As fans keenly look forward to Tate McRae's new album, it seems the ‘NOBODY'S GIRL’ hitmaker is drawing inspiration from country music as she maps out her next project.

In a new interview with Variety, McRae remains cryptic on the status of her SO CLOSE TO WHAT??? follow-up, but reveals that she's been reading Dolly Parton lyrics and listening to a playlist of songs by the Queen of Country to help her feel inspired.

In the Variety piece, McRae confirms she's started work on her fourth album, but stresses it's still in the “see-what-sticks phase”. The article also reveals that the Canadian has been writing with prolific writers Amy Allen and Emile Haynie on the project. The first session reportedly took place in February with both songwriters.

While McRae continues “mood-boarding” for the record, McRae “flips through a Dolly Parton coffee-table book filled with her lyrics for inspiration and has some of the country legend’s songs on a playlist she calls “Bubbly Bubbly Brain Refresh.””. The piece goes on to share that McRae avoids pop altogether while working on new music.

If McRae is indeed drawing so much inspiration from Dolly Parton, we wonder if this means we can expect some country-leaning material on the pop phenom's forthcoming album.

It certainly wouldn't be a bolt-from-the-blue if McRae does decide to venture into the country space, given how the ‘TIT FOR TAT’ crooner has linked up with Megan Moroney on-stage more than once, as well as joining forces with Morgan Wallen for the chart-topping single, ‘What I Want’, last year. McRae has also covered country songs on a number of occasions during her signature soundcheck sets.

Although McRae's solo material is generally characterised by sleek, electronic compositions and innovative vocal effects, we'd be curious to hear the trailblazing artist delving into a more stripped-back country aesthetic as she gears up for her next era.

One thing's for sure - as this weekend's electrifying Lollapalooza set, during which she dipped herself in gold paint, highlighted - McRae is one of the most impressive all-around entertainers of the modern era. Whatever style or sub-genre she decides to take on next, we're feeling pretty confident she'll be able to dominate within it.