Show Me Around

In September 2019 the music world was rocked by the untimely death of songwriter and producer busbee (full name: Michael James Ryan Busbee). He passed away aged 43 after a brief battle with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. Busbee had worked with a broad range of artists including Gwen Stefani, Pink, Maren Morris, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, and Lady Antebellum. A longtime supporter of Carly Pearce, he produced both of her first two albums; her second eponymous record was one of the last projects he'd worked on before his untimely passing. Here, Pearce pays tribute to her late producer as she imagines him showing her around heaven.

Pearce co-wrote "Show Me Around" with Emily Shackleton and Ben West, inspired by the speech that fellow songwriter Barry Dean delivered at busbee's funeral. Bet you're up there right now Making plans and writing out All your favorite place That you just can't wait to take us And we'll get to spend forever Talkin' 'bout whatever When I get there, promise you'll track me down And show me around Pearce premiered an acoustic version of "Show Me Around" during her 75th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry on June 6, 2020. She elaborated before performing the song: "Busbee has three little girls and a beautiful wife, and he painted this picture of heaven that was so beautiful to me. If anybody's ever lost anybody, this felt like a really cool way to look at our loved ones that are going to meet us in heaven and show us around."

After debuting "Show Me Around" at the Grand Ole Opry, Pearce recorded an official version of the track, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne co-produced the song, opting for a sparse instrumental backing giving prominence to the lyrics. She wrote on Instagram before releasing it on December 4, 2020: "Busbee will forever hold such a sweet place in my heart and in my music. I wrote this as a tribute to him, but also for his beautiful wife Jess and their three beautiful little girls. We all lose people we love. I hope this song gives you comfort and a sweet thought that they're in heaven finding all the special parts to show you when you get there one day."