‘Buckle Bunny’ To BET: Tanner Adell On Her Breakout Year In Country Music And New LVRN Deal

It’s been a big year for our favorite “Buckle Bunny!”

Tanner Adell may have made headlines after being featured on Beyoncé’s first full-length country music album, but she has always been country.

“I’ve been in Nashville for three years now, grinding and trying to make my own pathway, and Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter has been an incredible stepping stone,” she told Blavity ahead of the 2024 BET Awards, where she made her awards show performance debut.

“I get to perform, which is amazing,” she said during the red carpet. “It’s my first award show performance, period. I’m also actually releasing a new song tonight during the BET Awards, and I’m performing it. It’s called ‘Cowboy Broke My Heart,’ so get ready.”

Moreover, Adell’s winning season doesn’t end with the BET Awards. The country star recently landed a distribution deal with LVRN.

Short for Love Renaissance, the Atlanta-based record label, management company and creative agency was founded in 2012 by Carlon Ramong, Justice Baiden, Junia Abaidoo, Sean Famoso McNichol and Tunde Balogun while they were students at Georgia State University. Today, the label is home to big-name artists like Summer Walker, 6lack, BRS Kash, Alex Vaughn and more. It also manages acts like Davido, Dvsn, and Westside Boogie.

“As soon as I met them, I just knew that the energy was right, so it was a pretty easy decision for me,” Adell recalled. “I’ve got a great distribution deal with them, and I can’t wait to take on more. We just announced that we signed like a week ago, and we’re dropping a song soon.”

While the BET Awards doesn’t have a history of highlighting Black country artists, this year, the renowned entertainment company turned over a new leaf, shining a light on stars like Adell and fellow Cowboy Carter collaborator and country breakout star Shaboozey. 

Fans lost it when Shaboozey brought out “Tipsy” rapper J-Kwon, the inspiration for his new hit single, “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” 

This moment is not lost on Adell; she hopes their journeys within the country music industry encourage others to do the same.

“I feel like I am not the first, and I am not the last, and I hope that young people everywhere see Shaboozey and feel inspired by him; see me and feel inspired by me. Rhiannon Giddens is an incredible banjo player who played on Cowboy Carter, all over that record (‘Blackbirds’),” the “Buckle Bunny” singer said. “We’re here. We’ve been here, and we’re not going anywhere, so come join us.”

Watch her full 2024 BET Awards performance below.