diff --git a/content/blog/release-0.9.0.mdx b/content/blog/release-0.9.0.mdx
index 927ee16627..16228b73dc 100644
--- a/content/blog/release-0.9.0.mdx
+++ b/content/blog/release-0.9.0.mdx
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ tags: ["release", "0.9.0", "announcement", "clustering", "vsr", "benchmarks"]
 date: 2026-09-21
 ---
 ## Release 0.9.0
-
-Five months after [0.8.0](https://iggy.apache.org/blogs/2026/04/22/release-0.8.0/), we're proud to release **[Apache Iggy 0.9.0](/downloads/)**. It is our first release as an **Apache Top-Level Project**, following the [graduation from the Incubator](https://iggy.apache.org/blogs/2026/08/24/apache-iggy-top-level-project-tlp-graduation/) on August 19, 2026, and the first one without the `-incubating` suffix. It is also the release we have been working towards for the past year.
+We are proud to announce the release of **[Apache Iggy 0.9.0](/downloads/)**.
+This release marks a historical milestone for the project: it is our very first as an official **Apache Top-Level Project** following our [graduation](https://iggy.apache.org/blogs/2026/08/24/apache-iggy-top-level-project-tlp-graduation/) from the Incubator on August 19, 2026. This isn't just another version increment; it is the flagship release we have been relentlessly building toward over the past year. And we can’t wait for you to try it out.
 
 The official release is the **[source archive](https://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.lua/iggy/0.9.0/iggy-0.9.0-src.tar.gz)** distributed by the Apache Software Foundation, with its [PGP signature](https://downloads.apache.org/iggy/0.9.0/iggy-0.9.0-src.tar.gz.asc), [SHA-512 checksum](https://downloads.apache.org/iggy/0.9.0/iggy-0.9.0-src.tar.gz.sha512) and the project [KEYS](https://downloads.apache.org/iggy/KEYS). The [downloads page](/downloads/) explains how to verify it. The [GitHub release](https://github.com/apache/iggy/releases/tag/server-0.9.0) carries the full list of merged pull requests.