The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde is set to release her fourth solo album, Duets Special, on October 7, featuring collaborations with notable artists including Brandon Flowers, Dave Gahan, Debbie Harry, Lucinda Williams, Shirley Manson, and Dan Auerbach. The project was sparked spontaneously in 2023 after a conversation with Rufus Wainwright‘s husband, Jörn Weisbrodt, leading to Hynde quickly selecting ten classic songs and ultimately partnering with these diverse vocalists. To promote the release, Hynde has shared her collaboration with Wainwright on the hit standard, “Always on My Mind,” which appears alongside other duets with Cat Power (“First of the Gang to Die”), Julian Lennon (“It’s Only Love”), k.d. lang (“Mr & Mrs. Jones”), Alan Sparhawk (“Country Line”), and the late Mark Lanegan (“Can’t Help Falling in Love”). Following a break during the pandemic, the Pretenders returned in 2023 with their twelfth studio album, Relentless, and a subsequent world tour, though the 73-year-old Hynde recently reflected on the challenges of performing outdoor shows amid record-high temperatures. (Rolling Stone)