Brittney Spencer
Born (1988-09-08) September 8, 1988 (age 35)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer–songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
Years active2020–present
Labels
Websitebrittneyspencer.com

Brittney Spencer (born September 8, 1988)[1] is an American country singer–songwriter. Spencer received notable attention following a viral Twitter video showing Spencer singing a cover of song by The Highwomen. The video drew praise from fellow country artists and prompted the release of her first extended play (EP) titled Compassion (2020). She has also released several singles, including 2021's "Sober & Skinny". Spencer has since performed on the Country Music Association Awards and has embarked on a world tour.

Early life

Spencer is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. She developed an interest in music from singing in church. "Church, for me, was very cultural. It’s spiritual, but also very cultural. Families like mine, we couldn’t really afford singing lessons or anything like that, so I just sang in the church all the time," she told Baltimore magazine.[2] She was raised as an African Methodist Episcopal.[3] Spencer also came from a musical family. Her father was part of a quartet band.[2] A friend from church got Spencer interested in The Chicks, which developed her interest in country music. From there, she developed interest in artists like Taylor Swift.[4] She attended magnet schools in her teen years, including the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. During this time she learned to play guitar and piano. Spencer also took vocal lessons from a coach who taught her how to sing in a recording studio. She began by singing background vocals for R&B and gospel artists including Jason Nelson. In February 2013, Spencer moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue country music full-time.[2]

Career

After moving to Nashville, Spencer attended Middle Tennessee State University.[5] While attending the university she worked as a vocal coach in a program dedicated to students from low-income homes. She also found work as a background singer and eventually toured with Christopher Cross and Carrie Underwood.[3] She also performed in clubs and other performance venues in the Nashville area.[5] Despite performance opportunities, Spencer found it difficult pursuing country music as an overweight and black performer. "Being a Black woman in Nashville can be challenging when it comes time to book someone to do all sorts of things related to fashion, whether it’s glam or wardrobe. I do feel that systemic or societal pressure at times, but I also feel really empowered," she told Glamour.[6]

It was in 2020, that Spencer received notable attention after posting a cover of The Highwomen's "Crowded Table" on Twitter. The video received more than 150,000 views and re-tweeted by Maren Morris and Amanda Shires who praised Spencer's performance.[3] "I just love to sing and write songs. Though there’s really no way I could have ever prepared for the most humbling experience of my life to take place on Twitter," she told Billboard.[7] In 2020, Spencer released her debut extended play (EP) titled Compassion. The project included several songs including "Damn Right, You're Wrong" and "My Perfect Life". During this time, she also launched her first tour titled "In a Perfect World".[8] In June 2021, Spencer released a new single called "Sober & Skinny".[9][10] In late 2021, Spencer performed alongside Mickey Guyton and Madeline Edwards on the 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards. The trio sang a track off Guyton's Remember Her Name album called "Love My Hair".[11] She is expecting to release her first full-length album in 2022.[4] Spencer is expected to perform on the upcoming 57th Academy of Country Music Awards.[12] In March 2022 she was nominated by the CMT Music Awards, her first award from a major industry.[13]

In November 2022, Spencer signed a major label recording contract with Elektra Records. An extended play was released the following day, featuring original material and a cover of The Chicks's "Cowboy Take Me Away".[14]

Musical style and influences

Spencer told American Songwriter that her musical style is diverse because of the different artists and songwriters she is influenced by: "I feel like I have a really wide stretch of what influences me, which is probably why it still made my songs sound so different."[4] In describing her musical style, Marcus K. Dowling explained that Spencer combines a "thundering power of her talent blended with highly engaging songs".[3] She credits Beyoncé, Ray Charles, Miranda Lambert and Jazmine Sullivan as influences on her artistry.[4]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, showing relevant details
Title Album details
My Stupid Life[15]

Extended plays

List of EPs, showing relevant details
Title EP details
Compassion[16]
  • Released: December 4, 2020
  • Label: Common Exchange
  • Formats: Digital
If I Ever Get There: A Day at Blackbird Studio[17]
  • Released: November 4, 2022
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: Digital

Singles

List of singles, showing all relevant details
Title Year Album Ref.
"Mothers and Shepherds" (with Common Hymnal) 2019 — [18]
"Damn Right, You're Wrong" 2020 Compassion [19]
"Sorrys Don't Work No More" [20]
"Sober & Skinny" 2021 — [21]
"More Than Perfect" 2022 [22]
"Wake Me Up (A Fever Dream)" [23]
"Night In" 2024 My Stupid Life [24]

