Country-pop rising star Tanner Adell has released her deeply personal new single, ‘Going Blonde,' a song that tells a raw story of pain, identity, and perseverance. Written alone on a Nashville barstool, the track offers an intimate look at Adell’s journey as an adoptee and the life-changing discovery that reshaped her sense of self.
Raised by a loving family on the West Coast, Adell always wondered about her origins. A DNA test from an ancestry website—gifted by her adoptive parents—eventually led her to connect with her biological brother. Through him, she learned that the story she had always been told about her adoption wasn’t true. Even more devastating, she discovered that her birth mother had passed away, taking with her the answers Adell had long searched for.
Clinging to a single photo of her mother—a blonde, blue-eyed beauty whom Adell thought resembled Dolly Parton—the singer found solace in Parton’s music. She connected deeply with Parton’s debut single ‘Dumb Blonde' and suddenly, her own natural blonde highlights took on a new significance.
“Being blonde has been something that’s been a major part of my identity,” Adell explains. “But seeing that picture of my mom, and with the connection through Dolly Parton, it made me feel like I had a piece of my mom for the first time. It was a whole new meaning for me, like ‘This is a way that I’m going to keep her close.’”
Adell sees ‘Going Blonde' as more than just a song—it’s a way to reclaim and redefine her identity. “Blonde has this connotation that’s sexy and outgoing – and a little bit ditsy,” she says. “But I felt like I could take that and turn it into something more meaningful. I’m really putting my heart out there to be completely examined. It’s been five years since my brother found me. I think I’m still learning things and I’m definitely still grieving. But I’m ready to release it as a form of my own therapy.”
The singer recently shared her story in a three-part social media series, giving fans an unfiltered look at the inspiration behind the song. ‘Going Blonde' also marks the beginning of a new artistic era for Adell as she prepares for her upcoming debut album, revealing a deeper side of her songwriting while still embracing the fearless energy her fans love.
“It feels like I’m at 99% because there is a very big 1% that fans don’t know about me,” she says. “But I’m ready to have that connection with them, and I think they’re ready for it.”
Following a breakout year in 2024—including a sold-out headlining tour, a collaboration with Beyoncé, and recognition from major outlets like The New York Times, Billboard, and NPR—Adell continues to cement her place in the pop-country world. She recently performed at the GLAAD Awards and is set to present at Billboard Women In Music. With ‘Going Blonde' she steps into 2025 with a powerful new chapter, proving that her journey is only just beginning.
