diff --git a/.github/.release-please-manifest.json b/.github/.release-please-manifest.json
index 0e2b815d..e3f37894 100644
--- a/.github/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.github/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "6.1.0"
+  ".": "6.1.1"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 775729e0..a828f3d1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [6.1.1](https://github.com/deepgram/deepgram-python-sdk/compare/v6.1.0...v6.1.1) (2026-03-27)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **websockets:** restore optional message param on control send_ methods ([#680](https://github.com/deepgram/deepgram-python-sdk/issues/680)) ([0018fc4](https://github.com/deepgram/deepgram-python-sdk/commit/0018fc489dd05f81773086044ff476514ceed0e0))
+
 ## [6.1.0](https://github.com/deepgram/deepgram-python-sdk/compare/v6.0.1...v6.1.0) (2026-03-26)
 
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index a45ee00d..12976d24 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ dynamic = ["version"]
 
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "deepgram-sdk"
-version = "6.1.0"
+version = "6.1.1"
 description = ""
 readme = "README.md"
 authors = []