Nashville continues to play host to some of music’s best and brightest. Here are the performers we’re watching in 2022—and you should, too.
Brittney Spencer
A People Magazine One to Watch, 2021 Spotify Hot Country Artist to Watch, Pandora 2021 Artist to Watch, and member of CMT Next Women of Country, Baltimore native Brittney Spencer has already made an indelible mark on the country music industry. The Baltimore native is known for her free spirit and standout ability to mold life, truth, and wild imagination into songs. Lauded as one of “12 Black Artists Shaping Country Music’s Future” by USA Today, Spencer has already grown a robust fan base on the road with the likes of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Brett Eldredge, and Reba McEntire. Her debut headlining outing, “In A Perfect World Tour,” kicked off in December. Hitting the stage at this year’s CMA Awards, she performed “I Love My Hair” alongside Mickey Guyton and Madeline Edwards in an emotional moment that was dubbed the highlight of the night.
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Years in Nashville: Eight—wow, time flies!
How did you get your start? I started busking downtown shortly after moving to Nashville. During that time, I also attended a handful of songwriting workshops and began co- writing around town to better find and understand my writer voice. Fast forward to 2020. I finally released my first EP, Compassion, and it slowly gained traction. Thanks to a lot of love from fans and the artist/writer/creative community, press build-up, and industry support, my name started circulating in the music scene.
Early inspirations and idols: The Chicks, Beyoncé, Brad Paisley, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Sade, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Ella Fitzgerald, John Mayer, India Arie, and Karen Clark-Sheard.
Most exciting thing to happen in your career (so far): Headlining a festival as part of The Highwomen, touring with Jason Isbell, touring with Brett Eldredge, singing at the 2021 CMA Awards with my sisters [Mickey Guyton and Madeline Edwards], finding out that Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood know I exist (like, wow!), and hearing my songs on the radio.
What song of yours best sums up who you are or your career/life thus far? I think either “Sorrys Don’t Work No More” or “Sober & Skinny.” I’m a poet and a storyteller, and I think these songs, while very different from each other, showcase my love for words and melodies, while highlighting my complex curiosity and sometimes irresolute relationship with unpacking human emotions and experiences.
New and Next: I’ve basically been writing every other day for the last year and a half. I’m finally back in the studio recording, and the songs I wish to release will be mainly geared towards building out the sort of live show that I want to have. In these songs, there are a lot of highs and some lows, there are lots of different subject matters explored, and sonically there’s a little bit of something for everybody to enjoy.