DERREK KUPISH
When it comes to country music greats, Tanya Tucker is among the best of them.
She first established herself as a force to be reckoned with in 1972 at just 13 years old with her hit single “Delta Dawn,” and in the decades since, she has achieved the unthinkable for child stars — maintaining a loyal fanbase and continuing to find success throughout adulthood. For more than fifty years, Tucker has carved her own path in the industry by way of powerhouse vocals and a resilient personality to match. Known and loved as a strong, independent trailblazer, the two- time GRAMMY-winner has paved the way for countless women in country music today. And she has no plans to slow down.
In fact, Tucker is only adding to her ever-growing list of ventures and accolades. In May, she celebrated the opening of Tanya Tucker’s Tequila Cantina, located on the second floor of Nudie’s Honky Tonk, in a way that only she could— by riding her beloved stallion down Broadway for an entrance as grand as Tucker’s star power. The cantina-style bar captures Tucker’s infectious essence and fun-loving nature. And, of course, it’s only fitting that her own tequila brand, Cosa Salvaje, is on the menu.
Last year, following up the massive success of her 2019 album While I’m Livin’ – which earned Tucker her first and second GRAMMY wins of her career – she released her acclaimed album Sweet Western Sound, (produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings). And just last fall, Tucker was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during a star-studded Medallion Ceremony. Tucker is also touring throughout the rest of the year, including an August 24 show at Ascend Amphitheater as part of Orville Peck’s 6th Annual Rodeo.
Despite her busy schedule, Tucker took the time to chat with us about building her legacy, reaching new milestones, and what it all means to her.
How did you first discover your passion for music?
I think I was probably around 7 years old when I started singing songs my dad gave me to listen to. I always loved music from the very beginning. I liked all kinds of music. We had a country radio station in Wilcox, Arizona, and it was my favorite. But I also saw records of Sinatra lying around, and Elvis. My passion for country music is extreme, and when I say country I mean like Merle Haggard, the Georges, the Conways, and Loretta. I grew up on that and I don’t see much of that going on these days, but I’m so thankful that we’ve got that to hang on to. I miss them like crazy.
You were only 13 years old when you had your first massive hit, “Delta Dawn.” What was it like achieving that kind of success at such a young age?
I don’t think I really felt the success. It was a lot of backdoors and greasy-floored kitchens. It wasn’t glamorous; it was a lot of hard, hard work. I probably didn’t second-guess it. I have more second-guesses about it now than I did then. I just didn’t think about it. I just thought whatever my dad said was going to be the way it was going to be, and I didn’t think about it too much more. He wanted me to sing but he said, “You can’t just sing, you’ve got to put some feeling in it. You’re going to have to put twice as much feeling into it because you’re 9 years old, or they’re not going to believe you.” Somehow that got across to me. I don’t know how it did, but it did.
DERREK KUPISH
Starting out so young, how did you build a career that has remained successful throughout all the decades since?
You know, I don’t know. I’ve been asked that question many times and I just don’t really have an answer. I think the thing that comes to mind is perseverance and not giving up. As hard as it got, I just kept trucking. And I think that I’ve always put my fans first. They’re the bread and butter and they’re the ones that make my wheels go around. I think that’s probably a plus. I’m a people person. I enjoy meeting my fans. I like to see them face-to-face, see what they look like, what they like to eat, what other things they like. It’s just good to put a face to the fan. As far as regrets, I’ve got more than a few. I would have probably done a few things different as far as time management. I’m 65 now, and looking back, I could’ve really utilized my time better. We all have regrets, and I’ve definitely got some. It can be a real b**** just thinking about it, but there’s nothing that came from being pessimistic. No pessimist ever changed anything in the world. It’s always been the optimist, the one that was positive and had a good outlook on life, those are the people that change things and change the world. I get to thinking sometimes that I might not have made that much of a difference in changing the world, but when a fan comes up to me and says, “You were all I could hang onto during this real hard time in my life, and you got me though that,” that just changes it all for me. It makes me know I’m worthwhile.
Last year, you were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. What was that experience like?
I love Brenda Lee; she’s become one of my best friends, and, of course, Connie Smith is a big hero of mine. That was the first time that two people had inducted someone into the Hall, but I said, “Well, there’s rules that need to be broke,” so, they let both Brenda Lee and Connie Smith welcome me into the Hall of Fame. Brenda got up on that little footstool she had, she’s so little she couldn’t reach the microphone, and she had everybody roaring. Everybody was laughing so hard. I was laughing. I called Marty Stuart [before] and said, “What do I expect?” He said, “Just expect one of the most incredible days of your life and don’t worry about what you’re going to say. It’ll come; it’s too much to worry about.”That didn’t stop my worrying because I really wanted to say the right words and I didn’t want to hem and haw around because this room is full of people that are very special friends. Just to have the people that were there, the artists that were there, I really don’t think I have the words for it. It was a really special moment and special day. I appreciate all my friends flying in from all over the world. It was one of the most special times of my life.
You also recently celebrated the opening of Tanya Tucker’s Tequila Cantina on Broadway, located on the second floor of Nudie’s Honky Tonk. How did that come to fruition?
We’ve had my tequila brand [Cosa Salvaje] for a couple years. We’re a startup company — we don’t have the millions that George Clooney had. We’re starting from the ground, me and my partner Elle France, and it’s kind of a family thing. Somehow Bill Miller was talking with my lawyer, and pretty soon Bill was talking to Elle on the phone. Bill’s a real staple in downtown Nashville. He’s got a lot of big places and he offered to do it. He went to town; he went to work. It’s on the second floor [of Nudie’s Honky Tonk]. He took it on, and the day of the opening, when I walked upstairs, I was amazed by all the work he had done. The main thing is that we want people to enjoy themselves, enjoy my tequila, and some different recipes that we’ve been coming up with. And I want them to enjoy the past and the present of Tanya Tucker. I’m just so thankful for Bill Miller, his wife, and all the people who work with him because I think they did a very good job.
How would you describe the atmosphere of Tanya Tucker’s Tequila Cantina?
[Bill Miller] went into such detail down to the lights that are over the bar, they’re in the colors that my tequila bottles are in. You probably need to like me a little bit because I’m everywhere. There’s stuff that I hadn’t even seen, and I don’t know where he came up with it. You’re going to get a dose of me when you go there. All good pictures, though, I think!
How do you define success?
I guess to finally be able to enjoy the things you have and the things you worked hard to get, and not worry so much about the things you lost. I think that might be success; being happy with what you have accomplished. That’s hard for me to do, because there’s always something else I need to be doing and some other brass ring I need to grasp onto. There’s always something, and I think that success is when you really are satisfied with what all you’ve done.
What advice would you give to your younger self, or to young women who aspire to have a career like yours?
If I was talking to my young self, I would say listen more to my dad and don’t doubt him, not for one second. As far as [women who aspire to have a career like mine], I would say what my dad told me: Don’t take no wooden nickels. Don’t let anybody take you to a place or put you in a position you don’t feel comfortable with and that you don’t want to be in. And stay positive. There’s always going to be a double entendre. A girl’s got to act like a lady, she can’t be mad, she can’t do this, [but a guy can], and, of course, it’s been a problem for a long time for women. We can’t do the same things as men, and we have to work harder. It’s not really fair that they don’t have as much work to do as we do, but we have to find a way around it. Holding your own — there are ways to be a lady and still be a force to be reckoned with. Just don’t take no wooden nickels, stay focused, and hang on to that dream. You don’t have to be in love with what you’ve got to go through to get to that goal, but you have to be in love with your goal and stay in love with your goal. That’s my advice.