Tiera Kennedy stopped by The Bobby Bones Show to talk about her debut album!
Gardendale, Alabama, native Kennedy grew up learning how to play the guitar from watching YouTube videos. She would sing country music wherever she could, playing at restaurants and bars. She used to perform with a backing track and would sing along with the music, but realized she should probably learn how to play guitar to make herself standout. She’s not sure what the first song she learned to play is, but assumes it was something by Taylor Swift. Her parents tried to put her in guitar lessons, but it did not work because they were trying to teach her classical guitar, and she just wanted to learn how to play chords. She originally just went by her first name, but when she got married, she decided to go by her new last name.
Her debut full album, Rooted, is a reflection of her story leading up to where she is in life now. It was important to her that she had a hand in the 11 tracks on the record and that the album was a blend of country and R&B influences, the music she grew up on. Rooted, is a story of love, heartbreak, healing and growth. It reflects the ups and downs that have shaped her into the person she is today. The album is a long time in the making for Kennedy. It was supposed to come out last year, while she was signed to a different record label that she has since left. She revamped the album and took out some songs to add some that represented who she is better. When she listens to the full album, it feels truer to who she is as a person. It feels right and complete and rooted in who she is.
One of the highlight moments on the album is the song “Cry,” that redefines what it means to say goodbye. The song samples Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” and is co-written with Cameron Bedell, Jared Scott, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and Scott Storch and it was even featuring in a series of McDonald’s advertisements. She had met Timbaland a few months prior to writing it and said he was so nice and helpful. When Kennedy got with Bedell and Scott, they wanted to write a fun song to add that vibe to the album. When Bedell started playing the chorus, they realized they could add the interlude of Timberlake’s iconic “Cry Me a River,” and it would be the perfect way to pay homage to the R&B music they were influenced by growing up.
While in studio, she performed “Can’t Help My Country.”