[2026 Edition] Tear-Jerking! A Roundup of the Best New Western Pop Ballads

SuperwomanMeghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor – Superwoman (Official Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor, who debuted in 2014 with “All About That Bass.” Her 2022 release “Superwoman” is a ballad with the poignant line, “You call me a superwoman, but I’m not really that strong….” The song’s lyrics are heartbreakingly tender: a woman who’s been dumped was thought to be strong enough to be fine after the breakup, but she loses heart and breaks into tears.

It’s a track you’ll almost certainly need tissues for.

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Waiting on You (feat. Sabrina Claudio)Pink Sweat$

Pink Sweat$ – Waiting on You (feat. Sabrina Claudio) [Official Audio]

Pink Sweat$ debuted in 2021 with the album Pink Planet.

His track “Waiting on You (feat.

Sabrina Claudio),” performed in his signature head-to-toe pink sweats, is fascinating because the lyrics are so suggestive! Depending on how you interpret the first verse in particular, you might even think something happened to his lover.

The chorus, where he laments “then give your lover to me…,” is so aching it tightens your chest.

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oh to be lovedJVKE

JVKE – oh to be loved (Official Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter Jake, who scored a global mega-hit with “golden hour.” If you use TikTok, you’ve probably heard his music at least once.

The piece he released in August 2025 is this ballad.

It’s a non-album single co-produced with his older brother, where a beautiful piano arpeggio blends movingly with Jake’s delicate vocals.

Taking the universal theme of “being loved,” he sings with a calm yet emotional touch, and the sound is both grand and intimate.

Released alongside his Asia tour, the track drew plenty of buzz, and it’s perfect for those quiet nights when you want to sink into your thoughts.

The Day That I DieLewis Capaldi

Lewis Capaldi – The Day That I Die (Official Visualizer)

After a long hiatus, Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi made his comeback in November 2025 with the EP “Survive.” This song is one of its tracks and serves as the closing number.

It delivers an earnest message to the family he would leave behind after his death, with heartfelt thoughts addressed to his mother, father, sister, and friends, conveyed through his husky vocals.

Beginning with a quiet piano, the arrangement gradually layers in strings and drums, transforming an intimate confession into a sweeping prayer—an exceptional structure.

Capaldi has said it’s a song he wrote about the lowest period of his life, and the days he spent confronting his mental health have crystallized into a ballad that could be called the crowning achievement of his career.

I’ll Never Know WhyJessie J

Jessie J – I’ll Never Know Why (Official)

Jessie J, a singer-songwriter from London whose powerful vocals continue to captivate audiences around the world.

Best known for global hits like “Price Tag,” she released her much-anticipated album “Don’t Tease Me with a Good Time” in November 2025.

“I’ll Never Know Why,” a track from the album, is a tear-jerking piano ballad that pours out unbreakable longing and regret for a late best friend.

The song drew major attention after her passionate performance at the Royal Variety Performance in November 2025, and it showcases Jessie J’s delicate breathwork and profound sorrow in a way that hits you right in the heart.

If you’re looking for stirring music to listen to alone on a quiet night, this is a must-check.

People Always ChangeCeleste

People Always Change

Celeste, the standard-bearer of British soul who was selected for BBC Sound of 2020 and also won the BRIT Awards’ Rising Star, has released her long-awaited second album, “Woman Of Faces,” in November 2025—four years after her UK No.1 debut, “Not Your Muse.” The sixth track, a piano ballad, features a striking descending piano motif inspired by Philip Glass’s minimalism, and quietly contrasts the people who change with the self that cannot.

It gives voice to the pain of being the only one left in the same place while lovers and friends move forward.

Reflecting her own feelings from the post-pandemic period of stagnation, the song serves as the emotional core of the album.

It’s perfect for late-night solitude, when you want to face the depths of your heart.

In Your FeelingsMariah Carey

Mariah Carey – In Your Feelings (Official Lyric Video)

Featured on the album “Here for It All,” released in September 2025, this track is an R&B number that delicately weaves shifting emotions.

Co-produced with Anderson .Paak, it achieves a soundscape where the warmth of the drums melds with the luster of the strings.

It sings of an inner journey—from moments of heart-flutter and loss to gradually reclaiming confidence in oneself.

Mariah’s signature delicate melisma and richly resonant lower register lend profound conviction to every word.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone feeling swept away by their emotions.