Whitney Duncan

Whitney Duncan (born August 3, 1984) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She finished as the fifth place finalist on the fifth season of Nashville Star. She has released one studio album and has charted on the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart with "When I Said I Would" and "Skinny Dippin'," as well as a Christmas single and guest appearance on a Kenny Rogers single which was released before her Nashville Star appearance. In the fall of 2011, Duncan competed on the 23rd season of Survivor, Survivor: South Pacific, where she ultimately finished in 9th place, becoming the fourth member of the jury. In the fall of 2014, Duncan and her then-fiancé, fellow Survivor: South Pacific castaway Keith Tollefson, competed together on the 25th season of The Amazing Race, where they placed in 8th place.

Early life Duncan was born on August 3, 1984, in Scotts Hill, Tennessee, a town consisting of only 900 people. Her father is a state environmentalist and her mother is a schoolteacher. Her grandfather introduced her to music. Duncan began singing at her church, later performing in local talent shows, fairs, and festivals. She would also travel to the neighboring states of Kentucky and Missouri to perform at events. In her early teens, she began to travel to Nashville to perform at local clubs, including Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. In 2006, she opened for the CMA Music festival, performing the national anthem and singing the next day as well.

In 2007, Duncan participated on the USA network show Nashville Star and self-released her debut album. After coming in fifth place, she signed to Warner Bros. Records Nashville. Her first solo single, "When I Said I Would" was released from the label in August 2008,

Survivor Beginning September 2011, Duncan appeared as a contestant on the CBS reality television series, Survivor: South Pacific, as part of the Savaii tribe. Duncan quickly formed a very close, romantic bond with her fellow tribemate Keith Tollefson, and the two teamed up with Jim Rice and another pair within the tribe—Ozzy Lusth and Elyse Umemoto—early on in the game. At the urging of Rice, Duncan cooperated in the elimination of Umemoto to limit Lusth's power.

At the merge, Duncan and the rest of the old Savaiis were betrayed by former tribemate John Cochran, which led to the entire former Savaii tribe being voted out one by one. Duncan herself was voted out on Day 27 after having barely lost a challenge that would have kept her safe for another round; Duncan and another one of her former Savaii colleagues Dawn Meehan then lost the Redemption Island duel the next day against Lusth, officially eliminating both Duncan and Meehan from the game. Duncan finished ninth overall and was the fourth member of the jury, where she was later one of the six jury members who voted for Sophie Clarke to win the season.

Several years later, in the official issue of CBS Watch magazine commemorating the 15th anniversary of Survivor, Duncan was voted by viewers as the fifth most attractive female contestant in Survivor history.

Personal life Duncan was a first cousin to Holly Bobo, who was murdered in 2011, in a case that received national media attention.

Duncan dated actor/musician Christian Kane from approximately 2006 to early 2010. His 2010 song "American Made" makes reference to her as "a Tennessee Girl that will always have a place in my heart." Duncan co-wrote (with her cousin Jonathan Singleton) "Making Circles," which also appeared on Kane's 2010 album, The House Rules.

Duncan married musician Donny Fallgatter on August 1, 2010, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, after two months of dating. The couple's divorce was granted in November 2011. The two married in July 2014. Whitney had her first child in 2022 with Keith Tollefson

She and Tollefson, as an engaged couple, raced together on The Amazing Race 25, where they were the fourth team eliminated on the fifth leg of the race after being U-Turned by the mother/daughter team of Shelley and Nici, finishing in eighth place.

Discography Studio albums Title Album detailsPeak chartpositionsUS CountryUS HeatWhitney Duncan Release date: June 19, 2007 Label: self released — —Right Road Now Release date: April 20, 2010 Label: Warner Bros. Nashville 41 21One Shot Release date: February 12, 2013 Label: self released — —"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays Title Album detailsSelections from Right Road Now Release date: December 23, 2008 Label: Warner Bros. NashvilleYoung in America Release date: February 11, 2011 Label: Warner Bros. NashvilleHeartbreaker Release date: January 8, 2021 Label: Fire Sign Music

Singles

Guest singles Year SingleArtist Peak positionsAlbumUS Country 2004"My World Is Over" Kenny Rogers 6042 Ultimate Hits 2010"Just Knowing You Love Me" Jimmy Wayne 59Sara Smile

Other charted songs YearSinglePeak positionsAlbumUS Country 2009"All I Want for Christmas Is You"60 Gift Wrapped: 20 Songs That Keep on Giving!

Music videos YearVideo Director 2004"My World Is Over" (with Kenny Rogers) Shaun Silva 2008"When I Said I Would" Steven Goldmann/Eric Welch 2009"Skinny Dippin'" Roman White 2010"Right Road Now" Trey Fanjoy 2014"Roll All Night" Marcel/Whitney Duncan2020"All She Wants"Jacob Moyer"Lightweight"

Singles written by Duncan Year Title Artist Album 2004 "My World Is Over" Kenny Rogers 42 Ultimate Hits 2006 "I Found It In You" Ashley Gearing Maybe It's Time 2008 "My Roots Are Showing" Crystal Shawanda Dawn of a New Day 2013 "Young in America" Danielle Bradbery Danielle Bradbery