Music Minute - Tanner Adell: Going Blonde

 

Country-pop star Tanner Adell tells the true tale of pain and perseverance in new single “Going Blonde,” out now. Written alone by Adell on a Nashville barstool, “Going Blonde” digs into the impact of Adell's adoption at birth to show a new side of the fearless talent. Revealing the discovery that made her who she is, “Going Blonde” brings new color to a distinctive country artist, who now wears her hair blonde in tribute to the mother she never got to meet – and to the woman she has become. Watch the accompanying music video here.   LISTEN: “GOING BLONDE”   Raised by a loving family from the west coast, there was a part of Adell that always wondered about where she came from. After connecting with her brother years after doing a DNA test for an ancestry website - a Christmas gift from her adopted parents - the young country artist learned the origin behind her mom giving her up for adoption was actually untrue. In some ways, that very adoption was a mistake. The shock was only deepened by the news that her longed-for birth mother had died, robbing any chance to fill the empty spot in Adell's soul.    Clinging onto a single picture of her mom, a blonde, blue-eyed knockout who Adell thought looked just like Dolly Parton, the artist dove deeply into Parton's work, subconsciously seeking out connection. She soon found it in Parton's debut single “Dumb Blonde,” and since Adell had always had natural blonde highlights, it suddenly struck her.   “Being blonde has been something that's been a major part of my identity,” Adell explains. “But seeing that picture of my mom, and with the connection through Dolly Parton, it made me feel like I had a piece of my mom for the first time. It was a whole new meaning for me, like 'This is a way that I'm going to keep her close.'”   “Blonde has this connotation that's sexy and outgoing – and a little bit ditsy,” she continues. “But I felt like I could take that and turn it into something more meaningful. I'm really putting my heart out there to be completely examined. It's been five years since my brother found me. I think I'm still learning things and I'm definitely still grieving. But I'm ready to release it as a form of my own therapy.”

WATCH: “GOING BLONDE” MUSIC VIDEO

Adell took to social media earlier this week to reveal the story in her own words - watch part one here, part two here and part three here. The new track will help guide a whole new artistic chapter for Adell, as she works toward the release of her upcoming debut album. With more information coming soon, she finds the courage to reveal the serious songwriter hidden within, while still celebrating the courageous 'Buckle Bunny' her fans love.   “It feels like I'm at 99% because there is a very big 1% that fans don't know about me,” she explains. “But I'm ready to have that connection with them, and I think they're ready for it.” “Going Blonde” marks Adell's first release of 2025, following a banner year of career milestones. Deemed one of seven artists shaping the sound of 2024 by The New York Times with over 200M global streams and counting, the 2025 People Artist to Watch checked many items off her bucket list with a sold-out headlining tour, a collaboration with superstar Beyoncé, recognition from The New York Times, Billboard, NPR, Teen Vogue and more while bringing her patented brand of fierce femininity to the biggest domestic and international festivals. This year, she continues to solidify her place in the pop-country space, most recently performing at the GLAAD Awards last night (3/27) and will present at Billboard Women In Music tomorrow (3/29). Keep up with Adell on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X.

ABOUT TANNER ADELL: Fusing country song craft with the self-confident swagger of hip hop and the unabashed excitement of pop, Tanner Adell has come a long way in a short few years – from her roots in California and Wyoming to Nashville's cutting edge. A bi-racial singer-songwriter who celebrated 2024 with her first headlining tour (The Buckle Bunny Tour) and a cultural-icon collaboration (joining Beyoncé for “BLACKBIIRD” on the Grammy winning album Cowboy Carter), Adell has earned recognition from The New York Times, Billboard and others, while bringing her patented brand of fierce femininity to stages across the US. Following her 2023 mixtape Buckle Bunny, and appearances on the 2024 BET Awards, Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, NFL's Christmas Day Halftime Show and more, a new chapter of personal artistry begins with the single “Going Blonde.” Written by Adell alone on a Nashville barstool in May of 2022, “Going Blonde” brings new color to a distinctive country artist, who now wears her hair blonde in tribute to the mother she never met – and to the woman she has become. Tracking the impact of her adoption at birth, the tender acoustic ballad finds a soulful new talent claiming her identity while honoring the past, revealing a transformation of inner strength. The new track marks the first taste of Adell's upcoming debut album, as a fearless creative force digs deep into her heart.