Nashville, TN · country

Mitchell Tenpenny

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Nashville-born hooksmith working the seam between country radio and R&B-tinged pop.

Mitchell Tenpenny, born James Mitchell Tenpenny III in Nashville in 1989, grew up around the country music business through his grandmother, publishing executive Donna Hilley; she introduced him to songwriters Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman when he was eleven, which sparked his interest in songwriting.

He grew up listening to country, rock and R&B, citing Vince Gill, John Mayer and Michael Jackson as influences, and that mix carries into music that sits on the pop end of contemporary country: a gravelly vocal, R&B-inflected phrasing and production leaning on programmed drums as often as guitars.

He attended Lipscomb Academy, where he played football, before studying music business at Middle Tennessee State University. His early songwriting credits include co-writing Granger Smith's top-ten single "If the Boot Fits," which led to a publishing deal with Sony ATV and a signing with the newly formed Riser Records label in 2016.

Tenpenny released his debut album, Black Crow, in 2015, followed by the EP Linden Ave in 2017, named for the Nashville street where his grandmother once lived. He first reached a wide audience with the single "Drunk Me," released in 2018, which led to his major-label debut album Telling All My Secrets later that year, debuting at number five on Billboard's country albums chart.

He has continued releasing singles and albums since, and also writes for other artists. He married fellow country singer Meghan Patrick in 2022, after the two became engaged in the bar where they first met.

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