2025 Year in Review: From Burnout to the Best Year of My Life

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year! I hope your 2026 is off to a restful and inspired start.

I’ve spent a lot of time recently looking back on 2025, and if I’m being honest with you all, it was a year full of things I never would have expected. To be completely honest, it came at a time when I needed it most.

Towards the end of 2024, I hit a wall of complete burnout. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t stand the sight of my guitar. I was exhausted and desperately looking for another way of life. But when January 1st rolled around, I made a deal with myself: “Let’s just get to the fall and reevaluate then.”

I never could have imagined 2025 would lead to:

• On the Trail officially signed with The 615 Hideaway.

• We had two songs picked up for rotation on Sirius XM’s Bluegrass Junction, receiving amazing praise from host Joey Black.

• We made our Nashville debut—my first time ever in Music City.

• We took our music across the border for our debut in Canada.

• I performed as a guest artist for my 7th production with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, but this time, I got to do it with my best friends in the band by my side.

• "What Do I Need With Love" climbed all the way to #3 on the Top 100 charts.

• I played more shows and festivals than any other year in my life, including debuts at Jones Winery and the Expressions Songwriters Series.

• And, in a moment that truly floored me, I was nominated for the Connecticut State Troubadour position.

None of this would have been possible without my friends and family who picked me up in those darker moments late last year. Because of that support, I’m walking into 2026 feeling completely sure of myself, my vision, and my ability to execute what's next.

If you’re starting this year feeling at all like I did a year ago, please take the time you need to heal, but do not give up. Try again. It might just end up being the best year of your life.

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

With love,

Charlie