Chapel Hart's 'Glory Days' offers familiar, beloved country roots to genre's modern era

The only thing that Poplarville, Mississippi-born country trio Chapel Hart hasn't excelled at in the past year is that they didn't show up at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum with freshly hunted turkeys in tow.

Precisely one month out from the release of their latest album, "Glory Days," the African-American family-based act was draped in camouflage hunting gear and cowboy attire while imagining themselves driving down Music Row. Their fantasy vehicle: a mashup of Webb Pierce's Nudie Cohn-redesigned 1962 Pontiac Bonneville convertible adorned with handguns, shotguns, and silver dollars and Elvis Presley's 1960 Gold Cadillac complete with a television and phone inside.

Adjusted for inflation, the car that Danica and Devynn Hart, plus their cousin, Trea Swindle, hope to drive one day would be worth a million dollars.

"Glory Days," is drenched in classic country stylings that highlight the trio's mastery of honky-tonk entertainment. Behind the album's most vaunted tracks -- Dolly Parton-reimagining multimedia sensation "You Can Have Him Jolene" and Loretta Lynn revival "Fist City" -- it's entirely possible that Chapel Hart may soon be able to afford said automobile.

"The album's title reflects how life-changing and glory-affirming the last year of our lives has been," says Swindle.

All four of the NBC television program "America's Got Talent's" 2022 season judges − Simon Cowell, Terry Crews, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara − pressed the show's golden buzzer in July 2022 after they performed the previously-mentioned "Jolene" in their audition.

From there, six decades of the genre's legends -- including Parton, Lynn (before her passing, which inspired their "Fist City" revision), Tanya Tucker, and Gretchen Wilson all co-signed their work.

"Outlaw women supporting outlaw women. It's the ultimate validation," Danica Hart says.

Now, they've also arrived at another unexpected moment in their career.

Though they constantly tour nationwide, they also have a Music City home -- the Grand Ole Opry.

Though they're not official members of the cast, they have the honor of having achieved more standing ovations at the Opry than appearances on the Opry's stage.

"We dreamed about this," Danica continues. "Even though it's all happening quickly, we're taking in these amazingly inspirational moments. Whether it's the Opry or having legends like Dolly, Tanya, Gretchen Wilson, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, or whomever, showing love, we're taking them all in and being grateful that everything in our careers is progressing so well."

Danica Hart's husky, warm lead vocal and Devynn Hart and Trea Swindle's charisma and smooth timbres separate them from previous presentations of Black performers at this level in country music. In addition, their unabashed authenticity as Black women who are knee-deep in country music's most entrenched lifestyle and sonic roots makes them unique.

Chapel Hart's acclaim is not being driven not by radio airplay, social media, or streaming -- country music's current trio of favorite discovery devices.

Their connection comes via interpersonal interactions. It's a real-time notion built on the idea that legendary country stars are made by their legend growing per million handshakes, hugs, and genuine smiles.

"Being our fan requires taking this journey with us," says Swindle.

"We have an unhealthy connection with them," jokes Danica Hart. "There aren't really many boundaries to what we will -- or will not -- share with them."

Leaning more on what their growing fanbase is demanding than on the doors of Music City label offices has yielded their finest work to date.

"Our feelings, lives and viewpoints matter more than industry trends," says Danica Hart.

"There are songs on this album about Swallow Fork Lake," adds Devynn Hart.

Ever wanted to hunt wild game in a pine tree forest and fish in a farm pond?

If you do, "Glory Days" could be an album up your alley.

"[Chapel Hart] is so damn likeable," says Silverfish Media President and former 2023 Academy of Country Music Award-winning Big D and Bubba Radio program cast member.

"Can they sing? Yes. Are they unique? Yes. They are just a blast. By far, they have [Big D and Bubba's] most viewed YouTube video upload this year."

Consistent with their other releases, "Glory Days" is an almost non-stop retelling of hard-earned childhood lessons and yearning desires contemplated ad nauseum in Family Dollar parking lots and Sonic fast-food drive-thrus.

The faith required to achieve those dreams includes attending church seven days a week, which is included in the lyrics for the album track "If You Ain't Wearin' Boots." Want more timeless memories? In "American Pride," the trio talks about "growing up playing outside."

Danica Hart fondly speaks about how much their live crowds in intimate venues in small towns and American cities love turning back the clock and reliving how country and harder-edged popular music soundtracked their childhoods.

"Our hearts are so full and happy with this album and the live response to it," says Hart. "This album is all of the things -- a big ball of experiences."

Chapel Hart is clearly aware of their uphill battle to sustainable stardom. However, they're also keenly aware that carving an unorthodox route to stardom will allow it to grow stronger.

"Whether you're from a big city or a small town, you've [experienced the full gamut of emotions," Swindle continues. "From the sweet and soft to the rough and rowdy, we're freely expressing -- what people, whoever they are, or however they arrive to our music, want to hear and see -- our authentic selves."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Chapel Hart's 'Glory Days' offers familiar, beloved country roots to genre's modern era