The “Voice of Broadway” is back, and she’s brought a James Taylor classic along for the ride. Tony Award–winning stage and screen legend Betty Buckley has just released her new single, “On the 4th of July,” a tender, wistful reimagining of the six-time GRAMMY-winning songwriter’s beloved ballad. It’s the second single from her forthcoming 19th studio album, Enough, out July 17 via Palmetto Records.

Stream “On the 4th of July” here: https://orcd.co/bettybuckleyonthe4thofjuly

Recorded live during her acclaimed 2025 residency at Joe’s Pub, Enough is a showcase for exactly the kind of thing Buckley has spent decades perfecting: the art of turning a lyric inside out until you hear it like it’s brand new. There’s a reason she’s called the “Voice of Broadway,” and it’s not just the pipes. It’s the phrasing, the pauses, the way she can make a familiar song feel like a confession whispered across the table.

“‘On the 4th of July’ captures the nostalgia, joy, and bittersweet beauty of looking back on our lives and the people we love,” Buckley said of the new single. “Releasing it ahead of Independence Day felt especially meaningful, as the holiday often brings family and friends together and reminds us of the memories and connections that shape who we are. James Taylor’s songwriting is deeply moving in its humanity, and I’m honored to share my interpretation of this beautiful song.”

For anyone who needs a refresher on the résumé: Buckley won her Tony for playing Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats (yes, she’s the reason a generation cries during “Memory”), earned a second Tony nod for Triumph of Love, and picked up an Olivier nomination for her turn as Norma Desmond in the London production of Sunset Boulevard, a role she later reprised on Broadway. She’s a 2012 Theatre Hall of Fame inductee and, in 2023, received the American Songbook Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

On screen, she’s kept just as busy. Recent credits include A24’s Eternity opposite Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen, Blumhouse’s Imaginary, Amanda Kramer’s Sundance premiere By Design, and M. Night Shyamalan’s global smash Split. Her animated short The Mayfly, which she wrote, produced, and narrated, swept up festival hardware in 2024, including Best of Festival at the Los Angeles Animation Festival.

With Enough, Buckley is doing what she does best: reminding us that a great song, in the right hands, never really ages. Add “On the 4th of July” to your holiday weekend playlist, then mark July 17 on the calendar. This is one album drop worth waiting up for.

For more information, visit http://www.bettybuckley.com.