Who Is Tanner Adell? 5 Things To Know About The Burgeoning Country Star
The 23-year-old rose to fame last July when she released her album Buckle Bunny, and the song with the same name began circulating on social media. Adell's success catapulted when it was announced that she would be one of the many Black country stars featured on Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album. Adell, alongside Tiera Kennedy, Brittney Spencer, and Reyna Roberts, was on Beyoncé's cover of "Blackbird." "Blackbird" was initially released by The Beatles in 1968.
In light of Adell's achievements, xoNecole is unveiling five facts about the "See You In Church'' crooner, including her family life, the inspiration behind her songs, and her struggles with social anxiety.
Adell Was Adopted And Raised Mormon
Before her success in the music industry, Adell had humble beginnings. The singer was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on June 27, 2000. Shortly after her birth, Adell was adopted and raised by a Mormon family.
Over the years, the "Love You a Little Bit" singer split her time between her family home in Manhattan Beach, California, and Star Valley, Wyoming, as she spent summers with her grandmother.
In an interview with BET, Adell revealed despite no longer identifying as a Mormon, her faith remained a pillar of strength and guided her through dark times.
"I've always had very strong faith in a higher power and the patience to understand that there's a plan and timing for everything, "she explained. "Having a spiritual foundation has gotten me through those really hard moments."
Adell Reveals That Her Biological Father Is An Atlanta Rapper And Shares How Her Unique Journey Influenced Her Music
Although there is limited information about the songstress' biological and adopted parents, Adell told BET that she met her biological father and described him as a "rapper in the nineties in Atlanta."
Adell has incorporated her unique journey with her biological and adoptive parents into her music. In a feature with Flaunt Magazine last year, Adell shared that her music is influenced by her experiences growing up as a mixed woman in California and Wyoming.
"I finally tried to fuse both sides of myself, and I've always been half and half. I'm half Black and half white," she said. "I was adopted, so it's like I have half of my biological family and half of my adoptive family. I've always been right in the middle, back and forth between California and Wyoming. I finally just kind of accepted that in myself. And I think you can hear that in my music."
Adell Joked About Becoming A Country Singer
The “Trailer Park Barbie” songstress shared during an interview with The Jennifer Hudson Showthat she began to take her craft more seriously after receiving a rave review from a friend for a song she wrote.
"It's definitely been a bit of a journey. But I kind of used to joke about it. I've always loved country music, and I'd say, you know, maybe I should do a country song, and then me and my friends would be like, 'me, no, I could never,'" she recounted.
"But it kind of just got to the point where I sat down and was like, I'm going to purposely write a country song, and I sent it to my best friend, and he was like, 'Why are you not making country music? You should be making country music.' And I said, 'I think you're right, and so I started making country music.'"
In addition to taking her songwriting abilities seriously, Adell shared that her career began to take off when she decided to move to Nashville.
"Got a call from a friend who lived in Nashville; I had never been. And he said, I think you should come out here and write with some people, and I just knew in my heart that was where I was supposed to be. Packed up all of my stuff in a couple days and sold everything I had to go to Nashville, and I guess the rest is history."
Adell’s "Whiskey Blues" Is Based On A True Story
In the same interview with Jennifer Hudson, Adell detailed how a real-life scenario inspired her song “Whiskey Blues” and highlights her “healing process” following a failed relationship.
“It’s a true story, the reason why I love country music so much is it’s real people with real stories, and I have a lot to say,” she said. “‘Whiskey Blues’ was a relationship that went south that I didn’t quite cope with the way that maybe I should have. I was born in Lexington, Kentucky so like bourbon and whiskey, it’s just in my blood. It gets to me sometimes. But that’s where it kind of comes from, is just my healing process.”
As for the “Whiskey Blues” video concept, Adell revealed that even though the rage room theme wasn’t the original idea, it all came together because she was able to add an emotional aspect to it.
“We shot a music video for it. I just wanted to go to a rage room,” she said. She later continued, “I just called up my girls, and I was like, ‘I had all these ideas for a music video, but I really just want to go break stuff, and so we headed on over to the rage room. The whole video is us smashing things.”
