Wishbone is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Conan Gray. It was released on August 15, 2025, through Republic Records. Having released Found Heaven (2024) only a year prior, Gray spent two years quietly working on Wishbone while on tour for Found Heaven. To support the album, Gray went on the Wishbone Pajama Show in September and October 2025 and he will go on the Wishbone World Tour in 2026. It has primarily been described as a pop and pop rock record influenced by '90s pop and alternative rock.
In 2024, Conan Gray released his third studio album, Found Heaven, and embarked on his fifth headlining concert tour, Found Heaven On Tour. On May 22, 2025, Gray announced his fourth studio album, Wishbone, revealing that he had been slowly working on new music over the previous two years while on tour. He also discussed the writing process, stating that "before [he] knew it [he] was surrounded by an album" that he had not initially planned to release.[1][2] The lead single of Wishbone, titled "This Song", was released on May 30.[3]Wishbone is the first album that Gray owns the rights to.[4] To support the album, Gray is set to embark on the Wishbone Pajama Show in September and October 2025.[5] The second single, "Vodka Cranberry", which appears as the album's third track, was released on July 11, 2025.[6]
The 12-track record sees him reuniting with producer Dan Nigro, whom he enlisted as executive producer.[7] Additionally, he collaborated with Ethan Gruska, Noah Conrad, Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser.[1] Gray further revealed that there was no real incentive for him to record; he "just was." Initially, he kept the songs he recorded away from friends or his label but later realized that he "needed" the music.[8] Gray started to see himself "in full picture" with songs he had always seen himself writing before but never did.[9] He referred to the set of tracks as "an egregiously niche soundtrack to our own lives in real time".[10] The album, described by Gray as his “wet dream album”[11], goes on a journey of his relationship as he goes through heartbreak, grief, anger, and realization. Gray explains his assignment when creating the album was to do anything he wanted visually as long as it felt real to him (44:43)[12]. He says he knew very early on that he wanted to be in a sailor costume jumping in the air with a huge wishbone to symbolize jumping right into the center of the heartbreak (45:03)[12]. In his interview with People Magazine, Gray shares the beginning of the writing process. He explains that it was “really naturally manifested”, with each song relieving and freeing him[13]. Gray says he wrote this album “to draw in people who’ve been heartbroken. No matter who you are, where you’re from, whether you’ve dated someone or never dated anybody [...]-- that feeling of rejection and having to redefine yourself after losing someone is one of the most unanimous feelings of being a human being”[13].
Wishbone begins with Actor, where Gray compares love to someone hiding behind a mask. He names himself in this song in the lyric “A friend of mine asked you, ‘Have you talked to Conan?’”, adding a personal touch and breaking the fourth wall. It references being in a secret relationship and the struggles that come with it. By starting the album with this song, Gray states in his Capital Buzz interview that, “Actor felt like the, kind of like, perfect way to give people a rundown of exactly how I was feeling from top to bottom of the album” (0:57)[18]. He also sets it straight that the album is not a love album, but rather a heartbreaking story of what happened to him (1:38)[18].
2. This Song
“This Song” is the first lead single from the album. It explores hope and yearning towards someone [19]with lyrics such as ‘I wrote this song about you’ and ‘Is it dumb believing you might love me too?’. The music video begins the trilogy of Wilson and Brando, characters played by Gray himself and his close friend, Corey Fogelmanis. The end finds the two characters falling in love and sharing a final kiss to signify their blossoming relationship. Gray reveals how important it was to release ‘This Song’ as the lead because, “I wanted to give the people who were listening to my music, and who care about my music, I wanted to make them have to go through the same pain that I had to go through” (5:03)[20]. He describes it as a breath of fresh air compared to his other songs (5:45)[20].
3. Vodka Cranberry
The second lead single ‘Vodka Cranberry’ follows suit as the third song of the album as well as the second part of the Wilson and Brando trilogy. Here, Gray explores the detachment of a straining relationship[21]. Lyrics such as ‘Speak up, I know you hate me’ and ‘Now I look dumb and you look mean’ add to the exhaustion Gray talks about. In the music video, Wilson and Brando start to find cracks in their relationship, leading to the end where Brando leaves Wilson alone in a hotel room. Gray explains how this song is, “more indicative of my irrational fear of people leaving me” (12:04)[22]. In the bridge, Gray sings one of the highest notes in his discography. He says the creation of that melody came from being bored of singing the same melodies (13:12)[22].
4. Romeo
‘Romeo’ has a catchy and energy-filled tune, making it stand out as the fourth track of Wishbone[23]. Here, Gray accepts the frustration and pain of realizing someone undeserving of your love, and turns it into a powerful release of anger. The lyrics are playful and direct, showcasing Gray’s ability to turn his anger into a playful pop song. Gray describes this song as “the only one on the album where there’s no ifs, ands, or buts. It’s just like fuck you” (16:28)[24]. He wanted to have one song on the album that described the initial immaturity and anger that comes after a break up (16:59)[24].
