Mitchell Tenpenny

Part of a new generation of storytellers who have been dubbed 'bro-country', Mitchell Tenpenny is a Nashville songwriter dealing in personal wisdom and soulful, campfire-pop songs. Born in Nashville on August 17, 1989, James Mitchell Tennpenny III was initially inspired by his grandmother Donna Hilley, who worked her way up from receptionist to become president of Sony Music Publishing for nearly 25 years. She introduced him to Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman - writers of his favourite song "He Stopped Loving Me Today" - and Tenpenny instantly set his sights on conquering the music industry too. He began playing in hardcore punk bands in his teens and took a Music Business course at Middle Tennessee State University before deciding to turn to more traditional country songwriting. The glossy, infectious pop hooks of Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake were also an influence on his sound and, after spending years learning his craft in writers circles and paying his dues performing in small local bars, he got his break when Granger Smith used his track "If the Boot Fits" as his lead single in 2016. He also played support slots on tour with Dustin Lynch, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kane Brown and released his debut album "Black Crow", but really found his feet with the EP Linden Ave and his track "Walk Like Him", a tribute to his father, who died of cancer shortly before his career took off. His single "Drunk Me" in 2018 was typically self-reflective and emotionally raw and became his first major radio hit when it quickly notched up more than 1.5 million streams and reached number six on the Country Charts, while his second album Telling All My Secrets established Tenpenny as one of Nashville's breakthrough songwriting talents. This first album for River House/Columbia debuted at No. 5 on Billboard's Country Albums Charts and No. 53 on Billboard 200. Married to fellow country singer Meghan Patrick in October 2022, Mitchell Tennpenny released the album This Is the Heavy one month before, followed in 2024 by The 3rd, featuring the metal band Underoath and Colbie Caillat.