Tara Shannon Unveils Cover Story: A Love Letter to Canadian Women in Music and the Power of Starting Over

Listen to “THINK I’LL STAY ALONE” HERE

Acclaimed singer-songwriter and industry trailblazer Tara Shannon returns with her deeply personal new album, Cover Story — a heartfelt tribute to the Canadian female artists who shaped her creative journey. Produced by legendary visionary Jim Ed Norman (The Eagles, Anne Murray, Kenny Rogers), the record blends reinvention and reflection, pairing reimagined classics with one strikingly intimate original: the tender and introspective “Think I’ll Stay Alone.”

“Cover Story is a love letter to Canadian music that pays tribute to the incredible Canadian female artists who influenced my own artistry through the years,” says Shannon. “Making cover songs your own while honouring those who inspired you is a balancing act – this record taught me to trust my instincts and lean into what makes me, me.”

Warm, soulful, and achingly human, Cover Story captures the duality of strength and vulnerability at the heart of Shannon’s artistry. The album’s focus track, “Think I’ll Stay Alone,” co-written with Jonathan Helfand in Nashville, serves as its emotional centerpiece. Built on delicate piano and a voice that feels both grounded and transcendent, the song offers a meditation on solitude, healing, and self-acceptance. “I wanted to write something that felt like taking a deep breath after getting through a difficult time,” Shannon explains. “It’s about realizing that being alone doesn’t have to mean being lonely.”

That sentiment runs through every note of Cover Story. Recorded with Norman’s trademark orchestral grace and anchored by the exquisite piano work of Gordon Mote, the album moves like a conversation between past and present — between the woman who once sang others’ stories and the one now writing her own. Each track unfolds as a chapter of transformation, chronicling Shannon’s evolution from heartbreak to renewal, from the dissolution of a painful marriage to rediscovering the artist and individual she was before she became “mother” or “wife.”

The sessions with Norman proved to be a masterclass in emotional honesty. “Jim Ed was really good for reminding me to stay in the performance – the story of it – and not get in my head about things,” Shannon shares. “It was just incredible working with someone who’s been part of the soundtrack of my life.” His mentorship brought a timeless warmth to the album’s production — the kind of elegant simplicity that lets the storytelling shine.

Beyond her own music, Shannon has built a multifaceted career defined by generosity, innovation, and purpose. A music industry multi-hyphenate — artist, entrepreneur, educator, and advocate — she is dedicated to empowering creators to build sustainable, joy-centered careers. As co-founder of multiple ventures, including Willow Sound Records and The Willow House Wellness Centre, she bridges artistry and self-care, helping artists stay grounded while pursuing their dreams.

Her commitment to artist wellbeing extends into academia and authorship. As a sought-after speaker and professor at Algonquin College, Shannon continues to inspire the next generation of music professionals. Her acclaimed book, YOU and the Music Business: A Self-Care Guide to Finding Balance and Joy in Today’s Music Industry, distills over three decades of experience into practical wisdom — a roadmap for balancing ambition with authenticity.

Through Cover Story, Shannon turns that philosophy inward, peeling back layers of expectation and rediscovering the joy that first drew her to music. The album’s title becomes a metaphor for the excuses people tell themselves — the “cover stories” we hide behind, waiting for the right moment to live fully. “When the kids are older.” “Maybe when I’m retired.” Cover Story is her answer to all of it: the time is now.

The result is a record that feels both timeless and timely — a celebration of musical heritage and a reminder of the freedom found in self-acceptance. By honoring the women who came before her, Tara Shannon reaffirms her own place among them, crafting a body of work that’s as inspiring as it is intimate.

With Cover Story, Tara Shannon invites listeners to reclaim their own voice, to embrace solitude as strength, and to finally stop waiting for permission to begin again.