a gift in emoting through lyric and melody— why confine yourself to one sound. Overall, my style will always fall under sultry, heartfelt, and vintage yet modern. I take pride in that freedom and I think it invites a beautifully diverse audience along for the ride.

From your early days on American Idol to now, your career has evolved on your own terms. What has being an independent artist taught you about creative control and identity? 

HR: If you have a clear vision, being an independent artist comes much easier. It’s hard having someone constantly try to mold you into someone you’re not or having them breathe over your shoulder every step of the way. I enjoy my freedom to not only explore my authentic creative sound, but to do it on my terms and be available for the unexpected blessings, collaborations and creative paths that seem to find me at the perfect times. I’ve learned how valuable it is to trust myself — to explore my sound honestly and make choices aligned with who I am, not who I’m expected to be.

Your rendition of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” has reached hundreds of millions of listeners. How do you feel about the balance between honoring a classic and making it your own? 

HR: I feel super honored to not only take on a song that Elvis performed and made famous, but to have it be received by millions of listeners around the globe. I am so thankful for those who have shared how my version has been a part of their love story and that alone is also a huge honor for me as an artist. I’ve prayed to have a song that would be a part of people’s weddings, anniversaries, milestones, etc., who knew it would all stem from a sync placement in an Extra Gum commercial!

Photography: Naomi Christie

You’ve collaborated with artists as diverse as Tony Bennett, Slash, and Jeff Goldblum. What do you look for in a collaboration, and how do these different worlds influence your sound? 

HR: Each collaboration has felt like stepping into a different chapter of my musical education. These artists were heroes to me long before they became collaborators. With Tony, it was pure magic — growing up with his music as the soundtrack to my family’s Christmas’ and then bringing it full circle to rehearse, hang out, perform, and even interview him was an absolute dream. 

Flash forward to Jeff Goldblum. Turns out Jeff and his son were fans of my cover of “Can’t Find My Way Home” and this is why he reached out to me to be a part of his first jazz single and first jazz album release. We stayed on the charts some time with our rendition of “My Baby Just Cares For Me”. Now, nearly a decade later — we just came out with two new tracks (which are currently blowing up in the EU) that will also be re-released this summer on his upcoming album, “Night Blooms.”

Reuniting with Jeff Goldblum for sold-out shows at the Troubadour feels like a full-circle moment. What makes performing in intimate, iconic spaces like that so special for you? 

HR: You can feel the rock n’ roll history in those walls. I’ve headlined The Troubadour a handful of times and the magic never fades. Selling out three back to back shows with Jeff was dreamy. It was also cool to hear and hang with the rest of the artists on the line up like Laufey, Charlie Puth, Kaitlyn Dever, & Seth McFarland. 

Photograper: Michael Barr

“Promise” carries a warmth and sincerity that feels almost timeless. Do you think your songwriting has become more reflective as your life and career have evolved? 

HR: I’ve always been intentional with lyrics, but “Promise” feels especially expansive. It’s one of the most universal songs I’ve written in quite some time. I wanted it to feel classic — romantic in a way that transcends trends. As life evolves, perspective deepens and I think that naturally finds its way into the writing. This song feels like a deep exhale; honest and full of heart.

With a new album on the horizon, how does this next chapter differ from what you’ve released in the past—sonically or emotionally? 

HR: I feel like I have a soft loving/romantic side and a sassy sultry side of my writing and performances. My 5th album (much like my previous 4 albums) will channel and honor both of these unique sides of myself. It will be dripped with dreamy vintage sounds and sultry robust moments.

Looking at your journey so far—from viral moments to deeply personal releases—what continues to drive you creatively today? 

HR: The fact that as an artist I have the power to create something brand new again and again—is forever inspiring to me. I’m always aiming higher, looking to achieve greater goals. My perspective on this won’t change, it will only shift from song to song, project to project. I feel incredibly blessed to share my voice with the world and that gratitude continues to fuel everything I create!