Ringo Starr Reveals Details of New Album Featuring Carl Perkins Cover

Ringo Starr performing live on stage in 2009, holding a microphone and raising his arm during the concert.

Ringo Starr live in 2009 - DrSalvadoctopus / YouTube

Ringo Starr continues to explore his love for country music with the announcement of a new album currently in the works. Following the release of his 2025 record Look Up, the former Beatle confirmed he has already completed his part in another country project. He described the process as both exciting and deeply personal, given his ongoing passion for the genre.

This upcoming album marks another collaboration with the renowned producer and songwriter T Bone Burnett, who also helmed Look Up. Burnett has written many of the new songs, while Ringo himself co-wrote two tracks with longtime collaborator Bruce Sugar. The project builds on the chemistry established in their earlier work, further solidifying Starrโ€™s dedication to authentic country music.

For Ringo, the recording process is more than just a musical exerciseโ€”itโ€™s a way of reconnecting with styles that have influenced him since the early days of his career. His enthusiasm during the recent Q&A session reflected how much joy he takes in these ventures, assuring fans that the album remains true to his roots.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ringo Starr (@ringostarrmusic)

Honoring Carl Perkins with a Classic Cover

One of the most intriguing details Ringo shared about the new album is the inclusion of a Carl Perkins cover. He explained that Burnett encouraged the choice as a nod to Starrโ€™s early days with The Beatles, when Perkinsโ€™ songs were among the first he ever recorded. Perkinsโ€™ influence has clearly stayed with him across the decades.

Starr has previously lent his voice to Perkins classics such as โ€œMatchboxโ€ and โ€œHoney Donโ€™t,โ€ which The Beatles famously covered in the 1960s. Revisiting this connection now creates a full-circle moment, linking his formative experiences to his current creative output. Ringo described the opportunity as both nostalgic and meaningful, given his long-standing admiration for Perkins.

This decision also signals that the new album wonโ€™t just be about fresh collaborations but will also celebrate timeless influences. By revisiting a Perkins track, Ringo pays homage to one of rockabillyโ€™s pioneers while continuing to carve his own path in country music. Fans can expect the album to balance new songwriting with reverence for the past.

The Beatles Anthology and Future Releases

In addition to album news, Ringo addressed questions about the updated Beatles Anthology docuseries. The refreshed version is set to premiere on Disney+ in November, and Starr expressed his excitement about it, even though he hasnโ€™t yet seen the newly created Episode 9. Like fans, he awaits the update with curiosity and anticipation.

Alongside the series, an expanded Anthology Collection will arrive as a comprehensive box set. This release includes the original rarities compilations from the mid-1990s plus a fourth installment with previously unreleased material. The project ensures that The Beatlesโ€™ legacy continues to evolve, offering both nostalgia and discovery for longtime fans.

For Ringo, these archival projects highlight how the Beatlesโ€™ music continues to resonate worldwide. His comments suggest pride in how new generations still find fresh meaning in the bandโ€™s work. Even as he pursues solo projects, the Beatlesโ€™ history remains a vital part of his identity.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by David Elliott (@geektownuk)

On Tour with the All Starr Band

The Q&A also doubled as a kickoff for Ringo and his All Starr Bandโ€™s new U.S. tour leg, starting in Chicago on September 10. The band has been rehearsing at Milwaukeeโ€™s Riverside Theater, where they expressed their excitement about performing together again. This lineup includes Totoโ€™s Steve Lukather, Men at Workโ€™s Colin Hay, and Average White Bandโ€™s Hamish Stuart, among others.

The tour schedule covers several key cities, including Milwaukee, Louisville, and a six-show residency in Las Vegas at The Venetian Theatre. Additional California dates are woven into the itinerary, ensuring a wide range of fans will get to experience the performances. The mix of venues highlights the bandโ€™s enduring draw across different audiences.

Band members expressed genuine admiration for Ringo, with Lukather calling the past 13 years in the All Starrs the best of his life. Such camaraderie shows how the groupโ€™s chemistry extends beyond the stage. For Ringo, the joy of collaboration remains at the heart of both his touring and recording life.