Toy with Me is the seventh studio album by the American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. It was released on April 24, 2026, by Epic Records. Trainor mostly recorded the album in Sweden and collaborated with producers such as Grant Boutin, Gabe Yaron, Ellis, and Mike Sabath. The album is a pop record with influences of doo-wop; its message centers on confidence, self-image, and public perception, with the lyricism incorporating internet slang, pop culture references and romantic innuendo.

Trainor was scheduled to embark on a thirty-three show concert tour in support of Toy with Me, which was canceled in April 2026. The album was supported by three singles, "Still Don't Care", "Get In Girl", and "Shimmer". Critics believed it lacked innovation and compared the material to the work of other artists, but they praised its aesthetics and catchiness. Toy with Me was a commercial under performance reaching number 198 on the US Billboard 200 and number 53 in Australia. Its deluxe edition was released three days after the standard album.

Trainor released her sixth studio album Timeless in 2024.^[2] It debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard 200, marking the third-highest debut of the week in the country.^[3] However, the album's commercial impact was short-lasting, with it spending only two weeks on the charts in the United Kingdom and the United States,^[4][5] and one in Australia.^[6] In an interview with Billboard magazine published in March 2025, Trainor revealed that she had begun working on new material.^[1]

When making an album, Trainor noted that she wanted the project to open with music that makes listeners "feel unstoppable", marking a new chapter in both her artistic and personal evolution.^[7][8] About the album's title, Trainor explained that it continues her tradition of naming projects with the letter "T" that references her family name; she stated that its concept was influenced by her experiences with her children, aiming to evoke feelings of childhood comfort and simplicity. She described wanting listeners to feel "safe" and able to "dance and be happy" while listening. She also noted that the album's theme was shaped in part by negative attention she had received online at the time.^[9]

Co-written by Trainor,^[10] Toy with Me adopts prominent pop sounds,^[11] featuring 2020s trends alongside doo-wop influences.^{[note 2]} The album also incorporates occasional country-inspired elements and ballads, while maintaining a dance-oriented pop approach throughout its track list.^[15] Its lyrics frequently concentrate on the themes of authenticity, empowerment, and individual freedom.^[16] They draw on internet slang and pop culture references, while alternating between themes of confidence, self-image, and romantic or sexual innuendo.^[12] Described as her "most honest and fearless" to date, Toy with Me centers around themes of self-confidence, personal freedom, and connection, representing "learning how to meet people where they are at", according to Trainor.^[7] The album also explores themes of self-love, family life, and relationships, including references to Trainor's children and marriage counseling with her husband.^[17]

Trainor noted that the theme of "Get In Girl" is self worth. According to The Manila Times, the song "centers on moving on from unsatisfying relationships".^[18] Sydeny Brasil of Exclaim! believed the song is "Galentine's Day anthem", since it is centered on encouraging a friend to leave an unhealthy relationship with "bum ass man".^[19] "Still Don't Care" was described by Trainor as "most honest and fearless" track.^[20] It is a pop song influenced by the 1980s music, encouraging listeners to be self-accepted and confident in the face of judgment or adversity.^[7][21] Trainor's mother, brother, and sister-in-law offered background vocal for the song.^[21] Paste's Casey Epstein-Gross believed that "Potential" is similar with American singer Sabrina Carpenter's song.^[12] The fourth track, "Chef's Kiss", incorporates disco elements and presents a series of misfortunes directed at a subject.^[14]

"Pink Cadillac" juxtaposes themes of independence with sexual innuendo, set against a doo-wop-influenced arrangement featuring onomatopoeic lyrics;^[12] it draws on rock and roll and bubblegum sounds along with "Rich Man", which features prominent instrumentation like handclaps and horns alongside references to themes of wealth and gender. "Angels" is a ballad track, while "Little One" is presented as a lullaby and contains a sample of a baby. "Man's Tears" and "Delulu" draw on doo-wop influences.^[14] "Princess" includes lines like "for this dress / 'Cause it hides that I'm broken", contrasting outward display with underlying emotion. "Cry Baby" likewise opens with lines such as "I feel hated, overwhelmed / Underrated, and all by myself" before shifting into a contrasting refrain. "Ladylike" combines contemporary slang and rhythmic vocalizations, while the title track employs extended metaphor and suggestive lines such as "Toy with me, baby".^[12] Although much of the album revisits the doo-wop influences associated with Trainor's earlier work, its latter half shifts toward a more dance-oriented sound; songs such as "Hush" and "Shimmer" combines club-inspired and 1970s disco elements.^[11] The former further features elements of nu-disco,^[14] while the latter covers theme of self-love.^[22]

