Brittney Spencer
Spencer performing at theWhite House in 2024
Background information
Born	(1988-09-08)September 8, 1988 (age 37) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres	Country
Occupation	Singer–songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	2020–present
Labels	Common Exchange Elektra
Website	brittneyspencer.com

Brittney Spencer (born September 8, 1988)^[1] is an Americancountry singer–songwriter. In 2020 Spencer received notable attention following a viralTwitter video showing Spencer singing a cover of a song bythe Highwomen. The video drew praise from fellow country artists and prompted the release of her firstextended play (EP) titledCompassion (2020). She has also released several singles, including 2021's "Sober & Skinny". Spencer has since performed on theCountry Music Association Awards and has embarked on a world tour.

Spencer, who is ofAfrican-American heritage, is a native ofBaltimore, Maryland. She developed an interest in music from singing in church. "Church, for me, was very cultural. It’s spiritual, but also very cultural. Families like mine, we couldn’t really afford singing lessons or anything like that, so I just sang in the church all the time," she toldBaltimore magazine.^[2] She was raised as anAfrican Methodist Episcopal.^[3] Spencer also came from a musical family. Her father was part of aquartet band.^[2] A friend from church got Spencer interested inThe Chicks, which developed her interest in country music. From there, she developed interest in artists likeTaylor Swift.^[4] She attended magnet schools in her teen years, including theGeorge Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. During this time she learned to play guitar and piano. Spencer also took vocal lessons from a coach who taught her how to sing in arecording studio. She began by singing background vocals forR&B andgospel artists includingJason Nelson. In February 2013, Spencer moved toNashville, Tennessee, to pursue country music full-time.^[2]

After moving to Nashville, Spencer attendedMiddle Tennessee State University.^[5] While attending the university she worked as a vocal coach in a program dedicated to students from low-income homes. She also found work as a background singer and eventually toured withChristopher Cross andCarrie Underwood.^[3] She also performed in clubs and other performance venues in the Nashville area.^[5] Despite performance opportunities, Spencer found it difficult pursuing country music as an overweight and black performer. "Being a Black woman in Nashville can be challenging when it comes time to book someone to do all sorts of things related to fashion, whether it’s glam or wardrobe. I do feel that systemic or societal pressure at times, but I also feel really empowered," she toldGlamour.^[6]

In 2020 Spencer received significant attention after posting a cover ofThe Highwomen's "Crowded Table" onTwitter. The video received more than 150,000 views and re-tweeted byMaren Morris andAmanda Shires who praised Spencer's performance.^[3] "I just love to sing and write songs. Though there’s really no way I could have ever prepared for the most humbling experience of my life to take place on Twitter," she toldBillboard.^[7] In 2020, Spencer released her debutextended play (EP) titledCompassion. The project included several songs including "Damn Right, You're Wrong" and "My Perfect Life". During this time, she also launched her first tour titled "In a Perfect World".^[8] In June 2021, Spencer released a new single called "Sober & Skinny".^[9][10] In late 2021, Spencer performed alongsideMickey Guyton and Madeline Edwards on the55th Annual Country Music Association Awards. The trio sang a track off Guyton'sRemember Her Name album called "Love My Hair".^[11] She is expecting to release her first full-length album in 2022.^[4] Spencer performed at the57th Academy of Country Music Awards.^[12] In March 2022 she was nominated by theCMT Music Awards, her first award from a major industry.^[13]

In November 2022, Spencer signed a major labelrecording contract withElektra Records. An extended play was released the following day, featuring original material and a cover ofThe Chicks's "Cowboy Take Me Away".^[14]

Spencer toldAmerican Songwriter that her musical style is diverse because of the different artists and songwriters she is influenced by: "I feel like I have a really wide stretch of what influences me, which is probably why it still made my songs sound so different."^[4] In describing her musical style, Marcus K. Dowling explained that Spencer combines a "thundering power of her talent blended with highly engaging songs".^[3] She creditsBeyoncé,Ray Charles,Miranda Lambert andJazmine Sullivan as influences on her artistry.^[4]

• Official website

• 1988 births
• 21st-century American singer-songwriters
• 21st-century American women singers
• American women country singers
• African-American women singer-songwriters
• American women singer-songwriters
• African-American country musicians
• American country singer-songwriters
• Country musicians from Maryland
• Living people
• Singers from Baltimore
• Singer-songwriters from Maryland

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles with hCards