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Just days after The Hollywood Walk of Fame announced Tanya Tucker will be one of their newest stars, the country legend premieres the video for “Hard Luck,” the first official single from her new album, While I’m Livin’ (out August 23rd, 2019 via Fantasy Records.) A 1978 chestnut from country rockers Josefus, “Hard Luck” was chosen for the new album by Jennings and personalized lyrically by Tucker. “This tune is really fun,” says Carlile. “If you know Tanya Tucker you know this is her song.” The clip, directed by noted photographer Chris Phelps (Willie Nelson, Sam Outlaw) stars Tucker, Carlile and Jennings. Watch the video above.
Tucker made a resounding return at the recent CMT Awards with her performance of “Delta Dawn,” where she was joined on stage by Brandi Carlile and six of country’s top female vocalists including Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride. Rolling Stone noted, “Upon hearing Tucker’s still strong, gritty voice, the crowd cheered with excitement.” She was met with equal enthusiasm for her performance at CMA Fest.
Tucker’s first album of all new material in 17 years, While I’m Livin’ is her first release for Fantasy Records and her first new material since 2002’s Tanya.
While I’m Livin’ is largely comprised of songs written by Carlile, the twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth and Tucker. “It’s a musical biography of sorts,” explains Carlile, “about Tanya’s real life and the places she’s seen, and it’s narrated by the greatest country and western singer this side of Johnny Cash.”
“The Day My Heart Goes Still” is a reflection of Tucker’s enduring love for her late father, while “Mustang Ridge” recalls her hardscrabble childhood in central Texas. While I’m Livin’also contains some well-chosen covers including “High Ridin’ Heroes,” a 1987 song Jennings selected that featured David Lynn Jones and his dad, Waylon Jennings, “The House That Built Me,” a track made famous by Miranda Lambert, and the aforementioned “Hard Luck” by country-rockers Josefus.
In many ways, the album’s cornerstone is “Bring My Flowers Now,” the only tune that was co-written by Tucker, Carlile and the twins. The album closer, told through Carlile’s solo piano and Tucker’s plaintive vocal, speaks to the importance of showing appreciation to those we love before it’s too late.
Born in Seminole, Texas, Tucker had her first country hit, the classic “Delta Dawn,” at the age of 13 in 1972. Since that auspicious beginning Tucker has become one of the most admired and influential artists in country music history, amassing 23 Top 40 albums and a stellar string of 56 Top 40 singles, ten of which reached the #1 spot on the Billboard country charts. Tucker’s indelible songs include some of country music’s biggest hits such as the aforementioned “Delta Dawn,” “Soon,” “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane,” “It’s a Little Too Late,” “Trouble,” “Texas (When I Die),” “If It Don’t Come Easy” and “Strong Enough To Bend.” Tucker is also the recipient of numerous awards, including two CMAs, two ACMs, three CMT awards and 10 GRAMMY nominations.