Trainor announced the release date of Toy with Me on November 12, 2025, along with the lead single, "Still Don't Care".^[20] She also revealed the album's cover art and pre-order.^[23] On February 13, 2026, "Get In Girl" served as the album's second single.^[24] Trainor released its Phillip R Lopez-directed music video on April 1, featuring South African-American actress Sasha Pieterse.^[25] Prior to the album's release, Trainor started to tease a song titled "Shimmer".^[22] On April 18, she released a teaser for the album, sharing its track list.^[26] Directed by American choreographer Charm La'Donna, Trainor's long-time collaborator, and filmed in Simi Valley, the music video for "Shimmer" was unveiled at the same day of Toy with Me's release.^[27] The deluxe edition was released on April 27, featuring four additional tracks: "Just Wanna Cry", "Receipts", "Theme Song", and "Heels".^[28] On May 5, "Shimmer" was sent to the US contemporary hit radio, becoming the album's third single.^[29]

On the same day of the album's announcement, Trainor revealed plans for a supporting concert tour of thirty-three shows, titled the Get In Girl Tour. It was scheduled to commence on June 12, 2026, at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan, supported by Swedish duo Icona Pop.^[30] The tour would have included stops in major cities such as New York, Chicago, and Boston, before concluding on August 15, with a final performance at Kia Forum in Los Angeles.^[7][31] However, it was canceled on April 16, due to her desire to prioritize family commitments. Trainor wrote on social media: "Balancing the release of a new album, preparing for a nationwide tour, and welcoming our new baby girl to our growing family of five has just been more than I can take on right now, and I need to be home and present for each and all of them at this time."^[32] Reports following the tour's cancellation stated that ticket sales had been lower than expected, with some resale listings reportedly dropping to around $10 prior to the announcement.^[33]

AllMusic's Matt Collar wrote that Toy with Me continues Trainor's tendency to blend multiple pop styles while retaining the upbeat and self-empowered tone associated with her earlier work. He highlighted the 1960s orchestral soul influences ("Get In Girl"), retro-inspired sounds ("Chef's Kiss", "Pink Cadillac", and "Princess"), and a stylistic shift in the album ("Hush" and "Shimmer").^[11] Writing for Paste, Casey Epstein-Gross criticized Toy with Me for its heavy reliance on 2020s pop trends; she argued that much of the album feels derivative of other artists, comparing several tracks to existing songs. She also highlighted the use of innuendo, describing songs like "Pink Cadillac" and the title track as excessive or awkward. Despite this, Epstein-Gross acknowledged Trainor's vocal ability and felt the album was occasionally catchy—writing that tracks such as "Shimmer" and "Get In Girl" function as effective earworms, even as its "bubblegum" production and lack of originality limit its overall impact.^[12] Jordi Bardají of Jenesaispop gave the album a mixed review, praising its aesthetic coherence while criticizing its lack of innovation and the inclusion of "a handful of forgettable cuts".^[14] Washington Square News staff writer Annie Emans criticized Toy with Me for its use of internet-driven lyrical references and simplified feminist themes, arguing that it does little to significantly develop Trainor's established sound or distinguish itself within 2020s pop trends.^[34]

Upon release, Toy with Me was a commercial under performance. It debuted at number 53 in Australia and number 198 on the US Billboard 200 chart.^[35][5] Nick Bond of News.com.au described its debut as "disastrous" and "dramatic fall from grace" in contrast to her debut studio album, Title (2015), stating that Trainor is "suffer[ing] a series of brutal career setbacks".^[36] In the United Kingdom, it entered at number 40 on the UK Albums Sales component chart.^[37]

• ^{^[p]} indicates a producer and vocal producer.
• ^{^[a]} indicates an additional producer.
• ^{^[v]} indicates a vocal producer.
• "Cry Baby" and "Ladylike" are not included on physical editions, but appear on a bonus 7-inch vinyl included at Target.^[39]

Credits are adapted from the liner notes and Tidal.^[40][10]

• IMRSV Studios; Stockholm, Sweden (strings: 6, 7, 10–12)
• Studio 112; Jonstorp, Sweden (horns: 6, 10–12)

• Justin Trainor – engineering
• Jon Yeasto – engineering (1, 11)
• Willem Bleeker – engineering (6, 7, 10, 11)
• Erik Arvinder – engineering (6, 7, 10, 14)
• Mattias Bylund – engineering (10, 11, 14), editing (6, 7, 10, 11, 14)
• Basma Jabbar – engineering (14)
• Meghan Trainor – vocal engineering (2)
• Scott Hoying – vocal engineering (2)
• Tom Norris – mixing
• Randy Merrill – mastering