Chapel Hart’s journey on America’s Got Talent (AGT) has been full of surprises and their experience on the finale was no different as the Mississippi trio was shocked when country music icon Tanya Tucker appeared to offer them words of encouragement ahead of their performance with Darius Rucker.
Thanks to Proto Hologram, Tucker beamed in from Nashville to share a sweet message.
“Surprise! It’s Tanya, Chapel Hart y’all are so great and congratulations on everything you do. America’s Got Talent… You’re right about that,” she said.
Chapel Hart’s Danica and Devynn Hart and Trea Swindle were left speechless after seeing Tucker appear in front of them.
“Surprised @chapelhartband last night on @agt! You girls are a real winner in my book! Y’all are so GREAT and CONGRATULATIONS on everything you do! Us girls gotta stick together!!! This is only the beginning… A dream written down with a date… becomes a goal,” Tucker shared on social media early Thursday morning. ‘Never stop believing in what you love to do! America’s Got Talent… Right About That! 💖”
The surprise message from Tucker comes just weeks after the Mississippi trio caught the attention of Tanya Tucker when they gave her a shoutout during their semi-finals performance of the original tune, “The Girls Are Back In Town”
“Dancing on the bar all night long to another Tanya Tucker song,” the group sings within the track’s lyrics, honoring the “Delta Dawn” singer.
After seeing Chapel Hart’s fiery performance of “The Girls Are Back In Town,” Tucker took to social media to compliment the country music trio in a special video message.
“Hey Chapel Hart, I am doing a Christmas movie right now, but I saw you on America’s Got Talent and wow you were fantastic,” Tucker gushed at the time. “I love, love your thing. You got a great vibe, it’s so different. Good Luck to you!” Tucker added as she blew a kiss to the camera.
Chapel Hart freaked out when they saw Tucker’s response and immediately praised her on social media.
“And the blessing just keep on pouring in!!” Chapel Hart collectively wrote. “It’s trailblazers like Tayna Tucker who inspire us to be bold and courageous and keep up the fight to keep making our dreams come true EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!! We love you Tanya!!!! *SCREAM*”
Tucker isn’t the only country superstar that Chapel Hart caught the attention of. Their show-stopping audition performance of “You Can Have Him Jolene,” which was written as a response to Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” earned a Golden Buzzer and immediately went viral and earned praise from Parton and Loretta Lynn.
“What a fun new take on my song, @ChapelHartBand! Carl’s birthday is today so I think I’ll hang on to him, and I’m not notifying Jolene that today is his birthday,” Parton wrote at the time.
Their audition also earned compliments from Darius Rucker, who they shared the stage with for an energy-filled duet during the America’s Got Talent finale on Wednesday evening (Sept. 14).
The group joined forces with the country hitmaker to deliver a performance of the 1991 Bonnie Raitt hit, “Something To Talk About.”
Chapel Hart donned gold and black western attire for the performance, while Rucker sported a simple back t-shirt and jeans.
“Let’s give them something to talk about / Let’s give them something to talk about / Let’s give them something to talk about / How about love?“ the trio and Rucker sing on the chorus.
The artists worked the stage with confidence, earning cheers and applause from the live audience.
Sharing the stage with Rucker was a “dream come true” for Chapel Hart.
It was later revealed that Chapel Hart finished in fifth place on the show.
“Terry, this has meant absolutely everything to us. We were able to come and show off our songwriting and be able to show what we do to the world and we want to tell you America, thank you so much,” they shared as they bid farewell to the show. “We love you.”
To celebrate Chapel Hart’s America’s Got Talent finale performance, the group’s hometown of Poplarville, Mississippi declared this week Chapel Hart Week.” The trio, composed of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart and their cousin Trea Swindle, said they were “beyond honored” over the proclamation.
This Saturday (Sept. 17), Chapel Hart will return to Nashville to make their debut at the Grand Ole Opry. The trio is set to step into the iconic circle alongside Everette, Don Schlitz, Jeannie Seely, Mark Wills, and more.
