BY LESLEY HASTINGS
Tiera Kennedy is an artist who first came to my attention several years ago when I saw her performing in Nashville at the Song Suffragettes show and then later the same evening at Whiskey Jam. Her talent and energy really impressed me from the start, and it’s been great to see her career go from strength to strength recently.
The Alabama native is definitely one of country music’s most exciting emerging artists, and last year landed on several prestigious “ Artists to Watch “ lists and has been out on the road opening for artists including Kelsea Ballerini and Danielle Bradbery.
Now signed to Big Machine and married to her creative director Kamren Kennedy, Tiera is readying for the release of her debut full-length album which she describes as taking the listener through “the journey of my life”. As she explains, “There are fun songs, sad songs, songs that make you laugh, make you cry…” and her latest single which is a sneak peak of what’s to come definitely falls into the first category!
Released last Friday via The Valory Music Co, the upbeat and infectious “Jesus, My Mama, My Therapist” was co- written by Tiera with her friends Emily Falvey, Joe Fox, Trannie Anderson and Emily Landis and I immediately loved the alliteration in the opening line of this brilliant song about small town gossip. “Bartender Betty’s got a real big mouth” … Tiera tells us with her wonderful Southern drawl, and we learn a few lines later that even Pastor Pete (more alliteration!) can’t be relied on to not pass judgement. So who can be trusted with Tiera’s deepest secrets particularly in regards to her love life? The song’s title and rousing chorus provide the answers, and as she explains in the bridge “Jesus won’t tell God, my mom won’t tell my Dad, and my therapist contractually can’t talk about all that”!
The drum-driven accompaniment has some searing electric guitar in the mix and I love how the track builds then comes back down again before its final crescendo .
Listen Here: https://Tiera.lnk.to/JesusPR.
The song contrasts beautifully to her debut “Found It In You” a poignant love song inspired by her relationship with her husband released last year and in my opinion helps demonstrate what a versatile artist Tiera Kennedy is. I am really looking forwards to the album and hope that we get to see Tiera returning to the UK soon having played here for the first time at last year’s C2C as part of the “ Introducing Nashville” line up.
For the latest information and more, visit TieraMusic.com and follow along on Instagram.