Hillary Scott
Hillary Dawn Scott-Tyrrell (born April 1, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter.[1] She is best known as a founding member and co-lead vocalist of the country music trio Lady A, formerly Lady Antebellum.[2] With the group, Scott has contributed to numerous hit singles, including multiple number-one releases on the Billboard country charts, and has received widespread acclaim for her vocal harmonies and songwriting.[3] Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Scott hails from a musical family; her mother is Grammy-winning country artist Linda Davis, and her father is songwriter Lang Scott.[4] She has a younger sister, Rylee Scott, who occasionally collaborates in family projects.[5] Beyond her work with Lady A, Scott has pursued gospel and contemporary Christian music, earning two Grammy Awards for the 2016 album Love Remains with Hillary Scott & The Scott Family, including wins for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and Best Contemporary Christian Music Song/Solo Performance for "Thy Will."[6] Overall, Scott has accumulated nine Grammy wins across her career.[3]Early life
Family background and upbringing
Hillary Scott was born on April 1, 1986, in Nashville, Tennessee, to parents deeply embedded in the country music industry.[7] Her mother, Linda Davis, is a country vocalist who won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1994 for the song "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye."[8] Her father, Lang Scott, worked as a session musician, including stints playing in Reba McEntire's band, and later as a producer and entrepreneur.[8][5] Scott grew up in Nashville surrounded by the professional music scene, with her parents' touring schedules shaping her early environment. She was homeschooled during kindergarten while accompanying her family on the road, reflecting the demands of her mother's career commitments.[9] Later, she attended elementary school and a private school while residing with her grandparents until age 13, allowing her continued proximity to the industry without full reliance on traditional schooling structures.[9] This setup provided direct exposure to recording sessions, performances, and Nashville's music ecosystem from a young age.[7] She has one sibling, a younger sister named Rylee Scott, with whom she later collaborated musically in family projects.[10][5] The family's involvement in music fostered an upbringing centered on practical immersion rather than formal institutional paths, prioritizing adaptability and hands-on experience amid professional demands.[11]Musical influences and early training
Hillary Scott grew up immersed in music through her parents, Grammy-winning country singer Linda Davis and musician Lang Scott, who exposed her to genres including country and gospel from an early age.[12] Her mother's collaborations, such as the 1993 duet "Does He Love You" with Reba McEntire—which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and earned a Grammy—provided direct exposure to professional country performance; Scott, then 7 years old, witnessed the music video shoot, though it initially frightened her due to its dramatic content.[13] Early influences included traditional country artists like Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, whose vocal styles and songwriting shaped Scott's approach, alongside gospel music from family sing-alongs and church involvement.[14][8] Scott began singing publicly at age 3, performing at church events, local Opry shows, and family gatherings in Nashville, often replicating her mother's repertoire.[8] She received no formal academic training but developed skills through familial guidance, becoming self-taught on piano and honing vocals via church choirs and home practice.[8] By age 8, she joined her mother onstage for a duet of "There’s Your Trouble," and in her mid-teens, she sang at Nashville churches and events, solidifying her interest after a Christmas show performance at age 14 prompted her commitment to a country music career.[8][15] Her songwriting foundations emerged from these personal, experiential roots rather than structured education, drawing on family dynamics and lived events to craft narratives grounded in authenticity over theoretical methods.[14] This pre-professional phase emphasized organic skill-building through repeated local performances, fostering a versatile style blending country storytelling with gospel harmony.[8]Career
Lady Antebellum formation and breakthrough (2006–2009)
Lady Antebellum formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2006 when vocalist Hillary Scott joined Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, who had been collaborating since middle school. The trio honed their craft through performances at local venues, emphasizing three-part vocal harmonies and co-writing songs that blended country and pop elements. This organic development in Nashville's music community laid the foundation for their breakthrough.[16][17] Signed to Capitol Records Nashville in July 2007, the group released their debut single "Love Don't Live Here" on October 2, 2007. The track peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, marking their first significant radio airplay and demonstrating early commercial viability driven by relatable lyrics and harmonious delivery.[18][19] Their self-titled debut album arrived on April 15, 2008, debuting at number 4 on the Billboard 200 with 47,000 first-week copies sold and topping the Top Country Albums chart. Supporting tours included opening slots for established artists like Martina McBride, which exposed them to larger audiences and built grassroots momentum. Follow-up singles such as "Lookin' for a Good Time" (number 59 Hot Country Songs peak) sustained chart presence, reflecting steady rather than explosive initial traction.[16][20] The group's recognition accelerated in late 2008 with a win for New Artist of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards, validating their collaborative songwriting and vocal synergy as key to emerging appeal amid a competitive field. By 2009, performances at major events further solidified their foothold, setting the stage for broader success without reliance on viral trends.[21]Rise to mainstream success with Lady A (2010–2019)
