Chapel Hart on breaking barriers in country music, focusing on music not awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ( WKRN ) — The landscape of country music is always evolving as more diverse voices are finding their place in the genre central to Music City, such as Chapel Hart.

Danica and Devynn Hart, along with their cousin Trea Swindle, make up the country group Chapel Hart.

From a Golden Buzzer to the Grand Ole Opry, the country trio has been breaking barriers on every stage they play. The trio from Poplarville, Mississippi has travelled quite a ways to Music City, relying on their faith every step of the way.

“Nothing but faith has got us this far,” explained Devynn Hart.

The three ladies went from singing in church to capturing the heart of America on the popular singing competition show, “America’s Got Talent.”

“We said listen, when we’re sitting on our rocking chairs, and we’re talking about the good ole days, we want to be able to say we did it all,” said Danica Hart.

And just when they thought the Golden Buzzer was the peak of their career, it proved to be just the beginning.

In October of 2022, the group would make their debut on country music’s most coveted stage, The Grand OIe Opry.

⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com

“The Opry gives us a Opry proposal cake that says ‘Would you like to make your Grand Ole Opry debut?'” said Danica Hart.

The applause was far from over after country music icon Dolly Parton offered her stamp of approval for the group’s rendition of Jolene. “It was a stamp of approval from women who paved the way,” said Danica Hart.

Despite the early approvals, this didn’t change the elephant in the room… being Black in country music.

A report by the Black Music Action Coalition said BIPOC artists make up less than 4% of county music in the past two decades.

“It was a hard thing, you know, to not feel seen,” said Danica Hart.

Facing reality, the group made headlines at the end of 2023, stating they were leaving country music all together.

“It was that gut check moment, we got in this to go to nursing homes and bring music to people who can’t go out and see it,” remembered Danica Hart.

📧 Have breaking come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts →

Quick to clarify, the group said leaving the industry isn’t the same as leaving the genre, instead they’re focused on what matters most.

“Country music has always been about storytelling, it’s always been about the heart and soul of the story,” said Danica Hart.

Less about the awards, more about the music, with a Christmas album well underway.

“I feel like this album is that gift that you buy early and now you got to like hide it in the house and move it around so the people don’t find it,” said Swindle.

Full of hope and heart, the group said they’re going to allow fans to decide their fate moving forward.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.