Sisters Danica, 33, and Devynn Hart, 26, along with their cousin Trea Swindle, 34, have taken their Mississippi roots—growing up in a faith-filled home of ministers—and mixed it with a Louisiana flair to win hearts in country music. Singing professionally since 2018 but together since childhood, they’ve turned their love for music into a fulfilling career that’s a family adventure.
The band was inducted into Country Music TV’s (CMT) “Next Women of Country,” joining the ranks of other amazing up-and-comers in the genre, and they’ve gone global, earning the honor of “International Group of the Year” and landing “International Song of the Year” in Scotland for their take on the classic “Jolene” song made famous by country icon Dolly Parton (and even more infamous by Queen Bey).
Their three-part harmony and soulful swag went viral when they wowed TV audiences and judges alike on America’s Got Talent in 2022, with the same song, “You Can Have Him Jolene,” proving to many that they’re in the industry to stay.
xoNecole caught up with the trio, taking a break to chat while on tour and gearing up for their upcoming Christmas album, to talk about faith, food, and longevity in country music and beyond:
xoNecole: You are a talented group of family members. What attracted you to choose the genre of country music?
Trea Swindle: We grew up in Poplarville, Mississippi, so country music was, kind of, just a way of life, and aside from that, growing up, it really didn’t matter where you were. You were going to hear country music all day, every day, from the classrooms to the grocery stores, to run on the bus, just anywhere you go. It was the one genre of music that really resonated with the way that we live.
xoN: Yeah, people think that Black people and country music is something new, but it’s always been common. I grew up between Virginia and New York, hearing and loving country music since childhood. So, you all had a major early career-boosting moment on 'America's Got Talent.' What was the one major takeaway from that experience from each of you when it comes to growth and your personal experience at that time?
Devynn Hart: I believe that one of the main things that we took away from AGT, that entire experience, was just learning to trust our gut and going with our heart. When we initially went to AGT for auditions, we didn't even plan to sing “You Can Have Him Jolene.” We initially had “Nine To Five” set up. It was right until the very last moment that we were like, ‘You know what, if we're gonna do this, let's go with the song that is ours, and let's take a chance on ourselves.’ That was such a big thing for us. And I think from there moving forward. We've just kind of taken that same idea of learning to trust our gut moving forward.
Danica Hart: We’d been playing that song for a year in Nashville before we got to AGT. And, you know, we'd been trying to get people to hear it. We were trying to pitch it. The thing that resonated with us is that, from that very moment, we thought that this should be a song to say, after 30 years, that you can just have him, Jolene. You can have him.
This song was so special to us. And, like, we were really willing to stand 10 toes down, so, [in] the moment, we knew that this was special, and it would be special if we performed it. We were going to have to take a chance on ourselves. And if we failed— if the judges hated it—at least it was our song and we could walk away with the information that we had.
"The thing that resonated with us is that, from that very moment, we thought that this should be a song to say, after 30 years, that you can just have him, Jolene. You can have him."
xoN: Well, it was a good decision because it was definitely a hit. Now, what's the best advice that you've gotten about succeeding in the business, now that you all are really picking up speed and you know, have been in the industry?
Trea: Darius Rucker (multiplatinum singer-songwriter of Hootie & the Blowfish fame) reached out to us even before AGT— before a lot of people knew who we were. He’s reminded us to, one, stay true to ourselves and to not be afraid to take chances and be open to new opportunities— to be confident in yourself enough to know when to say no to an opportunity that's not right to you. And so it's all about authenticity. And it's all about you know, what's going to serve you and your career.
Danica: Yeah, he tells us the importance of finding the right team, finding the people who fight for you, finding the people who work hard for you. Sometimes it's saying no to team members. It [could be] people who you like but they may not work hard for you.
And so it's finding the people who are knowledgeable about the way that you're doing it, you know, as independent artists. Having the right team is important. We don't have a very big team, but we've got we've got people who work hard for us.
