Orville Peck has revealed that a near-fatal suicide attempt and his battle with addiction became the foundation for his upcoming fourth studio album, Mule. The masked country singer opened up about the darkest period of his life in a new interview, explaining how a 2023 overdose, rehab, and recovery reshaped both his life and his music ahead of the album’s September 18 release through Warner Records.
The 13-track record traces Peck’s journey from addiction to sobriety, documenting what he describes as the hardest year of his life. Alongside the announcement, he released two songs from the album: the lead single “Too Little, Too Late” and the opening track “Prologue (Eulogy Of A Man Turned Mule),” featuring Emmylou Harris, Noah Cyrus, and Allison Russell.
Orville Peck Says His 2023 Overdose Became A Turning Point For ‘Mule’
Peck told Rolling Stone that he was struggling with addiction and mental health before canceling his Bronco tour in June 2023. Just two days before announcing the cancellation, he intentionally overdosed in a New York City hotel after spiraling into what he described as one of the lowest points of his life.
“I was a bad addict, a coping alcoholic,” Peck said. “And I had this spiral moment, where I went back to my hotel and tried to take my life. It was a big turning point for me, with a lot of realisations to come. It was something that needed to happen.”
He said his team found him the following morning and gave him an ultimatum to get clean or risk losing everything. After completing his scheduled Madison Square Garden performance, Peck canceled the remainder of the tour and entered rehab, an experience that would ultimately shape Mule.
The singer explained that he wanted the album to reflect the truth of what he experienced rather than soften it for listeners.
“I think I have learned that whenever I shy away from telling the truth about whatever I am going through in my music, or whenever I’ve been hesitant to really go there, I’m always a little bit disappointed with the product, and I feel like I’m cheating myself a bit,” he said. “What I was really trying to capture in terms of the concept, there was no way to gloss over or sugarcoat it.”
According to the album’s official description, Mule serves as a chronological timeline of the year that transformed Peck’s life, following the collapse of addiction, the difficult pursuit of sobriety, and the uncertain process of rebuilding. The project blends classic country storytelling with bluegrass and Americana influences while exploring themes of love, loss, and identity.
One of the album’s tracks, “Rehab Blues,” draws directly from Peck’s time in treatment. Rather than writing a somber reflection, he chose to approach the experience with dark humor, explaining that he initially resisted rehab and wanted to capture those conflicting emotions honestly.
Mule arrives on September 18 via Warner Records. Peck will support the album with his “Man Turned Mule Tour,” which begins on October 28 in Sacramento and runs through November. The announcement follows his recent Grand Ole Opry debut, marking another milestone in what has become a deeply personal new chapter in his career.