A Tanya Tucker Comeback Record & Film Are Coming
You have to go all the way back to 2002’s Tanya to find the last time country icon Tanya Tucker released a proper album of new material; her classic covers album from 2009 notwithstanding. That’s 17 years to save up songs and inspiration, and now Tanya is ready to make a roaring return. Not just your average release from an aging country legend, Tanya’s new title called While I’m Living is being touted as a comeback record, and will be accompanied by a documentary film called Delta Dawn Then and Now: The Return of Tanya Tucker. The sister projects are meant to give renewed attention to one of country music’s overlooked stars, and one of the few women associated with country music’s Outlaw movement.
The new album will be produced by new 3-time Grammy winner Brandi Carlile, along with Shooter Jennings. Carlile previously produced a record for The Secret Sisters (and they may have a 2nd Carlile-produced record coming), and Shooter co-produced Carlile’s Grammy-minted By The Way, I Forgive You with Dave Cobb. Jennings also previously worked with Tanya Tucker on a re-recording of Hellbound Glory’s “Better Hope You Die Young” as a duet with frontman Leroy Virgil.
While I’m Living was recorded in Hollywood in January. Initially Shooter Jennings was to be the only producer, but he decided to bring Brandi Carlile in after starting the process. A camera crew followed Tanya through the recording of the album for the documentary. The film is also being executive produced by Carlile.
“For some reason, in country music, we have a way of not telling legends they’re legends until they’re 80, when we could have told them when they were 60 and they would have still had 30 years to teach us and stay in the spotlight and stay relevant to us,” says Brandi Carlile. “We wait until they’re so old, before we have these tributes for them, and it’s beautiful. But we should have done this for Willie when he was 60 and should have done this for Loretta when she was 60. So this record’s called ‘While I’m Living’ because I’ll be God-damned if we’re not going to tribute her while she’s living.”
Another famous producer also helped mentor the 60-year-old Tucker on how to approach the project: Rick Rubin, who took Johnny Cash from an out-to-pasture country artist forgotten by the popular genre to a legend for an entirely new generation. It may be wishful to think that Tanya Tucker’s reboot will reach the same heights, but it doesn’t hurt to swing for the fences and try. With ten #1 hits, another eight #2’s, and 39 Top 10’s total, Tanya Tucker has logged an incredible career going all the way back to her first hit “Delta Dawn” when she was only 13-years-old in 1972.
No release date has been set for the album or film just yet. Expect to hear something by this fall if not sooner.
February 16, 2019 @ 9:59 am
I definitely feel like Tanya is one of country music’s most overlooked stars. So many great hits. I particularly loved her recordings from the 70’s, and to think she was only a teenager then. Such raw talent. I am looking forward to this!
February 17, 2019 @ 1:48 am
Love anything tanya sings
One heck of a lady..
Beautiful, classy, foxy,sexy chick..
3 cheers for her..way to go????????????
February 17, 2019 @ 2:33 pm
I’m really excited about this ! Tanya Tucker is an amazing woman. She’s been my idle for ever ! I’ll be 60 soon, and yes I agree with you Carlie, tell her while she’s still living. She deserves it ! I’m with ya girl, to you Tanya Tucker, I already know you got this. I love my music , I do a lot of Tanya Tucker songs. I truly respect her, and by the way..one of my dreams on my bucket list is to sing one song with Tanya Tucker !
April 5, 2019 @ 10:26 pm
I last saw Ms. Tanya Tucker in July 1, 2015… her voice was so strong… I have loved this woman for all time. so overlooked.. even at awards shows… GOD for this reason… I just never got in to Reba McEntire.
February 16, 2019 @ 10:10 am
I’m curious about many things. All reports tell us the music business is hurting when it comes to moving ( being compensated for ) product …physical product and /or streaming royalties . All reports tell us that the veterans , legends and not so legendary , aren’t wanted , aren’t getting exposure or interest from labels , radio or newer fans . The best of the best can’t get the time of day , it seems ,…..and yet ……and YET ….. there have never been more people , from legends to up -and -coming wannabes , one hit wonders , posers to dyed in the wool ARTISTS , and from ‘ songwriters ‘ to producers ……involved in and releasing product . Sure , a lot is crappy product ( radio ) ….but its the volume of product and people involved that has me a bit stymied by it all . Every act , from the biggest to the lowest on the feeding chain seems to be out there on the road playing stadiums to dive bars to house parties to make a living .
Tanya Tucker making a comeback ? Ronnie Milsap …? hmmm . Certainly I can see them hitting the road again , I guess , and tapping into the nostalgia market …..a LOT of work for folks at this point in life but many do it , I suppose , but it seems to go against the tide in every other respect ….does it not ?
Un-confuse me please …..educate me please , inform and enlighten me please .Is there some logic to suggest that I strongly encourage my kids to get into the music business right now ? Isn’t it as much a lottery as a way to actually make an honest living ? yes ….I get ‘ labour of love ” and all that ….but it seems that you could love to labour at music ..or anything else …..on a more ‘practical ‘ scale which also allows you to have a life …….hmmmmm ?
