The Civil Wars to return with new album this summer

The Civil Wars are returning with a new album.

The duo announced the news on its website Wednesday afternoon, posting an image of the new self-titled album's cover along with a pair of handwritten notes from Joy Williams and John Paul White thanking fans for their patience.

The album will be released late summer by Columbia Records and is the follow-up to The Civil Wars' debut, "Barton Hollow." That album earned the Civil Wars two of their three Grammy Awards and a rapidly growing fan base. But Williams and White's future together appeared in doubt when they canceled a European tour mid-trip, citing irreconcilable differences. In December, though, Williams revealedduring a Twitter chat that she was in the studio listening to new Civil Wars songs.

The album cover is a column of smoke from a fire.

White writes in his note to fans: "Patience is a virtue. Yours has been appreciated."