With a career that spans songwriting hits, international touring and acclaimed collaborations, singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Alyssa Bonagura is entering an exciting new chapter. Ahead of the release of her forthcoming album America’s Backroads on June 5 via Lookout Mountain Records, Alyssa has unveiled two deeply personal tracks, Circles and I Wanna Go, songs that already carry a rich history through recordings by Jana Kramer and Morgan Evans.

Now reclaiming them in her voice, Alyssa is reflecting on the experiences, relationships and milestones that shaped both tracks and her journey as an artist. Fresh from being announced for the prestigious Highways Festival at the Royal Albert Hall and preparing for an extensive UK headline tour, she joins us to discuss revisiting career-defining songs, balancing songwriting and performing, the inspiration behind America’s Backroads, and why “Circles” has taken on an even more emotional meaning in 2026 for her personally

You’ve lived with Circles and I Wanna Go for years as a songwriter — what was it like finally reclaiming them as your songs?

It is always such an honour for artists to cut songs you’ve written and I’ve been so lucky to have these cut by Jana Kramer & Morgan Evans. It feels really good to have my versions out there now. There’s a special something about them this time around because my fans are getting to hear them from my point with my voice – and they are so much fun to sing and play!

Did recording your versions feel more like revisiting an old diary… or rewriting the ending?

100% and Circles - but now they are rewritten into the new chapter of my life - Circles has even more meaning to me now because I’m getting married this year!

You’ve had success writing for artists like Morgan Evans and Jana Kramer — how do you decide whether a song belongs to someone else or needs to stay with you?

I always think it’s important to give your song wings no matter how that looks. I’m not precious anymore about keeping songs to myself; if someone wants to cut a song of mine, I see that as a blessing and let it fly. Some songs are so personal that they connect differently when you hear the writer sing them – so I couldn’t wait to record my own versions.

Circles has taken on new meaning with your upcoming wedding — has being in this chapter of life changed the way you write love songs?

Yes!! I really only write happy songs now! Thank God. Hahah! I have enough past heartbreak stories stored away in my heart to pull from for years to come for the sad ones.

If younger Alyssa could hear America’s Backroads, what song do you think would surprise her most?

Probably I wanna go! I never thought I would do a version of that song, but on this record I’m getting to showcase my electric guitar side, which I’ve always wanted to do, and I wanna go was the perfect fit.

Your music blends country roots with a transatlantic spirit — does 'home' feel more like a place, a sound, or a person these days?

Home is where my heart is, and that’s with Steve, my fiancé, no matter where we are together and when I’m with my family and my dogs at home in Franklin, TN.



You’ve performed songs in huge moments – is there one memory that still gives you goosebumps?

Singing on stage with Vince Gill recently when we were on the same Bluebird show was a pretty big moment for me. He is such a legend and ended up jamming on a few songs of mine. Still mind-blown about that.

The album title America’s Backroads feels cinematic. If this record were a road trip movie, who'd be in the car with you, and where would you be heading?

Me & Steve are in the front – he’s driving – we're in an old Mustang. The sun is shining; we’ve got the windows down, taking a road trip out west along Route 66. Who knows where the wind will take us. Life is a road, never knowing which way you’re going to go until you get there….

As both a producer and songwriter, do you ever have an internal tug-of-war between ‘technical perfection’ and ‘capturing the emotion’?

Oh my gosh – yes, all the time. I have learned lately to just let those technical perfections go and allow emotion to lead because, actually, the imperfections are what make a song / production really special, I think. Something I’ve really enjoyed with America’s Backroads, the album, is that we cut everything live in the studio with real musicians, and a lot of the songs are one take because I wanted to leave in the human aspects of it. In a world that’s full of artificial intelligence, I just want my music to be authentically human.

You’re about to play the iconic Royal Albert Hall — what’s going through your head before stepping onto a stage like that?

What am I going to wear?! Haha! It is such an honour to finally get on that stage. I wanna look and sound my best, so I will be practising!!

UK crowds have a reputation for being passionate and loud — what’s your favourite city to play here, and why?

Gosh, that’s a hard one!! I love every city that buys tickets to my shows!! Glasgow is always a blast because they love to party, and I have Scottish roots on my mom's side of the family, so I always feel a bit of a soul tie-up there with the Scots!

If fans could only listen to one song from America’s Backroads while driving with the windows down, which track would you nominate?

I wanna go - hands down! It is a roll the windows down, take a back road and get lost in the music kinda song.

You’ve worn so many hats — artist, songwriter, guitarist, producer. Which role feels most like ‘home base’ to you?

I feel really at home on stage and in the studio. I’ve been so lucky over the years to maintain all those roles and each role feeds the other. I get inspired when I write, and that inspiration carries into my artistry, and then into producing for other people. They’re all home to me

What’s one songwriting myth you’d love to bust for people who think hit songs arrive in one magical burst of inspiration?

Catching a song is like catching lightning in a bottle. One minute the perfect storm hits & you get one – people say “let’s write a hit today” - but the truth of the matter is I think when the hits come, they write you.

This year sounds huge: new music, major shows, and a wedding. How are you staying grounded while life is moving at full speed?

I stay grounded by being in nature and keeping my faith first in everything I do. It’s hard when things start moving so quickly, but I think everything changes with a grateful heart and really focusing on gratitude every day. I surround myself with good people that pull me into the present moment, and I go to the gym to get out all my anxiousness!



Alyssa has just been announced for Highways Festival and will take to the Royal Albert Hall stage on Friday 15 May. She will embark upon an 8-date headline UK tour on June 10, with dates as follows:

Wednesday 10th June 2026 - BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds 2

Thursday 11th - MANCHESTER The Lodge

Friday 12th - BRISTOL Louisiana – SOLD OUT

Saturday 13th - NORWICH Waterfront Studio

Wednesday 17th - GLASGOW The Glad Café – SOLD OUT

Thursday 18th - LEEDS Hyde Park Book Club

Friday 19th - NOTTINGHAM Bodega

Saturday 20th - LONDON The Lower Third

Tickets on sale: HERE