'America's Got Talent' on NBC: Who are Chapel Hart? New Orleans family trio puts its own stamp on country music
Chapel Hart began in New Orleans, then expanded to a large portion of Nashville, and finally spread to the rest of the world. This week on 'America's Got Talent,' the trio will take the stage to show why they are the next great thing in country music.
Chapel Hart will perform in NBC's 'America's Got Talent' on Tuesday, July 19. To honor the occasion, the female trio is hosting a viewing party in Mississippi. Fans are encouraged to watch their local listings to see how they perform and whether they advance. Continue reading to find out about their country music journey and what they've been doing to be ready for the auditions.
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Who are Chapel Hart?
The Poplarville locals, sisters Devynn Hart and Danica Hart, and their cousin Trea Swindle, began their musical journey in 2018. After some brainstorming, they named themselves Chapel Hart after a church in their hometown and decided to take their act on the road. They have since proved that they are a true force to be reckoned with.
The members of the band grew up listening to country music and like the art of storytelling. They have beautiful harmonies and endearing personalities, along with a solid foundation in the genre. Their tunes exemplify country music with a beautiful spiritual undertone. According to Swindle, they are "three of 108 first cousins," and one of the few stations they could hear at home was country music. It was literally always around them, and when they discovered that they all appreciated the storytelling of the genre, it was what spoke to them the most. It hasn't been an easy road for the ladies, but they've found a way to gift wrap their Mississippi heritage and Louisiana spunk and share it with audiences around the world. They believe they are discovering that when you are your most honest self, that is what shows through.
The band already has a large fan base, regularly performs, and has released two studio albums. The ladies are now ready to tug at the heartstrings of 'America's Got Talent' viewers. “I think we are also preparing for AGT, I guess it's hard trying to figure out what do we want to sing, what are we going to sing, I think that we are going to try to go for original music. So, you know, I think that if you can present your music to America, and they go ‘wow, we love it’ or ‘wow, we hate it.’ It’s a true definition of what kind of music you have,” they told News 25.
Chapel Hart's album 'Out the Mud' was released in 2019 and garnered some attention. 'Jesus & Alcohol,' however, is their most successful hit to date. It's already the most-played song on Spotify and the most-viewed YouTube video for the trio. 'Jesus & Alcohol' was written in late 2019 in Nashville in a "tiny, tiny, tiny" hotel room, according to Swindle. Devynn came up with the alliteration — Bible, Bourbon, and Breakup — which rapidly grew into the song's current shape, replete with her idea. And it is indeed grounded in reality.
'Jesus & Alcohol' receives a significant boost from Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, who plays guitar and features in the video officiating a wedding that never happens. Gibbons is an ordained clergyman who has officiated at multiple weddings. Connections in the industry brought them together, and Gibbons instantly signed on after hearing about the group, which claims to have officially adopted him. He even showed up at a live performance. “Chapel Hart is doing a genuine, three-girl groundbreaking thing which deserves encouragement. They are obviously possessed of great talent, and their decision to apply it is one that can be respected,” Gibbons says. "To quote ZZ Top from our own song, 'Legs,' 'They've got voices and know how to utilize 'em.' And country music has benefited as a result."
Country is, indeed, the glue that holds everything together. Chapel Hart's sound, on the other hand, delves far into other genres. On the fiery 'Cry for Me,' Danica invokes Etta James. 'Wheels Are Wings' has a classic girl-group scrappiness to it. And 'Let's Truck' has a distinct Gretchen Wilson vibe about it. The trio met in New Orleans, where Swindle originally settled about a decade ago. She was soon joined by Danica and, finally, Devynn, and they began busking on Royal Street, which is famed for its art and music. It's odd, though, that the city is deafeningly quiet in the thick of the coronavirus outbreak.
COVID-19, on the other hand, has done little to slow them down. The band is continuing on the road and performing live. Danica won the 2020 Boswell Media Mississippi Songwriter of the Year competition. And while 'Jesus & Alcohol' has the potential to grow in popularity, the family act understands that being Black women in a genre that don't typically appreciate women or Black musicians has a particular set of problems. Trea Swindle was inspired by Johnny Cash's 'The Ballad of Ira Hayes,' while Gretchen Wilson is one of Devynn Hart's top three. Furthermore, Danica Hart's artistic journey was significantly impacted by Gretchen Wilson and Shania Twain.
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From a humble beginning as youngsters singing in Hart's Chapel, the trio has grown into a world-class ensemble and their vibrant and contagious enthusiasm has blossomed into a complete live band experience that fills venues around the country. Chapel Hart has an incredible capacity to tug at your heartstrings with a sweet yet powerful ballad, and then have you pumping your fist in rhythm to the beat of hard-hitting rock and roll. The three vocalists are accentuated by the band, who encapsulate the sweet and southern sound of country with deep undertones reminiscent of their church heritage. The band's cohesion has not gone unnoticed, as they have thousands of admirers from all over the world and hundreds of thousands of views of their performances online.
The trio will appear on Season 17 of 'America's Got Talent' on July 19 at 8 pm on NBC.