Adell Used To Suffer From Severe Social Anxiety
Over the years, as Adell worked diligently to make a name for herself, she also attempted to overcome anxiety. In a discussion with Utah Valley University, her alma mater, Adell, shared that she developed social anxiety at a young age despite the praise she received for her singing abilities.
"Although my singing performances and encores reverberated throughout the house, I was extremely shy," she said. "If a family member walked in on me playing the guitar or singing, I would clam up, fall silent, and stare at them until they left my room."
Adell credited enrolling in Utah Valley University's commercial music program and her vocal coach, Nancy, with giving her the confidence to pursue her dreams.
“Throughout the experience, I held on to what Nancy said in my first few voice lessons: A lot of famous singers suffered with performance anxiety, but as soon as they grew fully confident in their vocal ability, they rarely had any problems. I kept remembering her words with each performance, and eventually, my anxiety just faded away.”
She added, “[Utah Valley University's] commercial program is very special. It gave me a foundation to build my confidence and heighten my ability as a musician.”
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Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
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After Decades-Long Career, Terri J. Vaughn Is Finally The Main Character: Exclusive
Terri J. Vaughn first captured our attention in the late ‘90s as Lovita Alizay Jenkins on The Steve Harvey Show. Decades later, she is starring in her very own series, She The People, which is now available to stream on Netflix.
The political sitcom, which she co-created with Niya Palmer and later teamed up with Tyler Perry Studios, is about a Black woman named Antoinette Dunkerson who runs for lieutenant governor of Mississippi. She wins and becomes the state’s first Black lieutenant governor. Now, she’s forced to balance working with a racist and sexist governor while also trying to keep her family from running amok.
According to the beloved actress, this project was a long time coming. “I’ve been trying to get my own television series for like 20 years, pounding the pavement, meeting with people, getting clothes, being lied to, just a whole bunch of stuff,” she says in an exclusive interview with xoNecole.
“But just keep going, because this is what I do. This is what I love, and I know how important it is for us to continue to show up and make sure that we are seen, make sure that our voices are heard. For several reasons. I just never give up. So here I am, 20 years later, finally sold my show.”
She The People is inspired by the true story of London Breed, who became the first Black female mayor of San Francisco, Terri’s hometown. And to help make the show more authentic, the Cherish the Day actress tapped former Atlanta mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms to come on as a producer.'“I’ve been trying to get my own television series for like 20 years, pounding the pavement, meeting with people, getting clothes, being lied to, just a whole bunch of stuff."
After bringing the former mayor aboard, it was time to pitch again. And this time, the companies were pitching them. Ultimately, Terri decided to work with Tyler Perry on the series.
“We decided to do it with Tyler for several reasons. I love that. Well, most of the companies we met with were Black-owned companies, but he was the only studio,” she explains. “Tyler is like Walt Disney. That's literally what he is. He has the studio, he has the content. He operates just like Walt Disney.”
And thanks to the cast, the show is nothing short of laughs. The series also stars social media creator Jade Novah as Antoinette’s crazy cousin/ assistant, Shamika, Family Mattersstar Jo Marie Payton as Anotinette’s mom, Cleo, and Terri’s husband, Karon Riley, who plays Michael, her driver and love interest.
While we’ve watched Terri’s career blossom in various ways. From directing to producing, and playing diverse characters, the mom of two says her The Steve Harvey Show character will always be her favorite.
“Well, Lovita was definitely my favorite, especially for my time, the age and everything that I was. Now as a grown ass woman over 50, Antoinette Dunkerson is everything that I've wanted to play. She's everything. She's a mother of two teenagers. She's divorced, so she's co-parenting with her ex-husband. She has to wrangle in a very eclectic family,” she says.
“So I like playing characters that are really flawed and trying to figure it out and doing their best to try to figure it. And she's very flawed and she is trying to figure it out, and she fucks up sometimes. But her heart and what she's trying to do and what her vision is and purpose, it's all for the people. I mean, she the people. She’s for the people, she is the people.”
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