Kat Lee Rivers’ new single, “American Heartbreak (Acoustic Version),” feels like a deep breath in a crowded room—a moment of stillness and grace amid the noise. With only her voice and Bob Lanzetti’s understated guitar, Rivers turns heartbreak into reflection, and reflection into something quietly hopeful.

The song strips away every distraction. What remains is Rivers’ rich, soul-baring delivery—her phrasing shaped by years as a jazz vocalist, her tone both intimate and assured. She sings as if from the kitchen table, transforming “American Heartbreak” from a slogan into a lived experience. The pauses, the subtle harmonics, the space between notes—each detail reveals a tenderness that feels both timeless and necessary.

For listeners new to her, Kat Lee Rivers is an artist whose path has crossed continents and genres. A 2014 finalist in the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Competition and multiple DownBeat award recipient, she first emerged in the jazz world before expanding into Americana and the rhythmic warmth of Brazilian music. Her debut album, Anything but Ordinary, marked that evolution, blending Americana grit with Brazilian color and jazz sophistication.

Following a period of vocal recovery, Rivers’ voice has returned stronger than ever. Her songs draw on experiences from years living and performing in Spain, Texas, Los Angeles, and New York. She sings in Portuguese and has graced stages from house concerts to iconic (and now-closed) New York venues like Cornelia Street Café and Rockwood Music Hall, as well as The Chapel Restoration in Cold Spring, where she’ll return this fall. She’s performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra backing Ben Folds, and toured Europe with Barcelona trio Árid, including a rooftop show at La Pedrera.

Now working with Grammy-winning guitarist and producer Bob Lanzetti (Snarky Puppy), Rivers is crafting a new album for Spring 2026 that deepens her “old soul” sound—one that blends the intimacy of folk with the nuance of jazz.

“American Heartbreak (Acoustic Version)” stands as both a bridge to that upcoming project and a statement on its own: deeply felt, beautifully sung, and rooted in the belief that even in fractured times, a song can still offer a measure of unity.