February 16, 2019 @ 10:26 am
lol are you high…this sounds like the ramblings of a madman
February 16, 2019 @ 10:31 am
I like Albert’s stream of consciousness comments, but that’s just me personally.
February 16, 2019 @ 10:46 am
haha ….I promise I will never talk to you when I AM high , WW . I thought my ‘ramblings ‘ were quite coherent this morning . I’m looking for biz wisdom .
February 16, 2019 @ 11:08 am
It’s always been a lottery. When wasn’t it? And most of the time, those most deserving don’t win. Ninety-nine per cent of those playing in “dive bars” have regular day jobs. They make music because it’s their lifeline. Most artists (authors, musicians, etc.) don’t make a living at it. But should you encourage your kids to “get into the music business”? Kids are gonna do what they’re gonna do, regardless. All you can do is offer them sound advice and practical wisdom. (I don’t know if your question was actually serious, but I’m answering anyway.) : )
February 17, 2019 @ 10:04 am
Successful people make their own luck. If you work hard, stay sober, maintain realistic expectations, treat others ethically, and are actually good at your craft, the “lottery” effect on your career can be dimished to almost zero.
February 17, 2019 @ 2:32 pm
man , conrad …..that is the BEST attitude to take about any endeavor . enjoy it FIRST ….then you’ve already won the lottery .
unfortunately the reality of things works slightly differently when it comes to actually making a living at the arts .
I think most of us can cite an example or two of someone who has been criminally overlooked , vastly underrated , artistically misunderstood ,or someone , perhaps , ahead of their time …..or even behind their time , someone caught up in corporate upheavals etc… whose passion is not in question ….but fell prey to other unpredictable and unforeseen obstacles .
In the pop world ( music , film , etc.. ) the customer is , indeed , always right . he pays the bills , he decides through his choices who ‘ wins the lottery ‘ and he/she is motivated by trends and not always talent .
”maintain realistic expectations” .This is THE most important aspect of being ‘ successful ‘ in a pop field . Being aware of the factors that have the ultimate influence over your success is so important to maintaining a happy and satisfied approach to your art . if you are selling out and fail , of course , you do indeed get what you deserve .
outside of a guitar company sponsoring that one artist in a hundred , its always the guy with the day job who can afford the BEST music gear …not the full-timer trying to make a living doing music His / Her way .
February 16, 2019 @ 12:23 pm
Hopefully she’s a Hall of Famer within the next couple of years..
March 8, 2019 @ 8:34 pm
Albert, I do not know who Lied to you about “That Contact” but they ot’ to have the ass wiped!!!!!!!
February 16, 2019 @ 12:33 pm
She is a true Hall of Famer. The CMA needs to get her in there. A pioneer who brought audiences to their feet with her torchy gravel voice. A catalog that can’t be touched by some of these newbies. I know Country Radio won’t touch this album, but true music fans will.
February 16, 2019 @ 12:42 pm
OMG!!!!!!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DzYaEoZX4AEykHC.png:large
February 16, 2019 @ 12:54 pm
I thought I read Carlile had a hand in writing all the songs on the album, which should give her the best material she’s worked with in ages. I love her voice and her, but can’t stomach a lot of her catalog post 88.
February 16, 2019 @ 2:05 pm
Tanya Tucker is a pioneer 4 female country singers she’s great I love her and her music ko ko Tanya
February 16, 2019 @ 2:56 pm
Unique voice truly a tour de force as a live performer Tanya puts on one helluva a live show! I look forward to these new projects! You have enough ways now to get this out to the public so screw mainstream country radio and what’s left of the Nashvegas machine.
February 16, 2019 @ 5:17 pm
Shooter Jennings? Never have I seen someone so thoroughly useless, be handed the keys to the kingdom, because of his last name.
Tanya Tucker is the 5th greatest female C(c)ountry singer of all time.
February 16, 2019 @ 6:31 pm
Welcome back Tanya, look out Carrie and Miranda, and you other so call wanna be country artists, you can hold a candle to Tanya, loretta, or Tammy, on and how about kitty Wells and Jean Sheppard these ladies are true country
February 16, 2019 @ 8:11 pm
Why are you pitting women against each other? Also, in what world is Miranda a wannabe country artist? I just can’t even take a comment like that seriously, especially when so many great country artists, including Loretta, have expressed their love for her. Tanya is great, but she also released a lot of country-pop later in her career. She also released a straight up rock album. This obsession with “true” country is ridiculous.
February 16, 2019 @ 7:15 pm
I was born the same day Tanya Tucker was except there’s a 2 yrs difference. Tanya is older.I have loved her from the beginning,and yes she is a pioneer. I have seen her in concert and she puts on one hell of a show. One of my favorite traits if hers is that she does not take shit off anyone. I can see where her and I are alit alike. I get really tired if listening to some of these country stations and they have the same damn artist all freaking day.Lets give credit where it is due. Tanya is way overdue to be recognized for her talent and her hard work.I have to agree that they wait way too long to honor these great people. Tanya,go out there and show them what a bad ass you are.You are truly one of my favorite bad ass women who can sing.Love you Tanya Tucker!
