Chapel Hart Takes Country Music by Surprise, but Not Mississippi 'Ambassador' Patricia Neely-Dorsey
Just days ago, the country vocal trio, Chapel Hart, was known primarily by their ardent fans. After earning a Group Golden Buzzer on NBC's America's Got Talent, the trio's fan base has grown exponentially and nationally, winning the hearts of AGT viewers, expanding their Facebook following from 30,000 to over 160,000 in just three days and garnering high praise from some of country music's most beloved living legends, including Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn.
In a field in which a variety of vocal groups thrive in an industry dominated by male solo artists, Chapel Hart's prospects were always promising. Tight harmonies combined with an electrifying stage presence had become hallmarks of their performance, but a lot of talented artists try but never quite break into Nashville. Still, the group, comprised of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart and their cousin, Trea Swindle, is a bit different than most other country vocal groups, because each member of the trio is African American and female, unlike mixed groups Lady A and Little Big Town, or the all-female group, The Highwomen. Their uniqueness has become their strongest selling point. Needless to say, breaking into Nashville will be much easier after their recent AGT appearance on Tuesday, 19 July.
In a field in which a variety of vocal groups thrive in an industry dominated by male solo artists, Chapel Hart's prospects were always promising. Tight harmonies combined with an electrifying stage presence had become hallmarks of their performance, but a lot of talented artists try but never quite break into Nashville. Still, the group, comprised of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart and their cousin, Trea Swindle, is a bit different than most other country vocal groups, because each member of the trio is African American and female, unlike mixed groups Lady A and Little Big Town, or the all-female group, The Highwomen. Their uniqueness has become their strongest selling point. Needless to say, breaking into Nashville will be much easier after their recent AGT appearance on Tuesday, 19 July.
Wowing both the live audience and television viewers with their performance of an original song, "You Can Have Him Jolene," a contemporary response to Dolly Parton's "Jolene," the group floored the judges, prompting Simon Cowell to remark, "You may have just broken down the door with this performance." In a statement that has proven prophetic in a short amount of time, AGT judge Howie Mandel said, "I love the song. I love the energy. I love the look. You say country music doesn't look like you. That is your win, because you are going to be the original."
From their vantage point, music journalists have found it difficult to keep up with the chain of events that have followed the group's AGT performance, given the fluid nature of the group's rapid ascent. On Wednesday, July 20, Dolly Parton tweeted, "What a fun new take on my song, @ChapelHartBand! Carl's birthday is today and I'm not notifying Jolene that today is his birthday. #AGT." Then the coal miner's daughter herself, Loretta Lynn, chimed in on Facebook, stating, "Now I'm wondering what you might be able to do with one of my songs!"
Before long, Chapel Hart, even if momentarily, had eclipsed John Rich of Big and Rich fame on the iTunes country chart, prompting the group to tweet, "maybe it's the universe's way of saying we need to tour together!!" Rich congratulated the group "for being #1 on the charts with NO record deal!" As if that were not enough, Chapel Hart is now slated to appear on the Grand Ole Opry. Not bad for a group from Poplarville, Mississippi.
Before long, Chapel Hart, even if momentarily, had eclipsed John Rich of Big and Rich fame on the iTunes country chart, prompting the group to tweet, "maybe it's the universe's way of saying we need to tour together!!" Rich congratulated the group "for being #1 on the charts with NO record deal!" As if that were not enough, Chapel Hart is now slated to appear on the Grand Ole Opry. Not bad for a group from Poplarville, Mississippi.
Chapel Hart has received much praise among their fellow Mississippians, including several notable political leaders, but perhaps no one has shown more enthusiasm than author Patricia Neely-Dorsey, who is a self-described Mississippi ambassador (arguably the state's greatest!) and spends much of her time lauding the virtues of a state that has not always been so virtuous. Still, she is a proud Mississippian who happens to be an African American woman. While acknowledging the past, Neely-Dorsey looks to the future with optimism for all residents of her state, especially Chapel Hart whose "name is buzzing EVERYWHERE!" as she puts it.
"We are so overwhelmingly proud of Chapel Hart. Mississippi is overflowing with talent. We all know that! We have produced some of the most renowned artists, playwrights, singers and actors in the world. The group members of Chapel Hart are poised to take their place among the greats, in a genre where, as one of the group members said, not too many necessarily look like them," Neely-Dorsey says. Recalling Mississippian Charley Pride and how he broke down color barriers, Neely-Dorsey adds, "Now, Chapel Hart is breaking down doors in the female country music realm. In one night, the amazingly talented young ladies captured the heart of a nation! I love that they know how good they really are! When asked where they could see themselves in five years, the answer was 'World Domination'! With that kind of talent, it is surely within reach! Gotta love it…and them!!!"
"We are so overwhelmingly proud of Chapel Hart. Mississippi is overflowing with talent. We all know that! We have produced some of the most renowned artists, playwrights, singers and actors in the world. The group members of Chapel Hart are poised to take their place among the greats, in a genre where, as one of the group members said, not too many necessarily look like them," Neely-Dorsey says. Recalling Mississippian Charley Pride and how he broke down color barriers, Neely-Dorsey adds, "Now, Chapel Hart is breaking down doors in the female country music realm. In one night, the amazingly talented young ladies captured the heart of a nation! I love that they know how good they really are! When asked where they could see themselves in five years, the answer was 'World Domination'! With that kind of talent, it is surely within reach! Gotta love it…and them!!!"
Chapel Hart (@ChapelHartBand). "Awe snap!! Taking up the top 2 spots with one of our favorite people in the WHOLE world @johnrich https://twitter.com/johnrich maybe it's the universe's way of saying we need to tour together!!" Twitter, 22 July 2022, https://twitter.com/ChapelHartBand/status/1550510634713972737
Lynn, Loretta. "I love it, ladies. Now I'm wondering what you might be able to do with one of my songs! Chapel Hart #AGT #breakingthrough #girlpower #stillwomanenough" Facebook, 20 July 2022, https://www.facebook.com/LorettaLynnOfficial
Neely-Dorsey, Patricia. Direct message to Greg Freeman. 21 July 2022
Parton, Dolly (@DollyParton). "What a fun new take on my song, @ChapelHartBand! Carl's birthday is today so I think I'll hang on to him, and I'm not notifying Jolene that today is his birthday #AGT" Twitter, 20 July 2022, https://twitter.com/DollyParton/status/1549793699420405760
Rich, John (@johnrich). "Congrats to my girls @ChapelHartBand for being #1 on the charts with NO record deal! Well deserved! #HardWorkPaysOff" Twitter, 22 July 2022, https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1550530322428993536
28 July 2022. By Greg Freeman. ListenHereNow.com
Lynn, Loretta. "I love it, ladies. Now I'm wondering what you might be able to do with one of my songs! Chapel Hart #AGT #breakingthrough #girlpower #stillwomanenough" Facebook, 20 July 2022, https://www.facebook.com/LorettaLynnOfficial
Neely-Dorsey, Patricia. Direct message to Greg Freeman. 21 July 2022
Parton, Dolly (@DollyParton). "What a fun new take on my song, @ChapelHartBand! Carl's birthday is today so I think I'll hang on to him, and I'm not notifying Jolene that today is his birthday #AGT" Twitter, 20 July 2022, https://twitter.com/DollyParton/status/1549793699420405760
Rich, John (@johnrich). "Congrats to my girls @ChapelHartBand for being #1 on the charts with NO record deal! Well deserved! #HardWorkPaysOff" Twitter, 22 July 2022, https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1550530322428993536
28 July 2022. By Greg Freeman. ListenHereNow.com
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