Its standalone release through Norwood's newly founded label, Brand Nu Inc., and eOne Music on September 27, 2019 commenced with the 25th anniversary of her eponymous debut album Brandy in 1994.

Her first release since 2016's "Beggin & Pleadin, it earned generally positive reviews from music critics, particularly for its vocal performance, and peaked at number seven on the US Billboard R&B Digital Songs in the week of October 12, 2019.

[2] A musical declaration of independence, it was recorded in Los Angeles in mid-2019 during creative sessions alongside songwriter and producer Kole with whom Norwood shared deep conversations about her freedom and what she went through.

Mike Wass from Idolator wrote that "Freedom Rings” is "a triumphant anthem about perseverance [...] that clearly means a lot to the enduring hitmaker.

"[4] Rap-Up found that the song had Norwood showing "off her powerful pipes while sharing her testimony on the soulful rock-tinged track,"[5] while Vibe noted that "Freedom Rings" appears "to show the R&B legend shedding light on her time away from the spotlight, rediscovering what made her fall in love with music and exorcising her demons.