Brittney Spencer
{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1988)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Brittney Spencer
| image = Brittney Spencer 2024.jpg
| caption = Spencer performing at the White House in 2024
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|09|08}}
| birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
| genre = Country
| occupation = Singer–songwriter
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|piano}}
| years_active = 2020–present
| label = {{hlist|Common Exchange|Elektra}}
| website = {{URL|brittneyspencer.com/}}
}}
Brittney Spencer (born September 8, 1988){{cite web |title=Brittney Spencer |url=https://holler.country/artists/brittney-spencer |website=Holler Country |access-date=27 February 2022}} is an American country singer–songwriter. In 2020 Spencer received notable attention following a viral Twitter video showing Spencer singing a cover of a 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, who is of African-American heritage, 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.{{cite magazine |last1=LaRocca |first1=Lauren |title=Brittney Spencer Named One of Spotify's 'Hot Country Artists to Watch' for 2021 |magazine=Baltimore |date=February 10, 2021 |url=https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/baltimore-native-brittney-spencer-named-spotify-hot-country-artists-to-watch-2021/ |access-date=27 February 2022}} She was raised as an African Methodist Episcopal.{{cite web |last1=Dowling |first1=Markus K. |title=Who Is Brittney Spencer? 5 Things You Need to Know |url=https://theboot.com/who-is-brittney-spencer/ |website=The Boot |date=31 March 2021 |access-date=27 February 2022}} Spencer also came from a musical family. Her father was part of a quartet band. 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.{{cite magazine |last1=Nolan |first1=Kathleen |title=Country Singer Brittney Spencer Talks Musical Influences & Hopes for New Album |magazine=American Songwriter |date=February 2022 |url=https://americansongwriter.com/country-singer-brittney-spencer-talks-musical-influences-hopes-for-new-album/ |access-date=27 February 2022}} 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.
Career
After moving to Nashville, Spencer attended Middle Tennessee State University.{{cite web |last1=Parton |first1=Chris |title=Brittney Spencer Opens Up About Her Country Beginnings |url=https://www.soundslikenashville.com/news/brittney-spencer-opens-up-about-country-beginnings/ |website=Sounds Like Nashville |date=15 February 2021 |access-date=27 February 2022}} 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. She also performed in clubs and other performance venues in the Nashville area. 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.{{cite journal |last1=McDuffie |first1=Candace |title=Meet Brittney Spencer, the Country Artist Taking Over Nashville One Song at a Time |journal=Glamour |date=February 22, 2022 |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/meet-brittney-spencer-the-country-artist-taking-over-nashville-one-song-at-a-time |access-date=27 February 2022}}
In 2020 Spencer received significant 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. "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.{{cite magazine |last1=Newman |first1=Melinda |title=Discover Brittney Spencer, the New Country Artist Maren Morris & Amanda Shires Are Raving About |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/brittany-spencer-highwomen-cover-new-country-9465113/ |magazine=Billboard|date=October 14, 2020 |access-date=27 February 2022}} 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".{{cite news |last1=Despres |first1=Tricia |title=Rising country star Brittney Spencer puts a lot of herself into her music: 'it's important to tell your story' |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/1/24/22899364/brittney-spencer-paving-the-way-for-black-artists-in-country-music |date=January 24, 2022|access-date=27 February 2022 |work=Chicago Sun-Times}} In June 2021, Spencer released a new single called "Sober & Skinny".{{cite web |last1=Lenehan Vaughn |first1=Grace |title=Brittney Spencer Releases Hopeful 'Sober & Skinny' |url=https://www.soundslikenashville.com/news/brittney-spencer-sober-and-skinny/ |website=Sounds Like Nashville |date=21 June 2021 |access-date=27 February 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Dowling |first1=Markus K. |title=PREMIERE: Brittney Spencer's 'Sober & Skinny' Is An 'Emotional' Anthem |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1835207/premiere-brittney-spencers-sober-skinny-is-an-emotional-anthem/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619160616/http://www.cmt.com/news/1835207/premiere-brittney-spencers-sober-skinny-is-an-emotional-anthem/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 19, 2021 |access-date=27 February 2022 |work=Country Music Television |date=June 19, 2021}} 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".{{cite news |last1=Dowling |first1=Markus K. |title=55th CMA Awards: Mickey Guyton, Brittney Spencer, Madeline Edwards Turn Proud Performance Of 'Love My Hair' |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1839137/55th-cma-awards-mickey-guyton-joined-by-brittney-spencer-madeline-edwards-for-proud-performance-of-love-my-hair/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111050735/http://www.cmt.com/news/1839137/55th-cma-awards-mickey-guyton-joined-by-brittney-spencer-madeline-edwards-for-proud-performance-of-love-my-hair/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |access-date=27 February 2022 |work=Country Music Television}} She is expecting to release her first full-length album in 2022. Spencer is expected to perform on the upcoming 57th Academy of Country Music Awards.{{cite web |title=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 |url=https://www.acmcountry.com/news/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 |website=Academy of Country Music |date=22 February 2022 |access-date=4 March 2022}} In March 2022 she was nominated by the CMT Music Awards, her first award from a major industry.{{cite news |last1=Gunn |first1=Tamantha |title=CMT Music Awards 2022 Nominations: See the Complete List |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1323324/cmt-music-awards-2022-nominations-see-the-complete-list |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=E! |date=March 16, 2022}}
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".{{cite magazine |last1=Newman |first1=Melinda |title=Country Upstart Brittney Spencer Signs With Elektra |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/brittney-spencer-signs-with-elektra-release-3-song-ep/ |access-date=5 November 2022 |magazine=Billboard |date=November 3, 2022}}
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." In describing her musical style, Marcus K. Dowling explained that Spencer combines a "thundering power of her talent blended with highly engaging songs". She credits Beyoncé, Ray Charles, Miranda Lambert and Jazmine Sullivan as influences on her artistry.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums, showing relevant details ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Album details |
| scope="row"| My Stupid Life{{cite magazine |last1=Hollabaugh |first1=Lorie |title=Brittney Spencer Slates Debut Album 'My Stupid Life' For January |magazine=MusicRow |date=September 29, 2023 |url=https://musicrow.com/2023/09/brittney-spencer-slates-debut-album-my-stupid-life-for-january/ |access-date=6 January 2024}}
| |
|---|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of EPs, showing relevant details ! scope="col" style="width:22em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| EP details |
| scope="row"| Compassion{{cite web |title=Compassion -- EP by Brittney Spencer |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/compassion-ep/1539054932 |website=Apple Music |access-date=27 February 2022}}
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| If I Ever Get There: A Day at Blackbird Studio{{cite web |title=If I Ever Get There: A Day at Blackbird Studio -- Brittney Spencer |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/if-i-ever-get-there-a-day-at-blackbird-studio-single/1649730976 |website=Apple Music |access-date=5 November 2022}}
|
|
=Singles=
=Other album appearances=
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of music videos, showing year released and director ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Director(s) ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| "Sober & Skinny"
| 2021 | {{hlist|Nicki Fletcher|Darryl Hargrove}} |
|---|
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.brittneyspencer.com/ Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Brittney}}
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:American women country singers
Category:African-American women singer-songwriters
Category:American women singer-songwriters
Category:African-American country musicians
Category:American country singer-songwriters
Category:Country musicians from Maryland