February 16, 2019 @ 11:38 pm
Loved Tanya from Delta Dawn on.
February 17, 2019 @ 2:58 am
Tanya Tucker, I grew up listening to your songs know some by heart….my mommy loved you can’t wait for this new movie or what have ya comes out ….your one of my idols!
February 17, 2019 @ 5:24 am
Not sure that Willie ever needed a tribute. He’s always been relevant it seems. Like Kristofferson, he can be in or out of the spotlight as much as he desires, but I get what she’s saying,
February 17, 2019 @ 10:34 am
After seeing Tanya in concert in October (with her daughter Presley singing backup!), it’s safe to say she still has the same voice and amazing vibrancy of her studio recordings. The new album should be great, and if you get the chance to see her live, you need to make it happen!
February 17, 2019 @ 11:26 am
Tanya Tucker asked Marty Stuart at a press conference once why they didn’t get married. Stuart replied, “Because we wouldn’t have lasted five minutes.” Gotta love those two.
February 17, 2019 @ 12:24 pm
Tanya is of the great ladies of country. I always felt that she got more attention for her personal life but she is a dynamo. I also loved how generous and kind she was to Glen Campbell until the end.
February 17, 2019 @ 12:27 pm
I always thought Tanya was one of the great ladies of country. It’s a major failing that she received more attention for her personal life than her music sometimes. I also loved how magnanimous she was toward Glen until the end. Awesome lady.
February 17, 2019 @ 6:04 pm
I hope she has more success–why not–but there was always something low-rent about Tanya Tucker.
And Tanya used Glen Campbell’s death as an opportunity to try to get back in the spotlight, releasing a single dedicated to him and ending it with “I love you, Glen.” Is that a crime? No, it was worth a shot. But magnanimous? Tanya’s relationship with Campbell went from 1980 to 1981. Campbell was married to Kim Woolen for the last 35 years of his life–after his break-up with Tanya–and that marriage produced three children. And Tanya, herself, had several relationships, and three children of her own, subsequent to the tabloid train-wreck with Campbell. Seems a bit disrespectful–or insensitive–to Campbell’s family and her own children for Tanya to make like she was still in love with Campbell for all those decades.
February 17, 2019 @ 6:09 pm
Low-rent? To each his own I suppose. I don’t care about her personal life. I go by how she spoke of him even after they weren’t together anymore.
April 5, 2019 @ 10:31 pm
there’s nothing wrong with Tanya acknowledging that Glen was in fact one of the greatest loves of her life. PERIOD
even thru the hell and back.. being MUCH younger AND inexperienced… she dug in and LOVED
she can look back on her “career” AND have memories of LOVE… and I believe he loved her in return
Thank God we can look back and LOVE Tanya personality… AND her voice is like none other
look what happened to lynn Anderson… she was a keeper, as well, and didn’t fare well. so what if she ended up partying to death
Tanya will always have a place in history… who has a voice unlike no other PERIOD
June 6, 2019 @ 3:16 pm
With all due respect, who are you Sir, or myself or anyone other than Tanya Tucker to speak to whether or not she was in still in love with him….
also before being so ungallant as ccharacterizing this amazing Country Music Legend “low rent”, check yourself ~
is it kind? is it true ?
is it necessary?
February 23, 2019 @ 9:16 am
Low-rent ? LuckyOleSun , Typical male attitude . Bash the woman . Tanya wrote in her book of her deep love for Glen Campbell and refused to bash him. She has always lived her life openly and narrow minded people can take her or leave her.
Not so Mr Glen Campbell . Multiple divorces , children left behind , and these way he treated his “friend” Mac Davis ? He certainly aired all his and Tanya’ s dirty laundry to the media all through the years . I hope his Faith was true in later years
and he made his Peace with his Maker . He owed Tanya a big old apology too.
February 17, 2019 @ 12:44 pm
Got to see her about 30 years ago at a trade show in Atlantic City, she was the big headliner. She was probably 8 months pregnant and put on a Hell of a show. One of my dorm mates in West Texas grew up in the same town as her.
I look forward too her new release!
February 18, 2019 @ 7:24 am
I don’t agree with Brandi Carlile’s about country music not recognizing its legends until they’re old. I get that TT probably hasn’t received her proper due in that regard, but that’s because her career peaked early and she’s been largely out of the limelight for the last 20 years, not because country music is generally late to the game in passing out accolades. Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Tammy Wynette are just a few artist off the top of my head who were given “legend” billing by the time they were 50 or so, and many of them were the subject of tributes of one form or another by the time they were about 60.
February 18, 2019 @ 11:15 am
I’m gonna stump for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for a second, because no one ever talks about them on here ever! Talk about influential band that doesn’t get their due.
February 18, 2019 @ 4:58 pm
She sang some of the best leave and on’t let the door hit you on the way out songs LONG before Carrie Underwood decided destroying private property would make a catchy song.
Tanya has always been one of my favorite of ocuntry. I started with her more polished early 90s stuff but her mid-late 70s stuff is just raw off the charts music.
February 18, 2019 @ 7:52 pm
Billy Joe Shaver says she’s a bitch.