Country Charm with a Buckle Beat: Tanner Adell’s Journey to Stardom
Introduction
Hey y'all! I've got a special treat for you today on Cyd Tells All. In Season 1, Episode 5, I dive into the incredible world of Tanner Adell and her first mixtape, Buckle Bunny.
If you haven’t heard it yet saddle up because this mixtape is packed with charm, country vibes, and superstar energy.
Plus, homegirl had the nerve to release a Deluxe version with songs like “Luke Combs”, “Backroad”, and “Love You A Little Bit”, which is the first song of hers I ever heard then a Stripped version after I recorded this episode with 6 acoustic versions of some of my favorite songs.
Like, let me breathe, please??? But also, I love you for this, girl!
A Weekend with Tanner
I've been so excited about finally getting to do the blog post covering this episode because Tanner deserves all of her flowers. No, I haven’t met her (yet).
It’s just that the weekend I recorded this episode, I was staying in an Airbnb in Uptown Charlotte with the most beautiful view of the city and the first thing I did was hook up to the Bluetooth speakers to tune in to her Buckle Bunny Mixtape.
From start to finish, every track had me hooked. I’m not even kidding. If you caught my live reactions on Instagram, you already know how hard I was vibing. If not, don’t worry—I’ve got an entire highlight called #BuckleBunny on Instagram!
Although, I discovered her on TikTok because she came across my FYP with “Love You A Little Bit” and I was like “WHO IS THIS? I love her vibe!”
The little Southern girl in me who loved pop was instantly hooked.
All Hits, No Misses
Tanner Adell’s mixtape is one of those rare gems where every single song is a bop. Whether you're into fun, flirty tracks or soulful, heart-wrenching ballads, this mixtape has something for all who love a little bit Country and a little Pop with a slight flex for Black culture.
In fact, songs like “Buckle Bunny” and “Trailer Park Barbie” are perfect for a girls' day out with the windows rolled down in the pickup truck, while “I Hate Texas” is the ultimate sad girl anthem for those days where you just need a good cry.
Southern Roots with Universal Appeal
What I love the most is Tanner has got the genius to blend Southern charm with modern beats while still keeping the storylines in her songs relatable and staying true to her artistry.
Her track “FU-150” became my go-to anthem for those “forget these men” moments post-breakup to the point that I ended up being her first live reaction video ever to a music video she released. Then, more recently, she’s been filming and releasing content using snippets of her songs with the mic hanging out of (seemingly) thin air while she runs up ever so gently to the camera styled in the fits made of a Country Pop princess’ dreams or that give a night laidback around the bonfire with friends. You know I love it!
And can we talk about the timing of her releases?
Dropping “Trailer Park Barbie” right around the Barbie movie premiere was a stroke of marketing brilliance. Whoever is behind her team deserves a round of applause!
What makes Tanner stand out the most though is her authenticity.
She’s a Southern girl through and through, yet she’s breaking barriers and creating a unique space in the music industry. She’s intentional about how she pays respect to the artists before her, the creatives she loves, and her own roots in the genre. Plus it’s fun to see how she shares herself enjoying the process and her reaction to how her fans interact with the music she releases.
If you’re new to country music but love pop, start with “Bake It’” and “Buckle Bunny”—thank me later!
Tanner Adell: An Unstoppable Force
Tanner Adell is not just a musician; she's a trailblazer. She's creating a bridge between different musical worlds, something we haven't seen done by many Southern Black women with as much success as hers when it comes to the blend of Country and Pop. That’s changing slowly but surely.
Then, her choreographed dances in the music videos show her versatility and dedication to her craft. It’s giving the early stages of the living legend she’s worked with recently where she’s essentially navigating the entertainment industry with grace creating music she loves and building connections with her listeners while paving her own unique lane and running with it!
While she may just be getting started, she’s already making waves in the country music scene, showing us all the power of staying true to ourselves.
Know this date—July 21, 2023—because I called it then: she is on her way to becoming a country-pop icon so trust me when I say, Tanner Adell is a name you'll want to remember.
Plus, I want to point out that something tells me she’s going to transcend genres and create intersections for rising artists if the mood strikes her and it’ll work out in her favor. I mean, her work with Beyoncé* in early 2024 is proof that dreams do come true.
One minute she’s crying at RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR in the audience and the next she’s announcing that she’s on Beyoncé’s new album, COWBOY CARTER. Like WOW. Go ahead, girl!
I couldn’t be prouder of her and more excited to cheer her on.
*Note: You can hear Tanner’s sweet but powerful vocals on “AMERIICAN REQUIEM” and “BLACKBIIRD” on Beyoncé’s album, COWBOY CARTER. Tiera Kennedy, Brittney Spencer, and Reyna Roberts are also heard on “BLACKBIIRD.” - And yes, I absolutely did live reactions to COWBOY CARTER on Instagram. Check out the highlight here!
Conclusion: An Unstoppable Force
If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and listen to the Buckle Bunny Mixtape from start to finish.
Once you’re done, or while you’re listening, follow her on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram to keep up with her journey, see if she’s stopping in a city near you or shop her merch via her Komi page, and stay ready for more incredible music from Tanner Adell like “Whiskey Blues”-again, thank me later!
You can listen to more episodes of Cyd Tells All on Spotify and iHeart.
This episode was not sponsored and I still don’t think Tanner has any idea I did this podcast episode last year so if you enjoy the episode and want to support what I do, check out the links on my Beacons page!
