Andy Grammer has never been one to shy away from optimism, but on his brand-new single “Best Hearts,” out now via S-Curve Records/Hollywood Records, the multi-platinum, Emmy Award-winning singer-songwriter proves that hope hits harder when it’s been through the wringer. Paired with the fierce, defiantly tender companion track “Big Stupid Heart,” this two-song release lands as one of the most emotionally weighted moments of Grammer’s career.

Stream “Best Hearts” and “Big Stupid Heart” here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2oX42qP5ineK3hrhBECLmj

“Best Hearts” wasn’t born in a writing room. It came from a voicemail. Through his new podcast, Showing Up With Andy Grammer, listeners call in and nominate the people in their lives who show up when it matters most. One mother phoned in with the story of her son, who was in treatment for his own mental health struggles when he found the strength to comfort a roommate going through the same. Her question — could Grammer write a song about people who are being crushed by life and still show up for others — became the emotional spine of the track.

The result is a stirring, wide-open ballad anchored by a lyric that reads like a mission statement: “the best hearts are broken.” It’s a tribute to the people who have been shattered and still choose openness, resilience and love — the ones who know what darkness looks like and, because of that, are best equipped to offer light.

“Optimism is a personality trait of mine,” Grammer says. “But as you get older and you get beaten down, it becomes a choice. Most of the greatest moments in my life have come from choosing sweetness, sincerity and love when it would be maybe easier not to.”

The companion track “Big Stupid Heart” pushes that same emotional thesis into war-cry territory. “There’s kind of a desperation at this moment to stay true to your heart,” Grammer says of the song. “This is a war cry to myself to stay open.” Together, the two tracks make a bittersweet, unflinching case for optimism that has been earned rather than assumed — a rebuttal to toxic positivity and a rallying call to keep feeling everything, even when it hurts.

The release follows Grammer’s 2024 album Monster, which has already surpassed 600 million streams worldwide, and arrives just ahead of a massive live year. The 24-date Big Stupid Hearts summer headline tour kicks off July 25th in Blaine, MN and runs through the end of August, hitting amphitheaters and festivals from Rohnert Park to Tulsa. This November, Grammer returns to his stripped-down solo format with Greater Than Pt. II: A One Man Show, launching November 3rd in Nashua, NH and running through mid-December on the West Coast.

For an artist who started out busking on the Santa Monica boardwalk and has since racked up 8 gold and platinum certifications, “Best Hearts” and “Big Stupid Heart” feel like a natural next step — a deeper, more hard-won version of the sunshine he’s always brought to the pop conversation. Turns out the light shines brightest through the cracks.

Stream “Best Hearts” and “Big Stupid Heart” now, and head to AndyGrammer.com for full tour dates and tickets.