The release of the album Need You Now on January 26, 2010, marked Lady Antebellum's ascent to mainstream prominence, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and topping the Top Country Albums chart for 31 non-consecutive weeks.[22] The title track, released as a single in 2009 but peaking in 2010, reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, achieving diamond certification from the RIAA for 10 million units sold in the United States as of April 17, 2023.[23] Hillary Scott's co-lead vocals on the song, delivering its iconic opening verse, contributed to its crossover appeal, blending country elements with pop sensibilities that drove radio play across formats. Subsequent albums reinforced this trajectory, with Own the Night (2011) and Golden (2013) both debuting at number one on the Billboard 200, while 747 (2014) and Heart Break (2017) maintained strong chart positions, the former peaking at number two and the latter at number one on the Top Country Albums chart. Over this period, the band amassed nine number-one singles on the Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts, including "Just a Kiss" (2011) and "Downtown" (2013), with Scott's harmonies and shared leads providing harmonic depth that supported their commercial consistency.[24] At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards on February 13, 2011, Lady Antebellum secured five wins, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Country Song for "Need You Now," alongside Best Country Album for the Need You Now record, highlighting their polished production and vocal interplay.[25] The group earned additional Grammys in subsequent years, totaling seven by 2019, amid extensive touring such as the Own the Night Tour (2011–2012), which played over 100 dates and evidenced growing fan engagement through sold-out arenas.[26]Name change, trademark dispute, and recent developments (2020–present)
In June 2020, Lady Antebellum announced a rebranding to Lady A, citing the term "antebellum" as evoking the pre-Civil War American South and its ties to slavery and white plantation culture, which they stated made them "regretful and embarrassed" in light of ongoing national conversations about racial injustice following the death of George Floyd.[27][28] The group had informally abbreviated their name to "Lady A" since around 2010 and filed initial trademark applications for it that year, which faced no opposition at the time despite the band's growing national profile in country music.[29] The rebranding quickly led to a trademark conflict with Seattle-based blues singer Anita White, who had performed under the name Lady A since the 1980s in regional venues and released independent albums under it, though without federal trademark registration.[30] In July 2020, Lady A (the country group) filed a federal lawsuit against White seeking a declaratory judgment that their use of the name did not infringe hers, alleging she had demanded $10 million in compensation and rejected a prior $800,000 offer; White countersued in September 2020, claiming dilution of her established mark and seeking an injunction.[29][31] The dispute underscored the band's decade-long national branding efforts around "Lady A"—including merchandise, album promotions, and fan usage—contrasted with White's localized, non-commercial blues circuit presence, though media coverage highlighted the irony of overlooking a Black artist's prior claim amid the group's anti-racism gesture.[32] The parties settled amicably in February 2022 via mutual dismissal of claims, with both acknowledging the coexistence of their respective uses: the group's mainstream country audience versus White's niche blues following, without public disclosure of financial terms.[33][34] Post-settlement, Lady A released their ninth studio album, What a Song Can Do, on October 22, 2021, which debuted at number three on the Billboard Country Albums chart and featured singles like the title track peaking at number 28 on Country Airplay.[35] The group launched the supporting What a Song Can Do Tour in August 2021, with openers including Carly Pearce, spanning over 30 U.S. dates and emphasizing live performances as a return to pre-pandemic form.[36] Hillary Scott, as co-lead vocalist and a core songwriter, contributed to maintaining group dynamics during these years, co-writing tracks on the album and advocating for collaborative song selection processes amid lineup stability challenges in the broader country industry, where many acts have disbanded or pivoted.[37] By 2025, Lady A announced the 12-date This Winter's Night Tour for the holiday season, starting November 2025, focusing on festive sets with classics like "Christmas Vacation" to sustain fan engagement.[38] These efforts reflect the band's adaptation to post-rebranding realities, prioritizing touring revenue over radio dominance in a streaming-dominated market, with Scott's vocal harmonies central to their signature sound.Hillary Scott & the Scott Family
