Suspected Drunk Driver

LONGVIEW, TX — Country music singer-songwriter Sunny Sweeney is pausing her summer tour after a vehicle crash involving an alleged drunk driver left her band’s trailer totaled and her tour van heavily damaged.

The incident occurred late Thursday night (June 12), following a show in Newport, Kentucky. In a post shared to Instagram the following day, Sweeney revealed that a woman driving under the influence struck their trailer, causing significant damage and forcing the band to modify their immediate travel plans.

“Our tour has been interrupted by a woman choosing to drive drunk and plow into our trailer,” Sweeney wrote, alongside a photo showing the aftermath. A white vehicle was seen flipped on its side next to the mangled trailer. “It totaled our trailer out.”

Despite the damage, Sweeney and her crew managed to continue on to their next scheduled performance in Illinois by driving with what she believes is a bent vehicle frame. However, the damage proved too extensive to maintain the full tour schedule. As a result, the artist was forced to cancel her June 15 show in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“The van has a huge hole in the back where the trailer went and pierced the back door,” she explained. “Now we’ve got a bumper ripped off, broken sensors, and a vehicle that’s not safe to keep pushing on the road.”

Sweeney apologized to fans in Tulsa for the cancellation, emphasizing that she had no choice but to return home and address the damage. “I’m so sorry… I just don’t have any more options but to go home and get this taken care of Monday morning.”

A Return to the Stage and Studio

Fans can expect to see Sunny Sweeney back on stage later this month. According to her current tour itinerary, she’s scheduled to perform next on June 25 at City Winery in Atlanta.

The break comes at a busy time for the Texas-born performer, who is preparing to release her sixth studio album, Rhinestone Requiem, on August 1. The new project follows her 2022 record Married Alone, which was praised for its candid songwriting and emotional depth.

The Story Behind “Diamonds and Divorce Decrees”

Leading into Rhinestone Requiem, Sweeney recently unveiled the album’s first single, “Diamonds and Divorce Decrees.” The track, steeped in country tradition and personal reflection, was inspired by a moment of domestic irony.

While moving out of temporary housing and retrieving belongings from her parents’ home, Sweeney left behind a small safe. After repeated reminders from her mother to collect it, the singer joked, “Just put a lamp on it and make it a table.”

But when asked what was in the safe, Sweeney replied, “All that’s in there anyway is grandma’s diamonds and my divorce decrees.” That offhand remark sparked inspiration.

“My country songwriter brain kicked on,” she said, “and I was like, wait… what? I have to write that.”

A Career Built on Real-Life Stories

Sunny Sweeney launched her music career in 2006 and found widespread recognition with her 2011 sophomore album Concrete, which produced three Top 40 hits. Known for blending honky-tonk roots with modern country sensibilities, she has continued to build a loyal following through heartfelt storytelling and relatable lyrics.

With the upcoming release of Rhinestone Requiem and the continuation of her tour later this summer, Sweeney is showing no signs of slowing down—despite this recent roadblock.

For now, she’s focused on regrouping and ensuring her band can safely return to the road.

“Things happen,” she wrote. “But we’ll be back soon—and better than ever.”