NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The first time I saw Tiera Kennedy was on November 8, 2022, at the Nashville City Winery where there was a writer’s round of young female artists who were honoring the legendary Loretta Lynn. When she sang, “Fist City” I was blown away.
Who is this effervescent singer and how is she so country? Being a Tennessee girl myself, it turns out that if you are born in the South to Southern parents there is a good chance you will be a country girl. Tiera Kennedy is from Birmingham, Alabama, and although she was not necessarily raised on country music, her southern accent is authentic.
She was first introduced to country music when she met a bluegrass band at Chic-Fil-A. She was fascinated by what she heard/learned. And when Kennedy started songwriting, “it just turned out to be country,” she reported.
In 2017, Kennedy moved to Nashville, and in 2018, she met the one and only Shania Twain. That chance meeting led to her being asked to sing “From This Moment” at the 2022 ACM Honors concert where Twain was honored. Her rendition was breathtaking and applauded by the honoree.
Kennedy’s emergence in the country music scene is self-described as being “R & B Country,” Being recognized by Spotify’s Hot Country, Teen Vogue, CMT, Sounds Like Nashville, Nashville Lifestyles, and Country Now as an Artist to Watch in 2021 is a significant achievement and a testament to her talent and potential in the industry.
In 2021, the artist had her Opry debut and they explained, “After discovering her voice at a young age, she taught herself how to play the guitar by watching YouTube videos and decided to pursue a music career. Kennedy performed at venues around her hometown of Birmingham, AL where she honed her songwriting abilities. Trips to Nashville led to performances at iconic venues like the Bluebird Café and The Listening Room, earning opening spots for legendary country acts like the Charlie Daniels Band and Rodney Atkins.”
Before she was signed to the prestigious Valory Music Company which is under the umbrella of Big Machine Records, her debut single “Found It In You” went viral as an independent artist. Kamren Kennedy, her husband, and creative director inspired the song’s poignant love story.
Then titillating tune, “Gentleman” is gushing with sweet southern charm but with a pure country twist, she requests that her beau be not so much of one.
And while the upbeat “Alabama Nights” is obviously about her hometown, this song is for any of us who miss where we came from as we recall the vanishing days gone by.
Kennedy has taken those songs and more on the road, opening for artists including Kelsea Ballerini and Danielle Bradbery while playing festivals across the country. As she readies her forthcoming full-length debut album, Tiera delivers the project’s lead single “Jesus, My Mama, My Therapist” out now. The infectious tune is an ode to the holy trinity of secret-keeping, as its three namesakes are the only folks who can be trusted with the truth.
It was recently sent to country radio where it continues to be a fan favorite.
Not only that, besides being known for her lively music, she was recently put on the cover for Nashville Living where she was named as one of Nashville’s “25 Most Beautiful People.”
As she continues working on her debut album/EP, she teased a new song on Instagram, “I Ain’t A Cowgirl.” She wrote the song to help herself get through the hard days and it is her favorite self-penned tune to date.
Not only that, she continues to host her namesake Apple Music podcast, The Tiera Show which brings her up close perspective on what’s new in county music. She explained, “My heart is in country music, but I draw inspiration from all different genres. So, you’re going to hear everything from Country to R&B, the classics to the new, and all the feel-good songs.”
Kennedy has been traveling a lot and is eager to get home to Nashville. “It’s been a grind, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I get the best feeling being up on that stage and seeing people sing along to my songs.”
She told me, “I didn’t find country music, Country music found me.” (Same girl!) And WE are all the better for it.
You can follow Tiera Kenndy on her website, Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, and all streaming platforms.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, Threads, and X (Twitter).
