Tanya Tucker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tanya Tucker
Tucker performing at Graceland in 2020.
Background information
Birth name	Tanya Denise Tucker
Born	(1958-10-10) October 10, 1958 (age 66) Seminole, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Country outlaw country country rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1971–present
Labels	Columbia MCA Arista Capitol Nashville Liberty Capitol Tuckertime Saguaro Road Fantasy

Tanya Denise Tucker (born October 10, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She became famous at just 13 years old with her first hit song, "Delta Dawn", in 1972. Tanya Tucker is special because she started as a child star and continued to be very popular as an adult. She has had many songs reach the top 10 and top 40 on the music charts.

Tanya has released several successful albums and won many awards. Some of her well-known songs include "What's Your Mama's Name?" (1973), "Lizzie and the Rainman" (1975), and "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane" (1992). Her 2019 album, While I'm Livin', won a Grammy Award for Best Country Album. The song "Bring My Flowers Now" from that album also won a Grammy for Best Country Song.

Her most recent album, Sweet Western Sound, was released in 2023. It was a team-up with Brandi Carlile and received great reviews. Tanya Tucker was honored by being added to the Country Music Hall of Fame on October 22, 2023.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Tanya Denise Tucker was born in Seminole, Texas. She was the youngest of three children. Her father, Beau Tucker, worked with heavy equipment, so her family moved around a lot. Tanya spent most of her early childhood in Willcox, Arizona. The only radio station there played country music, which helped her fall in love with the genre.

The Tucker family often went to concerts of famous country stars like Ernest Tubb. Tanya's older sister, LaCosta, was known for her singing talent. When Tanya was eight, she told her father she wanted to be a country singer too.

When her family moved to St. George, Utah, Tanya tried out for a movie called Jeremiah Johnson. She got a small part, and even her horse was in the movie! Around this time, she also got one of her first big chances in music. Her father took her to the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix. Tanya sang for the fair's managers and was hired to perform there.

Tanya made her first public performance with country star Mel Tillis. He was so impressed that he invited her to sing on stage. In 1969, her family moved to Henderson, Nevada, where Tanya performed regularly. She eventually made a demo tape, which is a recording to show off her singing. This tape caught the attention of songwriter Dolores Fuller, who sent it to producer Billy Sherrill at CBS Records. Sherrill was very impressed and signed the young singer to Columbia Records.

Career Highlights

Becoming a Teen Country Star (1972–1979)

Tucker in a 1973 promotional portrait for Columbia Records.

Billy Sherrill wanted Tanya to record "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" as her first song. But Tanya chose "Delta Dawn" instead. This song was released in May 1972 and quickly became a hit, reaching number six on the country music charts. At first, Columbia Records tried to keep Tanya's age a secret, but when people found out she was only 13, she became a huge sensation!

Tanya's second song, "Love's the Answer," also became a top-10 hit in 1972. Her third song, "What's Your Mama's Name," became her first number-one hit in 1973. Two more number-one songs followed: "Blood Red and Goin' Down" and "Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)". These hits made Tanya Tucker a major country music star.

In 1975, she signed with MCA Records and continued to have many hit songs until the late 1970s. One of these hits was "Lizzie and the Rainman," which became a number-one country song. It also reached number 37 on the pop music charts, making it her only pop top-40 hit. Other top-10 country hits for Tanya during this time included "San Antonio Stroll" and "Here's Some Love".

In 1978, Tanya decided to try a new style and released the album TNT, which had a more rock sound. Even though some people found the album's cover controversial, it sold very well and became a "gold" record. Two popular songs from this album were "I'm a Singer, You're the Song" and "Texas (When I Die)".

Comeback and Continued Success (1986–1997)

After a few years where her music wasn't as popular, Tanya Tucker made a big comeback in 1986. She signed with Capitol Records and released "One Love at a Time", which reached number three on the charts. Her album Girls Like Me (1986) had four top-10 country songs. In 1988, she had three number-one country hits: "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love", "If It Don't Come Easy", and "Strong Enough to Bend".

