Tanner Adell: The Country-Pop Cowgirl Who Rides Her Own Wave
Tanner Adell: The Country-Pop Cowgirl Who Rode Her Own Wave
Imagine a little girl in a Kentucky trailer park, her voice bouncing off aluminum walls as she belts out Shania Twain, dreaming of boots and bright lights. For Tanner Adell, music wasn’t just a pastime—it was a map out of the small-town shadows, a way to blend her Black roots with country twang and pop shimmer. Barely into her 20s, she’s stormed Nashville with a sound that’s fresh, fierce, and unapologetic. Here’s the tale of how a starry-eyed kid became the “Buckle Bunny” shaking up country music.
The Beat That Broke the Mold
Tanner Adell’s drive to sing started with a mix of heritage and hustle. Born Tanner Jaekel on June 27, 1996, in Lexington, Kentucky, she grew up straddling worlds—raised by her white mom in a trailer park, adopted later by a Black family in California. Music was her constant. At five, she’d mimic Faith Hill and Beyoncé, her voice a blend of grit and grace. Church choirs gave her soul, but it was country—Reba, Dolly, Shania—that hooked her. “I wanted to be the girl in the songs,” she’d say, “riding horses, breaking hearts.” By her teens, she was writing her own—lyrics about love, loss, and longing to belong. Music became her rebellion against a world that didn’t quite know where to place her—a mixed-race girl with a twang—and her ticket to rewrite the rules.
The Road From Roots to Rhinestones
Tanner’s early life was a zigzag of places and faces. Born in Kentucky, she spent her first years in Star Valley, Wyoming—cowboy country—before her mom’s struggles led to foster care. At nine, adoption brought her to Manhattan Beach, California, where she soaked up surf vibes and gospel choirs. High school saw her in musicals, but college at Utah Valley University flipped the script. Studying communications, she gigged on the side, posting covers online—Carrie Underwood, Lauryn Hill—until Nashville called. In 2020, at 24, she moved there, waitressing and writing, determined to crack country’s whitewashed walls.
No bands yet, just Tanner—guitar in hand, voice blazing. Her 2022 single “Honky Tonk Heartbreak” caught ears; 2023’s “Buckle Bunny” blew up, a viral anthem of swagger and sass. Adopted by a new family—Nashville’s Black country scene—she’s rewriting the genre’s story, one rhinestone at a time.
The Career That’s Catching Fire
Tanner Adell’s rise is meteoric, though still unfolding. A solo artist, she’s built her name on singles and hustle. “Honky Tonk Heartbreak” (2022) mixed country ache with pop polish, but “Buckle Bunny” (2023)—a bold, trap-infused banger—put her on the map, racking up millions of streams. Her debut album Buckle Bunny (2023) cemented her vibe—think cowgirl chic meets hip-hop beats. Beyoncé’s 2024 Cowboy Carter nod (Tanner’s on “Blackbiird”) skyrocketed her profile, while opening for Jelly Roll and Nelly showed her range.
No bandmates, but collabs with Brittney Spencer and producers like Luke Laird tie her to the scene. TV hits include The Voice (2023 guest spot), and her “Buckle Bunny” video got MTV airplay. No big awards yet—too new—but 2024’s CMA “Horizon Award” buzz marks her as one to watch. In 2025, she’s touring, a glitter-dusted force claiming her space.
- Bands: None—solo artist
- Collaborators: Beyoncé, Brittney Spencer, Luke Laird (producer)
- Awards: None yet—early career, but CMA Horizon contender (2024)
Biggest Songs:
- “Buckle Bunny” – Written by Tanner Adell and Quinn Coleman
- “Trailer Park Barbie” – Written by Tanner Adell and Luke Laird
- “Honky Tonk Heartbreak” – Written by Tanner Adell
- “Blackbiird” – Written by Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, and others (Beyoncé collab)
The Dust She’s Kicked Up
Tanner’s ascent hasn’t dodged drama. Her “Buckle Bunny” video—rhinestones, rodeo vibes—drew flak from country purists who sneered at its pop-trap flair, calling her an “outsider.” She clapped back: “Country’s big enough for all of us.” Her mixed-race identity sparked debate—some fans embrace her as a trailblazer, others question her “authenticity.” A 2023 Twitter spat with a troll over her Kentucky roots (“Trailer parks don’t make you country!”) went viral, but she turned it into a song, “Trash Talk.” Dating rumors with rapper Nelly (after 2024 tour dates) swirl, though she keeps it coy. She’s a lightning rod, and she loves it.
The Star Still Rising
From a Kentucky trailer to Nashville’s neon glow, Tanner Adell’s turned a girlhood dream into a bold reality. She’s not just singing—she’s staking a claim, fusing worlds with every note. In 2025, at 28, she’s galloping forward, proving why she chased this sound: to be the cowgirl she always saw in the mirror, loud and proud.
