Brittney Spencer

Brittney Spencer (born September 8, 1988) is an American country singer–songwriter. In 2020 Spencer received notable attention following a viral Twitter video showing Spencer singing a cover of a song by the Highwomen. The video drew praise from fellow country artists and prompted the release of her first extended play (EP) titled Compassion. She has also released several singles, including 2021's "Sober & Skinny". Spencer has since performed on the Country Music Association Awards and has embarked on a world tour.

Early life Spencer, who is of African-American heritage, is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. She developed an interest in music from singing in church. "Church, for me, was very cultural. It’s spiritual, but also very cultural. Families like mine, we couldn’t really afford singing lessons or anything like that, so I just sang in the church all the time," she told Baltimore magazine. She was raised as an African Methodist Episcopal. Spencer also came from a musical family. Her father was part of a quartet band. She attended magnet schools in her teen years, including the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. During this time she learned to play guitar and piano. Spencer also took vocal lessons from a coach who taught her how to sing in a recording studio. She began by singing background vocals for R&B and gospel artists including Jason Nelson. In February 2013, Spencer moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue country music full-time. While attending the university she worked as a vocal coach in a program dedicated to students from low-income homes. She also found work as a background singer and eventually toured with Christopher Cross and Carrie Underwood.

In 2020 Spencer received significant attention after posting a cover of The Highwomen's "Crowded Table" on Twitter. The video received more than 150,000 views and re-tweeted by Maren Morris and Amanda Shires who praised Spencer's performance. In 2020, Spencer released her debut extended play (EP) titled Compassion. The project included several songs including "Damn Right, You're Wrong" and "My Perfect Life". During this time, she also launched her first tour titled "In a Perfect World". In June 2021, Spencer released a new single called "Sober & Skinny". In late 2021, Spencer performed alongside Mickey Guyton and Madeline Edwards on the 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards. The trio sang a track off Guyton's Remember Her Name album called "Love My Hair". She is expecting to release her first full-length album in 2022. In March 2022 she was nominated by the CMT Music Awards, her first award from a major industry.

In November 2022, Spencer signed a major label recording contract with Elektra Records. An extended play was released the following day, featuring original material and a cover of The Chicks's "Cowboy Take Me Away".

Musical style and influences Spencer told American Songwriter that her musical style is diverse because of the different artists and songwriters she is influenced by: "I feel like I have a really wide stretch of what influences me, which is probably why it still made my songs sound so different." Released: January 19, 2024 Label: Elektra Formats: Digital

Extended plays + List of EPs, showing relevant details Title EP details Compassion Released: December 4, 2020 Label: Common Exchange Formats: Digital If I Ever Get There: A Day at Blackbird Studio Released: November 4, 2022 Label: Elektra Formats: Digital

Singles

Other album appearances + List of additional album appearances, showing all relevant details Title Year Artist(s) Album "Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)"2021 The Highwomen and Madeline EdwardsBorn This Way The Tenth Anniversary "Midnight Train to Georgia" "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" Jason Isbell and the 400 UnitGeorgia Blue "Lonely at Night" 2022 Amanda ShiresTake It Like a Man "Blackbiird" 2024 Beyoncé, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell and Tiera KennedyCowboy Carter

Music videos + List of music videos, showing year released and director Title Year Director(s) "Sober & Skinny" 2021 Americana Music Honors & Awards Herself Emerging Artist of the Year 2024CMT Music Awards"Bigger Than The Song" Female Breakthrough Video of the Year People's Choice Country Awards"Blackbiird" The Collaboration Song of 2024 The Cover Song of 2024