5. My World
Continuing with the upbeat anthem of ‘Romeo’, the fifth track, ‘My World’ further explores the release of pain and adds a further contrast from the first three songs of the album[25]. Here, Gray talks about being able to reclaim themselves after being in a toxic relationship that left him feeling unworthy and inhuman. In his Capital Buzz interview, he expresses his wish for everyone to come to a ‘My World realization’ at one point in their lives (21:34)[26].
6. Class Clown
The sixth track of Gray’s album departs from the release of pain shown in the last two songs, taking on a sadder and introspective ambiance. The lyrics reflect someone hiding pain behind a mask of laughter while feeling like everyone is watching and laughing at you. Gray reveals vulnerability and honesty with a melancholic tune[27]. He describes this song as one of his favorites on the album (21:58)[28] and as “a bit of a, I think a, a bridge between like who I was as a kid and who I am now, and how a lot of the times that’s kinda just the same thing” (23:16)[28].
7. Nauseous
Continuing with the despair from ‘Class Clown’, Nauseous explores how trauma can develop after a toxic relationship. Similar to ‘Actor’, the song’s structure and build up makes it feel more intense than the other songs.[29] Lyrics like ‘It scares me to death how I want it’ and ‘Behind every kiss is a jaw that could bite’ showcase how Gray incorporates creative writing with vulnerable moments. To Gray, Nauseous is about, “being afraid of love. [...] You know, sometimes you meet someone who is so great and you know is going to love you and not hurt you, and that’s much more terrifying than meeting someone who you kind of know is an asshole” (24:40)[30]. He takes a look at his history with dating and friendships, while realizing that he feels safer with those that will hurt him because he can be less vulnerable on the defense compared to someone seeing flaws (25:04)[30].
8. Caramel
‘Caramel’ serves as the ending of the Wishbone trilogy, with the music video showing Wilson and Brando meet up again and get over their struggles together. Gray captures the yearning of a past relationship while also understanding the toxicity present. He writes, ‘Promises spoken, all coming back as lies’ and ‘But you burn inside my memory so well’ showcasing the struggle he feels revisiting his bittersweet past. In this song, Gray contrasts his other songs like Romeo and My World as he comes to the honest conclusion that he does in fact think about his past partner.[31] He explains that, “I’ve always reached a point with everyone who’s ever left my life, where the pain has kind of dulled, and you can take a moment to step back and be like, at the end of the day though, like, I really liked you, you really meant a lot to me” (29:13)[32].
9. Connell
Described as one of the saddest songs on Wishbone[33], Connell explores the lesson learned from an exhausting heartbreak. The title references one of the main characters of Sally Rooney’s novel, “Normal People”, someone who mirrors the dynamics between loss and love. Gray reveals how this book changed his life in his Capital Buzz interview and how much he saw himself in Mary Anne, another character, and how he saw so much of Connell’s character in the people he has dated or loved before (35:15)[34]. In this track, Gray, “really faces the fact that they hurt me, whatever, but, I’m also very much putting myself in a position where, I think I, maybe subconsciously knew that I was going to be left” (35:57)[34]. This song serves as an emotional peak on the album, with the bridge repeating ‘Connell’ as Gray gets more and more desperate in his delivery.
10. Sunset Tower
The tenth song on the album, ‘Sunset Tower’ explores the dynamics between wishing a past partner the best but also feeling bittersweet about them moving on. The chorus consists of Gray repeating “Don’t tell me” as he emphasizes the desperate feeling of not wanting to know about the happiness his past partner is experiencing without him. Lyrics like “Luka says you’re dating again, it’s horrible” and “I wish you the best but hope that you die inside/ Everytime I’m playing in London” portray Gray’s message through an upbeat yet melancholic instrumental.
11. Eleven Eleven
‘Eleven Eleven’ is another standout song from Wishbone, with creative rhyming and intricate metaphors woven in through a dismayed melody. In this eleventh track, Gray yearns for what once was as he connects superstition to his heartbreak. [35]Throughout the song he searches for any sign that he and a past partner were meant to be together, until the bridge where all the bad superstitions like cracks on the pavement, and black cats make him undergo a realization that they were never meant to be. Gray describes this song as, “[him] always kind of looking for a little sign that maybe I still matter, that this relationship would still have some kind of life that I don’t understand” (42:44)[36].
