It was July 21 of this year when I stood with an energized crowd at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row Bar on Broadway. I was there to watch yet another lineup of amazing talent during a Whiskey Jam event. The headliners, well known to most, but what the beloved host Ward Guenther didn’t reveal were those “special guests”.
The Band Perry hit the stage with their fan favorite tunes, when one inimitable “special guest” Brittney Spencer joined in with her crowd-pleasing rendition of a popular Sheryl Crow single. I was instantly a fan.
It wasn’t until August that I was to be treated again to Brittney’s intoxicating sound at one of Leslie Fram’s new FEMCo performance series held at the Anzie Blue event space in Nashville’s Hillsboro Village, when I knew that I had to learn more about this talented songstress.
As many fans can recall, Brittney’s popularity began blowing up in 2020 when she tweeted her cover of The Highwomen’s “Crowded Table”. Members of the all-star group like Amanda Shires and Maren Morris created incredible exposure for Spencer. They saw her video, took a chance, and lifted up another woman. The profound impact of the experience secured a determination to ensure that she too would be the kind of artist that does the same for somebody else.
Since then accomplishments have included stage support for a number of Country stars, touring with Chris Stapleton this past summer, earning herself a place in the supergroup as one of The Highwomen herself, as well as being featured on Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning Cowboy Carter album released in 2024.
When you hear Brittney sing, she owns an aptitude for executing surreal runs, delivers an uncommon trill, and possesses an envied range of notes that includes a flawless falsetto; giving due credit to vocal coach Katie Riggs. “So why Country”, I asked? The decision seemed quite natural to her. Brittney explained that while she grew up singing in church, and did R&B gigs to make money, those that knew her, knew that her heart was always set on Country music. Why not? All her life she had been inspired by an array of greats both before her and current, like Glen Campbell, Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Maren Morris, The Chicks, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, and most importantly by the honest lyricism of Loretta Lynn.
Though she agreed that it’s hard to decide what it is you want to do when there’s a lot that you can do well, she notes, “There’s something really beautiful about an artist who can do a lot of things and can still define a clear path they carve out for themselves. What I want to sing comes alive in my heart when I pick up a guitar and I play a Country song.”
While being on the road, Spencer was afforded the time to reflect. Her debut album shared more personality, a glimpse behind the curtain, for people to know what she learned about herself.
Brittney reveals that in her early 20’s she was a victim of bullying, and abuse. Only in the past year has she had the courage to reach back in time to talk about some of her experiences. Her way of vindicating, and validating for her 21-year old self. She admits that, then, she didn’t know how to defend or protect herself from being used. Expressing herself lyrically has helped her to heal, “It feels like I’m giving myself a hug, and saying it’s okay, you can move on from this part of your life.” Brittney goes on to explain how important it’s been to show up for herself every day, and has found writing to be her outlet.
As a result, fans share a connection with her, about her poignant and relatable songs like “Sober and Skinny”, which she wrote during the pandemic with Jason Reeves and Nelly Joy. She wrote of a relationship with an addict while dealing with her own self-image insecurities. It helped define who she is, what she wants, and concerns for the future. Lyrics that also help her fans understand her. Revealing that if her heroes heard only that one song she wrote, she’d be very proud.
Fan reaction has given her the opportunity to feel the impact her words have meant to those listening to her music, and makes herself available after performances. “You can’t ignore those moments when someone is looking at you with tears in their eyes and saying, “it means so much to me that you’re here.” That kind of stuff keeps me going”, she confesses.
Spencer explains why she has no favorite aspects of the process, whether making music, performing, or recording, but rather that she needs all of it. Without recording a song, she can’t step out on stage to sing it. And then there can be no conversation with fans around it.
She admits that she hasn’t accomplished a balance between her personal, and professional life yet, but whether at home or on the road, she enjoys those people who she surrounds herself with. Like anyone else, when there’s free time, she loves a night out at a dive bar, pool hall, or staying home watching a television show. Her other creative outlets include decorating her new home, and contributing a voice to her own brand and style.
An amusing, and little known factoid about the singer, is that she does some captivating vocal impressions of Britney Spears, Lauren Hill, Mickey Guyton, and Toni Braxton. In a close circle, she’ll exercise a little vocal mimicry meant to entertain her friends.
Brittney has had the honor of performing with great artists like Sheryl Crow, Mickey Guyton, Jon Batiste, Beyoncé, Jensen McRae, John Mayer, and Sza. She manifests an opportunity to write with Sza some day, as well as Chris Stapleton, or to sing with Brad Paisley.
She talks about how she’d love to perform Brad’s song, “Make a Mistake” from his album “Mud on the Tires”, with him. She continues, “I love that song. It’s so musical. It’s R&B and Country. Growing up there were only a couple of times when I heard those two roads blend together so beautifully.”
India Arie’s song “Summer” with Rascal Flatts and Victor Wooten was the other. Brittney adds, “It blew me away. I would also love to perform with India. I think that she’s insanely talented. She’s been such a light in my world musically, and lyrically. She inspired songs in my head as a kid.”
Spencer reveals, “I have been able to do some things that I can’t believe that I’ve been able to do. I’m grateful and I want to keep going. I want my songs to go far and I want to be here for as long as I can. I want to see an artist that looks like me go really far in Country music. My dream isn’t just for myself.”
Follow Brittney on her socials: Instagram // TikTok // Linktr.ee
