It's not that she ever went away, but the context of the above title is that Iris DeMent burst upon the world in the early 90s, with that distinctively rich and plaintive voice and those marvellous songs, on two top-notch albums: Infamous Angel and My Life. Her third, The Way I Should, I thought was rather less good than those two, and I somehow missed one featuring gospel songs (Lifeline) that she released in 2004. What she's back with this year is Sing The Delta, and it's an album right up there with the first two. Great country songs, some with a gospel component, and in most of them the piano accompaniment very prominent.
Another context for 'return' is that many of the songs hark back to home and childhood, and even, yes, Momma and Daddy (as featured already here).
My provisional track rankings. Top track: 'Makin' My Way Back Home'. Runner-up: 'The Kingdom Has Already Come'. Bubbling unders: 'Before The Colors Fade', 'Sing The Delta' and 'If That Ain't Love'.
It would make an excellent seasonal gift, including to yourself.