Tara Thompson

Tara Thompson writes and performs country songs brimming with twang, spunk, and sharp wit. Her affinity for the genre stems from family ties and geography alike: she is the cousin of Nashville icon Loretta Lynn and grew up in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the town that gave the world Dolly Parton. A childhood viewing of her cousin’s stage show sparked Thompson’s own desire to perform, after which she immersed herself in the classic country catalog of Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson, George Jones, and Merle Haggard. She first gained road experience traveling with Loretta Lynn’s revue before relocating to Nashville to launch an independent career. Years of steady club work in Music City honky-tonks followed, during which she cultivated a devoted audience at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge through her smart, catchy material and strong vocal presence. In 2015 she secured a recording contract with Big Machine Label Group’s Valory Music imprint. Her first single, “Someone to Take Your Place,” was released in December 2015; the track’s radio and media traction earned her a place on CMT’s Next Women of Country Music Tour the following spring.