Her music now had a more country-pop sound, which made her popular again. Between 1988 and 1989, Tanya had eight country top-10 hits in a row. Her albums during this time also sold over 500,000 copies, earning "Gold" certifications. A Greatest Hits album came out in 1989, which included the new hit song "My Arms Stay Open All Night".

In 1991, the Country Music Association named her "Female Vocalist of the Year." In the early 1990s, she had eight more songs reach the top 10, including "Down to My Last Teardrop" and "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane". Tanya Tucker was one of the most successful female country artists of her time. She proved that a child star could continue to have a successful career as an adult.

In 1994, Tanya performed at the half-time show of Super Bowl XXVIII, which is a huge event! In 1997, she had her last top-10 country hit with "Little Things". That same year, she was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

Music Career Today (2000–Present)

Tucker performing at the Ryman Auditorium in 2020.

In 2002, Tanya Tucker started her own record label called Tuckertime Records. This allowed her to have more control over her music. That same year, she released Tanya, her first album in five years.

In 2002, CMT (a country music TV channel) ranked Tanya Tucker as number 20 on their list of the "40 Greatest Women of Country Music." She released a live album in 2005 called Live at Billy Bob's Texas. She also wrote a book in 2005 called 100 Ways to Beat the Blues, which shared tips from her friends like Willie Nelson and Brenda Lee.

In 2009, Tanya released My Turn, an album of classic country cover songs. It included remakes of hits like "Love's Gonna Live Here" by Buck Owens. In 2012, she sang a duet of "Delta Dawn" with Terri Clark on Clark's album Classic.

In June 2017, Rolling Stone magazine included Tanya Tucker on their list of the "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time."

After the passing of Glen Campbell in 2017, Tanya released a song called "Forever Loving You."

In 2019, Tanya released While I'm Livin', her first album of new songs since 2002. It was produced by Shooter Jennings and Brandi Carlile. Tanya performed "Bring My Flowers Now" at Loretta Lynn's 87th birthday concert. On January 26, 2020, Tanya Tucker won her first two Grammy Awards for While I'm Livin' and "Bring My Flowers Now."

In 2021, Tanya worked with RuPaul on a song called "This is Our Country." In 2022, she announced she had finished a new album. Her studio album Sweet Western Sound was released on June 2, 2023. It was also produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings.

Outlaw Image

Tanya Tucker is known as one of the few female country singers to be called an "Outlaw." The "Outlaw country" movement was popular in the late 1970s. Outlaw artists like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson combined country and rock music. Tanya's songs, like "Texas (When I Die)" from 1978, showed this mix of styles. She also had a strong, independent spirit, which is another Outlaw quality. CMT ranked her number nine on their "Greatest Outlaws: The Dirty Dozen" list, and she was the only woman on it.

Tanya continues to be recognized as an Outlaw today. She often attends Outlaw events. In 2004, Gretchen Wilson mentioned Tanya in her hit song "Redneck Woman", and Tanya even appeared briefly in the music video.

The Return of Tanya Tucker

After many years, musician Brandi Carlile worked with Tanya Tucker on a new album, While I'm Livin', and also on a documentary about Tanya's life.

The documentary, called The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile, was released in theaters in October and November 2022. It was released with a song called "Ready As I'll Never Be."

Other Works and Interests

Tanya Tucker has done more than just sing. She was a judge on the TV show Dance Fever in 1979. She also appeared in two episodes of The Love Boat in 1983.

In 1997, she published her autobiography, Nickel Dreams: My Life. She also starred in her own reality show called Tuckerville on TLC in 2005. The show ran for two seasons and gave viewers a look into Tanya's home life with her family.

Tanya continues to perform for the military and does benefit concerts. In 2019, she started her own brand of tequila called Cosa Salvaje.

Personal Life

Tanya Tucker has three children. Her daughter Presley Tanita was born in 1989, and her son Beau "Grayson" was born in 1991. Her youngest daughter, Layla LaCosta, was born in 1999.

Tanya's sister, La Costa, is also a country singer.

Awards and Nominations

Discography

Studio albums

See also

In Spanish: Tanya Tucker para niños