Country Upstart Brittney Spencer Signs With Elektra: Exclusive

Burgeoning country artist Brittney Spencer has signed with Elektra and will drop if i ever get there: a day at blackbird studio, her first release for the label, at midnight ET.

The highly sought-after Spencer, who put out her breakthrough single, “Sober & Skinny,” independently in 2021, has made tremendous inroads at country, opening for Maren Morris, Reba McEntire, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Willie Nelson and others. Additionally, she is an honorary member of Morris and Carlile’s The Highwomen (which also includes Natalie Hemby and Amanda Shires), often stepping in for group members, including on Oct. 30 when the quartet performed at Loretta Lynn’s memorial concert at the Grand Ole Opry, where she substituted for Morris.

Spencer began drawing industry attention two years ago in October 2020, when she posted her cover of The Highwomen’s “Crowded Table” on Twitter and drew the praise of Morris and Shires, who invited her to perform with them when they returned to the road after the pandemic. That dream came true in September 2021 when she stepped in for an ailing Shires at The Highwomen’s appearance at the Bottle Rock Napa Valley Music Festival. CMT’s Leslie Fram also became an early supporter, naming her to the CMT Next Women of Country class of 2021. Spencer made her Grand Ole Opry debut in May of last year and embarked on her own headlining tour last December. She also received a CMT Music Awards nomination earlier this year for digital-first performance of the year. 

“We were instantly moved by Brittney’s astounding talent and infectious spirit as soon as we met her,” said Breanna Duncan, senior manager of A&R at Elektra, in a statement. “She has a natural ability to connect with listeners with her brilliant vocal delivery and her gift at capturing emotions through her songwriting is just remarkable. Brittney Spencer is an absolute gem in the music scene and we couldn’t be more excited that she has chosen Elektra as her label home.”

Spencer, who is part of Victoria Secret’s “Undefinable” global campaign, recorded her three-track EP live at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio with producer Daniel Tashian (Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town). The first single is her cover of The Chicks’ 1999 hit, “Cowboy Take Me Away”; the set also includes two originals, “Better As Friends,” co-written with Hailey Whitters, and “A Hundred Years,” co-written with Ashley Ray and Sean McConnell. 

“These three songs are some of my favorites to perform live, and they reflect a lot of where my head and heart have been lately – a little sad girl fall, a little gleeful nostalgia. I’ve been touring with some of my absolute heroes, getting to partner with brands I love like Victoria’s Secret (like, what?!), and just being a person feeling my way through my ever-changing, stupid life,” said Spencer, who is managed by Activist Artists Management’s Matt Maher and Caitlin Stone. “Still, writing and creating music has been my honest guide, my emotional safety and my best companion this year, my album is close to finished now!”

The Baltimore native, who is booked by UTA, will open for Morris at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 2. Her full-length debut is expected in 2023.