Five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and performer Mary Chapin Carpenter has released a new two-song collaboration with acclaimed indie folk band The Mountain Goats, led by John Darnielle. The project arrives via Cadmean Dawn and features covers of two well-known songs.
The release includes “Put the Message in the Box,” originally recorded by World Party, and “Migrations,” written by Christine Fellows. Both tracks are now available digitally. A limited-edition 7-inch vinyl version is also available for pre-order, pressed in Tar and Clear variants.
“John Darnielle and I have been friends for many years now, he’s been a dedicated correspondent and ally in all topics connected to song writing, recording, touring and the balancing act that a life involving these pursuits requires,” said Carpenter. “He also very kindly joined me in conversation on my podcast a few years back to talk about hope—what it means to him, what it looks like from where he stands, and the challenges of maintaining it in the times we are living in. To have collaborated on these two favorite songs with John and the Mountain Goats has been a joy and a gift—joining our voices, singing these words from other favorite artists, and feeling the music deeply.”
Darnielle shared similar enthusiasm for the collaboration.
“I’ve looked up to Mary Chapin Carpenter for half my life. Getting to know her over the past few years has been such a pure pleasure, so when she asked about doing a split single where we pick songs to cover and help each other out on the effort, what could we say but ‘hell yes’? Mary Chapin picked a World Party song I’ve always loved and I picked out a Christine Fellows song I can barely sing without crying. But I did it! Matt arranged it! This was a great joy for us and I hope you dig it!”
Recording Details and Limited Vinyl Release
The project was produced and engineered by Matt Douglas at his studio in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mixing and mastering were handled by Chris Boerner.
Carpenter’s vocals were recorded at Bias Studios in Springfield, Virginia, with engineer Bob Dawson. The limited-edition vinyl pressing will be released in two colors, Tar and Clear, with 500 copies produced of each version.
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Following the Success of Personal History
The collaboration comes after the release of Carpenter’s 2025 album Personal History, which earned praise from publications including Americana Highways, Music Row and UNCUT. The Arts Desk named the album the best of the year, writing, “In an era when so much is confected and disposable, Mary Chapin Carpenter is a rare treasure.”
In support of the album, Carpenter toured with fellow Grammy Award-winning artist Brandy Clark. The tour included performances at notable venues such as Ryman Auditorium and Town Hall, as well as appearances at festivals including the Newport Folk Festival and Bourbon & Beyond in Louisville.
Upcoming Summer Performances
Carpenter will also take part in the upcoming concert series American Tunes: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing. The series features performances alongside Rhiannon Giddens, Mavis Staples and Hurray for the Riff Raff.
The outdoor run of concerts begins June 26 in Seattle and continues through August.
A Career Built on Songwriting and Storytelling
Across her career, Carpenter has sold more than 17 million records. Known for songs such as “Down At The Twist And Shout” and “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” she has earned five Grammy Awards from 18 nominations, along with two CMA Awards and two ACM Awards.
She is also one of only 22 female members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and received the Poet’s Award at the ACM Honors in 2023.
In 2021, her live album One Night Lonely (Live) earned a nomination for Best Folk Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, exactly 30 years after her first Grammy nomination. The performance was recorded at Wolf Trap and featured songs spanning her catalog, including material from her studio album The Dirt And The Stars.
Beyond music, Carpenter hosted the podcast Hope is a Muscle, where she held conversations with guests including Joan Baez, Adriene Mishler and U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin. The podcast ranked among the top five music podcasts on both Apple and Spotify during its run.
About The Mountain Goats
Led by John Darnielle, The Mountain Goats have built a prolific and influential career in indie music since the early 1990s. Known for their expansive catalog and literary songwriting style, Darnielle has been described by The New Yorker as “America’s best non-hip-hop lyricist.”
The band’s most recent album, Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan, features appearances from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tommy Stinson.
Darnielle is also a National Book Award-nominated author whose books include the New York Times bestsellers Wolf in White Van, Universal Harvester, and Devil House, along with his most recent work This Year: 365 Songs Annotated. The band has also announced a 20th anniversary reissue of their 2005 album The Sunset Tree.