Hillary Scott formed Hillary Scott & the Scott Family following the death of her paternal grandfather, W.M. "Papaw" Scott, from leukemia in 2011, an event that prompted the family to process grief through shared faith and music.[39][40] Her father, Lang Scott, a professional songwriter, suggested recording hymns and spiritual songs as a therapeutic response, initially for private circulation among the roughly 300 individuals who cared for her grandfather during his illness.[41] This familial initiative contrasted with Scott's commercial work in Lady A by prioritizing intimate, unpolished expressions of vulnerability rooted in personal loss, fostering a sense of authenticity derived from blood ties and shared emotional history.[42] The group's debut album, Love Remains, was released on June 17, 2016, via EMI Nashville and Capitol Christian Music Group, comprising 13 tracks that blend country, gospel, and contemporary Christian elements.[43] Produced by bluegrass icon Ricky Skaggs, it features vocals from Scott alongside her mother, Grammy-winning country singer Linda Davis; her father, Lang Scott; and her younger sister, Rylee Scott, who contributed harmonies and stories to approximately half the songs.[44] Additional inspiration came from Scott's personal miscarriage in late 2015, which directly influenced co-writing the lead single "Thy Will" as a raw plea amid suffering.[40] The project eschewed extensive promotion in favor of organic, faith-centered appeal, resulting in limited touring but sustained resonance within Christian music audiences. "Thy Will," co-written by Scott with Bernie Herms and Emily Weisband, topped the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart in July 2016 and crossed over to No. 27 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The track's Grammy win for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017, alongside Love Remains securing Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, underscored its impact as a vessel for faith-based songwriting amid adversity.[41][45] These accolades highlighted the album's role as one of 2016's top Christian releases, affirming the causal link between familial solidarity in crisis and its enduring niche success.[46]Solo projects and collaborations
Scott has contributed as a songwriter to tracks recorded by other artists, drawing from personal experiences to infuse lyrics with themes of resilience and emotional recovery. For instance, she co-wrote "A Little Bit Stronger" with Luke Laird and Hillary Lindsey, inspired by her own breakup, which Sara Evans released as a single reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in April 2011 and marking Evans' fifth chart-topper.[47][48] She also co-wrote "Suffocating" for Blake Shelton, featured on his 2013 album Based on a True Story..., exploring themes of relational strain.[48] In addition to songwriting, Scott has provided guest vocals on recordings by fellow country and contemporary Christian artists. She featured on Thomas Rhett's 2020 single "Be a Light," alongside Reba McEntire, Chris Tomlin, and Keith Urban, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart and emphasized communal encouragement during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Christian music genre, she collaborated with for KING & COUNTRY on a 2020 version of "For God Is With Us," earning a 2023 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.[49] Further ventures include her feature on Anne Wilson's 2022 single "Mamas," a tribute to motherhood blending country and faith elements,[50] and participation in the 2024 collaborative rendition of "How Great Thou Art (Until That Day)" with Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, and TAYA.[51] These efforts highlight Scott's involvement in worship-oriented projects outside her primary group affiliations.Personal life
Marriage and family
Hillary Scott married musician Chris Tyrrell on January 7, 2012, in upstate New York, surrounded by family and close friends.[52][53] The couple has four daughters: Eisele Kaye (born 2013), twins Betsy and Emory (born 2018 following fertility treatments after a miscarriage), and Selah Jean (born July 25, 2025).[54][55] Scott publicly documented her fertility challenges, including a miscarriage in 2015 that occurred when Eisele was approximately two years old, and subsequent losses that prompted the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for the twins, whom she described as "a double blessing" amid ongoing struggles through 2020.[56][40] The family has navigated the demands of Scott's touring schedule by integrating the children into life on the road, a approach informed by Scott's own upbringing amid her mother's performances, which involved homeschooling to maintain continuity.[57] This setup allows for family cohesion despite professional commitments, with Scott emphasizing perseverance through public accounts of repeated miscarriages and IVF as key to expanding their household to four daughters by mid-2025.[55][58] The couple announced Selah's impending arrival on February 13, 2025, highlighting their commitment to family growth over a decade after their wedding.[59]Religious faith and worldview