Joseph Okpako/WireImage/Getty
xoN: Oh, yes. And that was evident because your team reached out to us when they saw you all were mentioned in a roundup we ran. That meant a lot. Speaking of the best advice, as Black women in country music, what is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced early in your careers and how have you approached overcoming it?
Danica: I think the hardest thing about being Black women in the industry, the first part, is just about being women. I think that country music has seen, over the last 100 years, that if you can take a man and put him in a T-shirt and tight jeans, and put them on stage, people will buy.
You always hear about the statistics of women being played on radio and women, you know, not really having the same opportunities as men. And like I said, I think it's just done out of familiarity. They know what sells tickets and what makes money. That's the hard part and then also being Black.
[We’re] three women and [we’re] Black, you know, so I think sometimes we sit on the outskirts of the music industry only because it's not something that any of the labels have ever done. They've never signed or booked a Black female trio.
Sometimes we have to work a little extra hard to get out there, you know… trying to find those keys that unlock the doors that aren't accessible to us right away.
It’s been obstacles, but Trea has a saying where she goes, ‘We turn no to no-tivation.’ So, if they say, ‘Oh, sorry. There's not enough seats at this event or that event. And we go okay, no problem. And then we find a friend, we make a friend, and I tell you, it’s crazy how God always works things out in our favor.
xoN: Love that term, ‘no-tivation’! Now, let’s get into your pre-performance routine. What do you all do to prep before shows?
Devynn: A lot of people always think that eating before the show—they can't do it because of their nerves, but if I don't eat before a show, it is not gonna be nice. [Laughs] I gotta eat before the show.
Trea: Yes! [Laughs]
Danica: We also pray before we go on. There's something about that prayer before going out on stages that centers us. Our stage time is our ministry.
xoN: Love it! Prayer and food—a good combo. You can’t go wrong. Now, what do you all want your legacy to be in country music?
Danica: We want women and little girls to say, ‘Look, if they can do it, I can.’ People told us we were too old to be trying to make a career in music. They told me I was too big and Trea was too skinny and too bald-headed. Anything you can think about, they’ve said, yet here we are.
And so if you can get over all those obstacles, you can get over what people believe about you, and hone in to what you believe about yourself. I want to show people that it can be done and you can do good. You can be good in the world.
For more on Chapel Hart, visit their website and follow them on Instagram @chapelhartband.
Featured image by Taylor Hill / Contributor/Getty Images
RELATED
Well, another way of saying “everywhere you go, there you are” is using the math term “common denominator” — and today, what we’re going to attempt to tackle is, why is it that some of us, if we stepped back a moment to take a very real and honest assessment of our dating life, do we always end up with the same kind of guy? One who really isn’t the best for us; sometimes, not even close.
Before getting into some questions that I think can help you get to the answer, let me just say that this is definitely one of the kinds of pieces that may step on at least your pinky toe before it’s all said and done. At the same time, although this might not be the most comfortable of reads, keep in mind what the late poet, singer, and publisher Tuli Kupferberg once said, “When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.”
And so, if when it comes to the caliber of men you’ve dated, what you’ve been doing is revealing that your pattern is not really working for your ultimate good, spend a bit of time trying to unpack just why that could be the case — why, at the end of the day, you truly are the common denominator in it all.
How Self-Aware Are You?
GiphyAbout five years ago, I penned an article for the site entitled “These Are The Things Self-Aware People Do Daily.” You know, of all of the things to be in this life, prioritizing self-awareness is king because self-aware people do things like hold themselves accountable, know their strengths and weaknesses, identify their triggers, have good boundaries, self-reflect, pay attention to their own “blind spots” — and they can — eh hem — take feedback and constructive criticism pretty well.
That last one? If you’re constantly in a hamster wheel or even a cul-de-sac when it comes to men, be honest with yourself: did your family, friends, hell, even your co-workers warn you about some of the guys you dated, and you found yourself either defending, deflecting or getting offended? Yeah, self-aware people don’t get down like that because they would rather have peace and be wrong than act like they are always right and remain in chaos.