Other album appearances

List of additional album appearances, showing all relevant details
Title Year Artist(s) Album Ref.
"Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)" 2021 The Highwomen and Madeline Edwards Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary [25]
"Midnight Train to Georgia"
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World" 		Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Georgia Blue [26]
"Lonely at Night" 2022 Amanda Shires Take It Like a Man [27]

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"Sober & Skinny" 2021
  • Nicki Fletcher
  • Darryl Hargrove
 [10]

Awards and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 CMT Music Awards CMT Digital First Performance of the Year – "Sober & Skinny" Nominated [28]
Americana Music Honors & Awards Emerging Artist of the Year Nominated [29]

References

  1. ^ "Brittney Spencer". Holler Country. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c LaRocca, Lauren (February 10, 2021). "Brittney Spencer Named One of Spotify's "Hot Country Artists to Watch" for 2021". Baltimore. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Dowling, Markus K. (31 March 2021). "Who Is Brittney Spencer? 5 Things You Need to Know". The Boot. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Nolan, Kathleen (February 2022). "Country Singer Brittney Spencer Talks Musical Influences & Hopes for New Album". American Songwriter. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b Parton, Chris (15 February 2021). "Brittney Spencer Opens Up About Her Country Beginnings". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  6. ^ McDuffie, Candace (February 22, 2022). "Meet Brittney Spencer, the Country Artist Taking Over Nashville One Song at a Time". Glamour. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  7. ^ Newman, Melinda. "Discover Brittney Spencer, the New Country Artist Maren Morris & Amanda Shires Are Raving About". Billboard. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  8. ^ Despres, Tricia. "Rising country star Brittney Spencer puts a lot of herself into her music: 'it's important to tell your story'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  9. ^ Lenehan Vaughn, Grace (21 June 2021). "Brittney Spencer Releases Hopeful 'Sober & Skinny'". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b Dowling, Markus K. (June 19, 2021). "PREMIERE: Brittney Spencer's "Sober & Skinny" Is An "Emotional" Anthem". Country Music Television. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  11. ^ Dowling, Markus K. "55th CMA Awards: Mickey Guyton, Brittney Spencer, Madeline Edwards Turn Proud Performance Of "Love My Hair"". Country Music Television. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Brittney Spencer, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, and Mitchell Tenpenny to Perform on the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards Live on March 7, Exclusively on Prime Video". Academy of Country Music. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  13. ^ Gunn, Tamantha (March 16, 2022). "CMT Music Awards 2022 Nominations: See the Complete List". E!. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  14. ^ Newman, Melinda (November 3, 2022). "Country Upstart Brittney Spencer Signs With Elektra". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  15. ^ Hollabaugh, Lorie (September 29, 2023). "Brittney Spencer Slates Debut Album 'My Stupid Life' For January". MusicRow. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Compassion -- EP by Brittney Spencer". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  17. ^ "If I Ever Get There: A Day at Blackbird Studio -- Brittney Spencer". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  18. ^ ""Mothers and Shepherds" by Brittney Spencer and Common Hymnal". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  19. ^ ""Damn Right, You're Wrong" by Brittney Spencer". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  20. ^ ""Sorrys Don't Work No More" by Brittney Spencer". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  21. ^ ""Sober & Skinny" by Brittney Spencer". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  22. ^ ""More Than Perfect" -- Single by Brittney Spencer". Apple Music. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  23. ^ ""Wake Me Up (A Fever Dream)" -- Single by Brittney Spencer". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  24. ^ Uitti, Jacob (January 6, 2024). "New Song Saturday: Hear New Tracks from G. Love, Brittney Spencer, Sleater-Kinney, and More". American Songwriter. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  25. ^ ""Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)" on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  26. ^ "Brittney Spencer's 'Midnight Train to Georgia' With Jason Isbell Is a Star Turn". Rolling Stone. 2021-10-01. Archived from the original on 2022-12-30.
  27. ^ "Amanda Shires Joined by Brittney Spencer, Jason Isbell in Studio for "Lonely at Night" [Video]". 19 October 2022.
  28. ^ "CMT Music Awards 2022: Complete list of winners and nominees". CBS News. April 11, 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  29. ^ "JUST IN: Yola, Brandi Carlile and Allison Russell Lead 2022 Americana Honors & Awards Nominees". The Boot. 16 May 2022.

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