NEED TO KNOW
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Cecily Wilborn's new album «Soul Therapy» reflects her journey through personal challenges, healing and finding resilience.
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The Arkansas native blends R&B, country, and Southern soul into her music, drawing inspiration from her life and the lives of those around her.
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Cupid took part in the new album.
Cecily Wilborn isn't exaggerating at all when she begins her new album Soul Therapy In a conversational track, he tells listeners that "life has started to improve" in recent years, sometimes dragging her down with it.
Wilborn, known for her unique blend of R&B, country, and Southern soul, endured a difficult divorce, dropped out of school, lost her job, and faced personal tragedy while raising four children.
But she also found love again, graduated from university, had her song go viral, and lived to tell her story, which she does with her inimitable voice on the album. Soul Therapy (already on sale).
«People see me and think I’m just so excited to be releasing an album on Blackground 2.0. But I’m actually so excited because I know how hard I fought,» she tells PEOPLE. «And I know how many people told me it wouldn’t work because I’m a mom or because I’m way past my prime. Everyone had a lot of reasons why they thought it wouldn’t work, but I showed them it would work. It just took a little hard work.».
Wilborn is accustomed to working hard. Born and raised in Arkansas, she credits her parents, both pastors, for instilling in her a love of music from a young age.
Cecily Wilborn Photo: Mel Bender Jr./Blackground Records 2.0
«"They made sure we weren't isolated, and that gave me something, because now no one knows what my music sounds like," she says. "They're like, 'You sound like anyone.'".
She graduated from Full Sail University with a degree in music production, and in 2023, her song "Southern Man," written as a Father's Day gift to her husband, went viral on TikTok.
Now Wilborn is revealing his soul like never before on Soul Therapy album . Here, she speaks candidly with PEOPLE about the record, which explores healing, personal growth, and intergenerational trauma, and features contributions from renowned producers including Eric and Curtis Hudson, Sean Garrett, Black Elvis, Morris Hayes, CT the Producer, and many more.
PEOPLE: You're opening the album by addressing your fans directly and telling them what to expect. How did you come to that decision?
Wilbourn: I wanted people to understand who I was speaking to. I didn't want them to get the impression that I was speaking to everyone, because my music isn't for everyone. If this didn't grab you, move on to the next track. I have something interesting for you.
Cecily Wilborn in Atlanta in November 2025. Photo: Derek White/Getty for Amazon MGM Studios
PEOPLE: It seems like a lot of your music is directly related to your life.
Wilbourn: A lot of it comes from my life, but I have amazing friends, so a lot of it comes from their lives, too. They're like, "Don't mention my name. Don't tell anyone it's me!" But they literally start writing about something and say, "This is what you need to write about." When I first started writing, that was my goal. I was like, there are all these different people in music, [but] where are the people who live the normal 9-to-5, work hard every day, take care of the kids, go home life? We have issues we need to talk about, and we don't want to feel alone when we do it. I was like, "Okay, we need to be represented.". [Wilborn is the mother of John, 18, Shamadah, 17, Jayvon, 14, and Journey, 8.]
PEOPLE: You mentioned starting therapy. I know it's been a difficult journey for you, and it plays a big part in the album. Can you talk a little about that?
Wilbourn: Unfortunately, my father is also my pastor. It's a very tricky situation. Because what can I say? What can't I say? So my first attempt at being completely honest with someone and trying to discuss my feelings started with my father. But as I got older, some of these conversations became difficult, so I started reaching out to other mentors and other professionals. It helps. It really does. Being vulnerable is very scary for people... so when I went to therapy, I wanted people to see that vulnerability, and I wanted them to see the reward in taking that step.
PEOPLE: What does your writing process look like?
Wilbourn: Inspiration comes from everywhere. The latest single from the album is called "Hope," and it's a really inspiring song, but believe it or not, I wrote it in a dream. I went to bed, watched the news, and my thoughts were spinning around because I have teenagers... I was really worried. And when I woke up that morning, I realized I had something to say. So I wrote it all down. I didn't have music, it was just whatever came to mind.
PEOPLE: What about the song "Feeling Lucky," which is a collaboration with Cupid? How did that come about?
Wilbourn: I grew up in the country. We don't even have two stoplights, you know? We sit on the back porch and spend a lot of time as a family. They're not dancers. Cupid invented the "Cupid Shuffle," and my aunt was like 50, 55 years old at the time. She said, "Teach me that." And I said, "Are you going to do that?" The "Cupid Shuffle" was the first line dance she ever really let me teach her. I said, "If that can get my aunt on the floor, give me the rest of the music." We called him up, and he already knew who I was, which just blew me away. He said yes right away. He was so willing to give me advice, to inspire me on how I could connect with our audience. People are afraid to meet people they admire, [but] I'm so glad I met Cupid. He's a really cool guy.
PEOPLE: Do you have a favorite song on this album?
Wilbourn: «"I Need Your Love." This is one of those songs I wrote based on personal experience. My husband and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage this year, congratulations! Yes, 10 years. Girl, he's not tired of me yet. We've had a lot of disagreements. We come from completely different backgrounds. But through our differences, he's influenced me greatly, and I've been able to teach him a lot. So this song means to me: no matter what we go through, I won't give up. I won't start over. We'll figure it out.
PEOPLE: Have you started writing more?
Wilbourn: Oh my god, girl, I have another album ready. I'm writing music. I never stop because you never know when you'll need music. Some of the music for this album was written four or five years ago, but it wasn't the right time for it then. But now is the perfect time. So I write when I feel like I need to, and when the time is right to say it, that's when we release it.
Read the original article on People.