So yeah, if you’re always in some foolishness or even in relationships that are simply a counterproductive waste of time, pondering how self-aware you actually are is a really good place to start. Self-reflect. Know your weaknesses. Listen to what others have to say about your tendencies. All of this can do you a whole lot of good.
How Humble Are You?
GiphySociety is a wild place, boy. The reason why I say that is because, while it’s out here acting like humility is a bad thing, Scripture says, “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4) And why is humility such a vital spiritual attribute? Because, when you’re humble — you’re grateful; you’re teachable; you’re open to seeing things outside of your own perspective; you’re compassionate and empathetic; you’re flexible; you’re forgiving, and you’re able to release your ego so that you can accept what you need over what you want.
What you need over what you want. Chile, if that doesn’t keep some people in cyclic stuff, I honestly don’t know what does. There’s a client that I have right now who only contacts me when she’s basically blown up her life because she constantly gets caught up in a man’s looks and bedroom performance. When I tell her that she needs to stop making that #1 and #2 of things to look for in a relationship, she “uh-huh's” me and then does what she wants to do anyway — only for it to end up wreaking all sorts of havoc…again.
It’s another message for another time about how some of us could stand to look within to see if wanting a fine man above all else is more about validating some deep-rooted insecurities that we have about our own looks (ouch). For now, I’ll just say that if your ego is out here telling you that looks and sexual performance should trump things like character and consistency, it is LYING to you. If you chose to heed the humble side of yourself, you would know that.
And this actually brings me to my next question.
How Stuck Are You in Your “Type”?
GiphyThe reason why I wrote “According To Experts, We All Have A ‘Type’” back in the day is because it’s true — pretty much all of us have a type which is pretty much a preference; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that either. At the same time, I’m advising, from very up close and personal experience, that it’s a good idea to spend some time pondering “the origin story” of where your type came from.
Me? I’m always gonna be down for a very tall, hella chocolate, basketball (or soccer) build Black man. However, I’m a sexual abuse survivor and my molester looked a lot like that, so during the healing process of what he did to me, I had to factor in his influence. Plus, my first love also fits the physical mold and he definitely had quite an impact on my life. So…see what I mean? My type didn’t just come out of nowhere. Yes, sometimes your type may have some trauma or drama attached to it. And yes, that might be really uncomfortable to think about; still, that doesn’t mean it’s not true.
Now my late fiancé? He was right at about 6’ and, complexion-wise, he was lighter than I am. He treated me better than most of the men of my past, though — and even though he definitely pursued me for a while to get me to consider us beyond being friends, because I took a risk outside of my type, I learned what it was like to be loved in a healthy way. And what that did for me was it taught me to remain open outside of my standard type. I still like a tall-ass Godiva man, chile (and don’t let him have a beard and be in a tailored suit!). I don’t limit myself to that package, though. To do so would be severely limiting — potentially tragic even.
How Healed Are You?
Giphy“Healed” is a word that comes up A LOT in the social media space. When it comes to relationships, specifically, it’s important to ask yourself if you are healed from your past because, if you aren’t, you very well could be reliving it over and over…and over again, whether you realize it (or choose to accept it) or not.
Just so that we’re all on the same page, the word “heal” means things like healthy, sound, and whole. Synonyms for the word include improve, restore, mend, soothe, and rehabilitate. Signs that you have healed from past hurts of a relationship (or a series of relationships) include you don’t think of them with anger or bitterness; you can see the silver linings from the experience; you’ve forgiven them for things that they did wrong (or that simply hurt you — and no, that’s not always one and the same), and you don’t pick (or avoid) other people to be in your life solely based on what someone else did to you.