Hillary Scott was raised in a Christian household, where faith formed a foundational element of her upbringing, including participation in church activities such as singing hymns.[60] Her commitment to Christianity has persisted into adulthood, manifesting in public expressions of reliance on biblical principles for navigating personal challenges, including a 2015 miscarriage that prompted raw reflections on divine sovereignty rather than unexamined optimism.[61] [62] Scott has actively engaged in church life, including leading worship services at congregations in Nashville, and has channeled her beliefs into projects like the 2016 gospel album Love Remains, which she described as an act of obedience to God amid secular career demands.[63] [64] This integration of faith contrasts with prevailing norms in the country music industry, where she has openly discussed sustaining spiritual convictions through prayer and scripture amid touring pressures and professional uncertainties, often prioritizing family stability over relentless schedules.[65] [66] Her worldview emphasizes submission to God's plan, even amid doubt and loss, as evidenced by statements affirming trust in divine purposes despite apparent hardships, which she credits for providing resilience in both personal trials and career decisions.[67] This approach has informed advocacy for traditional family values, including public sharing of fertility struggles that underscore the sanctity of life from conception without recourse to industry-favored evasions.[68]Media appearances
Television and film roles
Scott appeared as a guest advisor for contestants during season 4 of the NBC singing competition The Voice in 2013. Lady A, featuring Scott, performed "Need You Now" on American Idol season 9 on April 28, 2010, and "Just a Kiss" on season 10 on May 5, 2011. The group collaborated with Stevie Nicks for a performance episode of CMT Crossroads that aired on May 22, 2013, and with Earth, Wind & Fire on another installment broadcast on July 6, 2017. Scott appeared with Lady A as performers on the CMA Country Christmas special, which aired on November 27, 2019.[69] On December 11, 2024, Scott performed the holiday duet "Hard to Wait for Christmas" alongside her daughter Eisele Kaye Tyrrell on NBC's TODAY morning program.[70] Scott has no credited acting roles in feature films, with her on-screen work limited to these promotional and performance-based television spots tied to her music career.Discography
Albums with Lady A
Hillary Scott serves as the female lead and harmony vocalist on Lady A's studio albums, often sharing lead duties with Charles Kelley on key tracks such as "Just a Kiss" from Need You Now.[71] The group's debut album, Lady Antebellum, released on April 15, 2008, via Capitol Nashville, achieved double platinum certification in the United States for shipments exceeding 2 million units.[16] Their sophomore effort, Need You Now, issued on January 26, 2010, became their commercial pinnacle, earning 6× platinum status from the RIAA for over 6 million units shipped domestically.[22] Subsequent releases maintained strong performance on country charts. Own the Night (September 13, 2011) reached platinum certification shortly after launch, debuting at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.[72] Golden (2013) and 747 (2014) each received gold certification, reflecting sustained fan engagement amid evolving pop-country production.[73] Heart Break followed in 2017, marking a introspective turn before the group's 2020 rebranding from Lady Antebellum to Lady A due to cultural sensitivities around the term "antebellum."[74]| Album | Release Date | US Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Lady Antebellum | April 15, 2008 | 2× Platinum |
| Need You Now | January 26, 2010 | 6× Platinum |
| Own the Night | September 13, 2011 | Platinum |
| Golden | May 7, 2013 | Gold |
| 747 | September 30, 2014 | Gold |
| Heart Break | November 10, 2017 | - |
Albums with Hillary Scott & the Scott Family
Love Remains is the sole album released by Hillary Scott & the Scott Family, issued on July 29, 2016, via Capitol Records.[78] The project features Hillary Scott alongside her parents, country singer Linda Davis and musician Lang Scott, and her sister Rylee Scott, blending original compositions with gospel covers to emphasize familial harmony and acoustic instrumentation recorded live in Nashville studios.[8] Produced by bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs, the album highlights the Scott family's musical interplay, with contributions from each member on vocals and select instruments, fostering an intimate, unpolished sound reflective of their shared heritage.[41] Thematically, Love Remains grapples with grief, faith, and restoration, primarily inspired by the 2011 death of Scott's grandfather, W. Scott Jr., from leukemia, which prompted the family to channel personal loss into songs of redemption and divine perseverance.[39] Recording sessions incorporated mementos like her grandfather's Bible placed in the studio, underscoring the album's roots in familial mourning and spiritual resilience; tracks such as the title song and "Come Thou Fount" evoke this through hymn-like arrangements tied to his enduring influence.[79] Additional layers of personal trial, including Scott's miscarriage, informed select songs like the lead single "Thy Will," broadening the narrative to encompass broader redemptive arcs without overshadowing the grandfather's pivotal role.[40] Commercially, the album peaked at number 7 on the Billboard 200 and dominated Christian music charts, with sustained radio airplay for singles like "Thy Will," which topped the Billboard Christian Airplay chart.[42] It received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2017, affirming its critical reception within the genre.[41] No further full-length releases have followed, establishing Love Remains as a singular, event-driven endeavor rooted in the family's response to tragedy rather than an ongoing series.[80]Solo and featured singles