12. Care
The last track on Wishbone feels more upbeat and cathartic compared to the rest of the album. Here, Gray accepts his grief and heartbreak while embracing the idea that moving on does not mean forgetting about the past[37]. Gray writes, “I’m not trying to say that I want you back, but it’s nice to linger in the past”, further emphasizing his dilemma between caring and forgetting. As the closing track to the album, Gray leaves the audience with a cathartic and bittersweet feeling.[37] He explains that ‘Care’ is the final track of the album because, “At the end of the day, I do still care and will always care. I think also, sonically it sounds exactly like, the like, the end slate of a movie, and like the credits start to roll [..]. It’s bittersweet, it acknowledges, you know, that something hurt you, but also, you know, you’re still losing a friend and that’s sad” (45:52)[38]
A week from the album’s announcement, on May 29, Gray announced the Wishbone Pajama Show to support the album, featuring nineteen dates in North America. It will mark his sixth headlining concert tour.[39] The tour began on September 11, 2025, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and concluded on October 19, 2025, in Monterrey, Mexico. Hemlocke Springs is serving as the opening act in the United States, while the opening act for Mexico has yet to be announced.[40][41][42]
Act I of the tour begins with Gray riding on stage with a bicycle in a sailor outfit.[43] The act is set in a field with a windmill, mailbox and tall mounds of grass. In the second act, Gray takes his sailor coat off, revealing a sparkly blue and white striped pajamas. Here, the set shifts to a dreamy ambiance with red lighting and big clouds while Gray lies on a bed set center stage. Act III changes with the set of a large lake. Here, Gray adds a surprise song not featured on the setlist, one of the most anticipated parts of the show. He picks an audience member to break a wishbone with him, and whoever gets the larger half gets to pick between two songs.[44] The last act of the show focuses on moving past the grief of the last two acts. Before the encore, Gray teases his departure as he leaves while the audience yells his name to come back. He returns in a sparkly suit and sings his last two songs of the night. All of the costumes are done by stylist Katie Qian.[45]
In Gray’s tour announcement post on his Instagram May 29, he notes that pajamas are encouraged but not required[46]. This has led fans to show up in pajama sets and sailor hats, specifically in light blue and white, similar to one of Gray’s tour costumes.
On October 20, 2025, Conan took to Instagram to announce the "Wishbone World Tour"[47] after mailboxes started to pop up at different event centers around the world. The tour is set to start on February 19, 2026 in Minneapolis, MN and conclude on October 8th in Perth, Australia.[48]
Wishbone was met with critical acclaim from music critics after its release. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to ratings from publications, the album received a score of 82 based on 4 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[49]
Melvin Boateng of Clash gave the album an eight out of ten, and wrote "'Wishbone' stands as a confident pop statement, pairing Gray's impressive vocal prowess with sleek, polished production".[51] Matt Collar of AllMusic wrote "Wishbone is a complete arc, capturing both the elated, tidal-wave euphoria of falling in love and the bittersweet comedown off that wave. And it's not just the feelings of love, but the tastes, the smells, and the thrilling sweaty intimacy of being close to another person in every sense that Gray embodies".[50] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone wrote: "For as vulnerable as much of the music feels, Gray wears his heart proudly on his sleeve. He's never sounded more confident or comfortable, a thrilling promise of what's to come from him in the future".[53] Bella Martin of DIY wrote "If he's trying things on for size still, then most of Wishbone fits Conan Gray rather well, his not-quite-angst meeting its musical equivalent in its not-quite-alternative sound".[52] While many reviews of the album are extremely positive, Anlin Wei of The Observer critiques some songs. She calls the processing of one of the lead singles ‘This Song’ “overly compressed and reminiscent of the sound quality of tinny laptop speakers” and compares ‘My World’ to Benson Boone’s ‘Mystical Magical’ with its “excessive falsetto”. Wei also mentions that listening to the album multiple times is the best way to get the best experience out of it, as many minor details may be missed the first time around.[54] Overall, the general public opinion of “Wishbone” is very positive, with critiques mainly about repetitive topics and strange production.
Conan Gray’s Video Music Awards (VMAs) 2025 performance went viral for his set, special cameo, and impressive vocals, which added to the public's reception of the album. The performance begins with a large set of flowers and smoke, as Gray and Corey Fogelmanis, a close friend and actor, are seen portraying Romeo and Juliet.[55] With a live band in the background, Gray sets a lying Fogelmanis down as he begins singing his lead single ‘Vodka Cranberry’ to him. His intricate outfit included a large, red flowing cape with white and gold accents. A dark red, flowy dress shirt and white dress pants also add to the details.[56] While singing the bridge, Gray lets out his high note, which famously trended on social media.[57] To end his performance, he sits back down next to Fogelmanis, takes out a vial with supposed poison in it, and drinks it. Gray falls onto Fogelmanis and the lights dim.[58]
Commercial performance
Wishbone debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 with 71,000 album-equivalent units, marking Gray's third top 10 album and his highest charting album to date.[59]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Conan Gray, except where noted.
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