What I mean by that last one is an unhealed woman may say something like, “I don’t want to do [such and such] for a first date. That’s what my ex liked to do.” The new guy isn’t him, so why does he have to be beholden to your past? Or, “I don’t trust men who won’t let me go through their phone. That’s how I found out my ex was cheating.” You know, for all of the women who like to play a non-animated form ofInspector Gadget (the real ones know), they sure don’t want their phones inspected as much as they like to do all of the inspecting. SMDH. Anyway, I don’t go through phones. For what? I don’t pay the bill and I’m not anyone’s parent. And so, your next guy not preferring it either? That doesn’t automatically mean that he’s up to no good — he may just want his boundaries respected. An unhealed person may not accept that. A healed one tends to, though.
And how can being unhealed play a direct role in you choosing the same guys over and over again? It’s weird because, sometimes you will go back to what’s familiar to you — because the new guy is such a risk, you’d prefer to “stick to the devil you know” than take a chance on someone who rolls very differently. It’s a cryptic way of remaining the common denominator in your dating dynamics. Oh, but it happens all of the time, chile.
What Makes a Man WRONG for You? Specifically?
GiphyOkay, with a lot of the inner work out of the way, how do you even come to the conclusion that someone (or several people) is wrong for you? Because you know what? Once you’ve done some real healing (and serious maturing), you can oftentimes find yourself accepting the fact that just because someone may not be right for you, that doesn’t automatically or necessarily make them a bad person. No, not at all.
Although the word “wrong” can mean that something or someone isn’t morally right, wrong also means things like erroneous, not suitable or appropriate, not in accordance with certain requirements, or — and please catch it — out of order (which sometimes consists of the right thing happening at the wrong time). So, if it does seem like you keep choosing (because it is always a choice; that is also where accountability comes in) men who aren’t appropriate, aren’t in accordance with your needs or standards, or who aren’t what you need at the time — why is that? Is it rooted in fear? Impatience? Settling? What?
I have had enough clients go through this to know that it’s not good enough to be abstract about someone being “wrong” for you. You need to set aside one weekend, get some wine and a fresh journal, and really get into what wrong looks like. For instance, if you keep lowering your standards (which is the wrong thing to do, by definition), why is that? Because no matter how wrong the guy may ultimately turn out to be, what you have to be willing to accept is — again — you chose him. Why do you choose what’s wrong? Because, more times than not, some red (or at least orange) flags were waving long before the relationship came crashing down; oftentimes, they reveal themselves within the first couple of dates. You just chose to ignore them.
One more.
Do You Know a Good Man When You See One? You Sure?
GiphyAs we close all of this out, when you get a chance, please check out “Question: Is The Man In Your Life Good 'TO' You? Good 'FOR' You? Or...Both?” Learning the difference between “to” and “for” took my own relational processing to an entirely new and freeing level. And you know what? Back to the healing point, another way to know that you’ve healed is you don’t generalize men. Meaning, that if you’re out here declaring that there aren’t any good ones, that’s not true; you’re just jaded (I mean, it’s the truth), and that head and energy space is affecting your judgment and perspective.
That said, if you’re constantly selecting the wrong men, ask yourself if you even know what a good man looks like (cue India.Arie’s “Good Man”). Again, by definition, good means things like morally excellent, right, kind, friendly, benevolent, educated, financially sound (not rich, stable and responsible…goodness), genuine, reliable, dependable, responsible, attractive, warm, intimate — satisfactory to the purpose (yes, that’s a literal definition).
For a man to be good for you, you need to know what purpose he is to serve at this particular point in your life because if, for example, all men seem to do, in your eyes, is use you for sex, why are you prioritizing sex over an emotional connection if the latter is the purpose that you seek right now? A lot of women can stop being the common denominator when it comes to choosing the wrong man if they 1) become the good that they seek and 2) do not betray the purpose behind why they even desire a relationship in the first place.
____
I know. When things aren’t going your way when it comes to matters of the heart, it can be easy to always say it’s the man’s fault. If there’s a pattern, though, please be a bit more self-reflective than that.
Once you do, you’d be amazed by how much about you shifts — to where the wrong guys can’t even get close to you, in the way that they used to, anymore.
Because you cease to be the “common denominator” you once were.
And how wonderful is that?
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