Country trio Chapel Hart rose to fame in 2022 after receiving the golden buzzer for their audition on America’s Got Talent.
Chapel Hart’s members include sisters Danica and Devynn Hart and their cousin Trea Swindle. They performed their original song “You Can Have Him Jolene,” a response to Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” which even caught the attention of Parton herself.
The group went on to place fifth in the competition, and since then, they’ve achieved amazing milestones in their country music career, including performing at the Grand Ole Opry and touring around the world.
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While the trio has been living their dreams together over the past few years, they made headlines in 2023 when they decided to leave the country music industry.
Chapel Hart announced their decision to step back from the music industry because of its highly competitive nature. Despite their years of hard work and efforts to make a name for themselves, they felt undervalued and overlooked.
Danica Hart explained during their announcement, “[We] still don’t have a record deal, we still don’t have a publishing deal, we still don’t have sponsorships, and we’re still out here busting our tails. We’ve been on the road this year more than we ever have.”
However, the group clarified that stepping back from the industry does not mean they are leaving the genre or stopping their music-making altogether. Instead, they plan to focus solely on their music without chasing fame or awards.
“It was that gut check moment, we got in this to go to nursing homes and bring music to people who can’t go out and see it,” Danica told WKRN Nashville.
“Country music has always been about storytelling, it’s always been about the heart and soul of the story,” she added.
So, Chapel Hart will continue their journey of making music for themselves and their fans, free from the pressure of chasing popularity.
Listen to Chapel Hart explain their reasoning for leaving country music in the video below.