Scott's most notable solo single, "Thy Will" (credited to Hillary Scott & the Scott Family), was released on May 13, 2016, and topped the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart for the week of July 23, 2016, holding the position for multiple weeks.[81] The track also led the Christian Digital Track Sales chart for eight consecutive weeks, reflecting strong reception within the gospel genre amid her transition from mainstream country.[82] Its crossover appeal yielded limited country airplay, underscoring the niche impact of her gospel-leaning solo work outside Lady A. In 2024, Scott issued independent singles including "Broken Dreams," a reflective track emphasizing personal resilience, and the holiday duet "Hard to Wait for Christmas" featuring her daughter Eisele Kaye, written collaboratively with her husband Chris Tyrrell and inspired by family advent traditions.[83][84] These releases, available on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, prioritized familial and faith-based themes over commercial charting pursuits, with no reported peaks on major Billboard tallies as of late 2024. Among featured appearances, Scott contributed vocals to Thomas Rhett's "Be A Light" (2020), a collaborative single with Reba McEntire, Chris Tomlin, and Keith Urban that debuted at No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved broader Christian radio play.[85] Earlier, she provided harmony vocals on Sara Evans' "A Little Bit Stronger" (2010), the lead single from Evans' album of the same name, which highlighted Scott's early songwriting and backing role in country hits.[86] Additional features include "Mamas" with Anne Wilson and "Fear Is Not Welcome" with Brian Courtney Wilson, both emphasizing inspirational messaging but with modest chart visibility confined to streaming metrics.[87]Awards and recognition
Grammy Awards and other honors
Hillary Scott has accumulated nine Grammy wins and seventeen nominations, largely credited through her contributions to Lady A and her family band project.[3] With Lady A, she shared in six Grammy victories, highlighted by the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011, where the group won five categories for the album Need You Now and its title track: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Country Album, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance.[26][25] An earlier win came at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2010 for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "I Run to You."[88] In the contemporary Christian genre, Scott won two Grammys at the 59th Annual Awards in 2017 as part of Hillary Scott & The Scott Family for the album Love Remains: Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Thy Will."[89][90] A 2023 nomination followed for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "God Is With Us," reflecting ongoing recognition in faith-based music amid fewer major wins post-2020.[3] Scott's honors extend to the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, where Lady A secured multiple victories, including Vocal Group of the Year at both organizations and Single of the Year at the CMA for consecutive years in 2009 and 2010.[91] These, combined with Grammy achievements and RIAA certifications such as multi-platinum status for Lady A albums, affirm her empirical impact in country music, though industry-wide shifts have curtailed high-profile awards since 2020.[25]Chart performance and commercial success
Lady A, the country music trio featuring Hillary Scott as lead vocalist, has achieved substantial commercial success through album sales, digital streams, and chart dominance on Billboard rankings. The group's debut album, Lady Antebellum (2008), peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 7 on the Billboard 200, with over 3 million units certified in the United States by the RIAA.[77] Their breakthrough single "I Run to You" reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart for five weeks and No. 27 on the Hot 100, contributing to early crossover appeal driven by Scott's harmonious vocals and the band's radio-friendly production.[92] The 2010 album Need You Now marked a commercial pinnacle, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 480,000 copies and topping the Top Country Albums chart.[93] The title track "Need You Now" spent five weeks at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs, peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100, and has endured with over 12 million certified units in the U.S. as of 2023, reflecting sustained streaming and download revenue from its emotional balladry and broad radio rotation rather than external cultural narratives.[94] Subsequent releases like Own the Night (2011) also hit No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums, with the group accumulating multiple No. 1 singles on Hot Country Songs through the 2010s, underscoring Scott's vocal synergy with bandmates Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood as a key driver of playlisting and airplay.[95] Scott's side project, Hillary Scott & the Scott Family, added niche commercial viability in the Christian music market. Their debut album Love Remains (2016) debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and No. 2 on Top Country Albums, bolstered by the single "Thy Will" reaching No. 1 on Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay.[96] This release generated first-week sales sufficient to secure top positions across formats, appealing to faith-based audiences through family-oriented gospel influences without relying on mainstream country infrastructure.[82]| Key Lady A Singles | Peak Hot Country Songs | Peak Hot 100 | U.S. Certifications (RIAA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Need You Now" (2010) | No. 1 (5 weeks) | No. 2 | 12× Platinum[94] |
| "Just a Kiss" (2011) | No. 1 (10 weeks) | No. 7 | 3× Platinum |
| "We Owned the Night" (2012) | No. 1 | No. 9 | Platinum |