Taylon Hope

In the Footsteps of Legends

Introducing Taylon Hope, a local rising star who’s making her mark in the world of country music. As a current student at Belmont University and graduate of Battle Ground Academy, Taylon is a young artist boldly carving her path in the industry. Her unique blend of classic storytelling with a modern edge captures the essence of country music, influenced by icons like Dolly Parton and Vince Gill. Her music resonates deeply, bridging generations and striking a chord with her audience.

YW: With musical influences like Dolly Parton and Vince Gill, how have they shaped your style and approach to country music?

TH: Dolly and Vince are two of my favorite artists of all time. Their music has helped shape me as a writer, and I desire for my songs to tell life stories like their songs do. I want you to see it being played out as you sing it. Whether I am riding down the road singing “Tennessee Mountain Home” by Dolly or “When I Call Your Name” by Vince. They write about real life, and they touch people with those stories. I want to be the same both as a person and in my songs. I only hope to be the artists they have become and to touch lives with my music as they have.

YW: You’ve worked with Grammy Nominated Producer Kent Wells. What was it like collaborating with him, especially given his work with Dolly Parton?

TH: I met Kent through a wonderful lady named Ruth at Franklin First United Methodist Church. As I walked into the studio for the first time, I was so excited to think of recording my own songs. However, I had no idea I was walking into a wall full of platinum albums by Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. I mean, knowing my background and love for these artists, you can imagine my face. Kent was real, approachable, a dreamer like me, and he got country music and the roots where it comes from. That first day I met Kent, we went to the back of the studio, and I played piano for him and sang some of my favorite songs. We immediately started working together and have never stopped. I admire and value him so much as an amazing producer, mentor, and friend who is like family to me.

I met Dolly with Kent, and for sure, that was an iconic moment for me. Dolly was everything I dreamed about. She was so real, approachable, and kind to me. She just got my dreams. One of the moments that will forever be one of my most treasured memories was being an artist to open for Dolly Parton at the age of fifteen at the Ryman.

YW: Do you have a favorite venue based on acoustics, audience engagement, or some other factor, and if so, why?

TH: I have performed at the Grand Ole Opry on three occasions, my first being for the Ralph Stanley Tribute. Singing at the Grand Ole Opry is like no other stage to perform on because you can feel the tradition, the history, and the love for music when you are on that stage. It’s like the feeling of being home and with family. The crowd, the artists, and the staff at the Opry are all in it together; it’s a shared experience you won’t ever forget.

I have been blessed to play at The Listening Room as an ongoing artist. It is such a special place in that the respect shown for the songwriters is how it should be. When I started leading my own writing rounds and having “Taylon Hope” and friends begin at the Listening Room, that was a dream come true. I know, at that moment, I am doing something I love dearly.

YW: You’ve opened for artists like Shenandoah and T. Graham Brown. What have you learned from sharing the stage with such experienced musicians?

TH: I am so blessed to have these opportunities, and that they believed in me enough to allow me to share the stage with them means so much to me. You learn so much from them by watching their presence on stage and connection to their band and the crowd. You learn from hearing their stories about being on the road and what they have learned from those experiences. The dos and don’ts of handling being in this industry and taking care of yourself along

YW: You’re deeply involved in charitable work, from performing at the Ronald McDonald House to volunteering with Musicians On Call. Can you share more about these experiences and why they are important to you?

TH: The opportunities I have had to use music to help or heal others have truly been some of my most rewarding experiences. In North Carolina, I knew many family and church members who had used the Ronald McDonald house as somewhere to stay as they had family members battling Cancer or life-threatening illnesses. I asked my parents at Christmas if I could go sing. My mom reached out, and I began going once a month. I was so shocked at the impact that music had on families that we were visiting with. As I watched what these families had to endure as they helped their sick loved ones, I appreciated so much that the Ronald McDonald House was providing them with a beautiful, comfortable home, food and meeting all their needs. When I moved to Nashville, finding the Ronald McDonald House here was so important to me.

I recently began working and volunteering for Musicians On Call. I can’t describe what it feels like to take your guitar in the hospital and use music to give hope and healing and bring a smile to a patient’s face. Music is a language we can all share, and it brings us together, reminding us that we are in this life together. Don’t get me wrong, some of it is hard, for example, when you’re turned away because someone your age is too sick for the day. However, I take that as a time to pray for that person and pray that on that day, there is someone else I can visit with and help smile and connect with through music. I feel very strongly that if you are given gifts, it’s your responsibility to use those to give back to others. I want to always do that through my music!

YW: As someone who’s already made waves in the music scene, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the heart of Nashville, what’s the next exciting chapter in the Taylon Hope saga? Can fans expect more singles, albums, or perhaps something entirely different?

TH: I will be releasing a new single that I produced with Smith Currey. I have tried to become more vulnerable and real in my writing, and I think this shows in these new songs. In the New Year, I will be releasing my 5th album, and I am really excited about this one! I also plan to begin touring again. Now that I am settled in college, I hope you will see me traveling to some new and larger venues on the weekends. I feel like I have been working to gain all the experience since I was very young, and now it’s time to put all of that to use and go for it.

Taylon’s music can be streamed on all platforms, and you can follow her on all social media platforms @taylonhopemusic. You can also visit her website

taylonhopemusic.com.