Chapel Hart
| Company type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Poplarville, Mississippi , United States |
| Products | Studio albums, singles, music videos |
Number of employees | 3 |
Chapel Hart, initially performing under the name Hyperphlyy, was a vocal trio rooted in American country music and hailing from Poplarville, Mississippi. The ensemble consisted of sisters Danica Hart and Devynn Hart alongside their cousin Trea Swindle, all contributing as vocalists. Chapel Hart independently produced four studio albums and released eleven singles. In July 2022, they participated in the seventeenth season of America's Got Talent, where they secured fifth place. Their rendition of "You Can Have Him Jolene", an answer song to Dolly Parton's iconic "Jolene", garnered a rare unanimous Golden Buzzer from all four judges—a distinction achieved only once before in the program’s history. Their sound prominently features vocal harmonization influenced by female country performers.
Music career
Originating from Poplarville, Mississippi, sisters Danica and Devynn Hart began collaborating musically in 2014 alongside their cousin Trea Swindle, initially performing cover songs as street musicians in New Orleans. They soon transitioned into crafting original material. In 2016, Danica and Swindle recorded an extended play entitled Made for Me under the name Hyperphlyy. The group expanded with Devynn’s inclusion by 2019, releasing the album Out the Mud still as Hyperphlyy. Their live appearances included festivals in Innsbruck, Austria, and various locations in Louisiana before adopting the name Chapel Hart, inspired by a church located in their hometown.
Early performances by Chapel Hart focused on tribute shows dedicated to female country artists within Nashville venues. Despite their efforts, securing a record deal proved challenging until 2020 when producer Jeff Glixman took on management and production roles. That year marked the release of "Jesus & Alcohol," featuring ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons on guitar and appearing in the accompanying music video alongside T. Graham Brown and Deborah Allen; this video was broadcast on CMT. Furthermore, Chapel Hart contributed backing vocals to LeRoux’s 2020 album One of Those Days.
In 2021, Chapel Hart was highlighted by CMT’s "Next Women of Country" initiative aimed at promoting rising female country artists. They released the single "I Will Follow," co-written by Jennifer Hanson and produced by Glixman and Nick Brophy; its music video included Jackyl’s Jesse James Dupree and was aired on CMT. Critics praised the track for its vocal delivery and arrangement reminiscent of groups such as SHeDAISY and the Chicks. Their third single, "You Can Have Him Jolene", launched in March 2021, took inspiration from Dolly Parton’s classic hit.
July 2021 saw the announcement of their second studio album, The Girls Are Back in Town, which featured both "I Will Follow" and "You Can Have Him Jolene," with production led by Glixman. MusicRow commended the album for emphasizing female empowerment within country music while embracing themes of love, harmony, diversity, and unity. The band followed up with a single and music video for "Made for Me" released in 2022.
America's Got Talent appearance and afterward
Chapel Hart had scheduled a mid-2022 tour alongside the Indigo Girls, but it was canceled after one member tested positive for COVID-19. During this downtime, NBC's America's Got Talent producer Lindsay Rush reached out several times before the group agreed to audition. On July 19th during season 17, their performance of "You Can Have Him Jolene" earned all four judges’ Golden Buzzers—an uncommon unanimous decision—advancing them straight to subsequent rounds. They progressed to the finals with performances including their original song "The Girls Are Back in Town" and a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s "Something to Talk About" featuring Darius Rucker. Ultimately, they placed fifth after delivering "American Pride".
Post-AGT, Chapel Hart made their debut appearance at the Grand Ole Opry on September 17, 2022, and were featured on Darius Rucker’s late-2022 single "Ol' Church Hymn". In October 2022, Danica Hart underwent surgery on her vocal cords which necessitated a period of rest. After recuperation, the group released "Glory Days" in January 2023, co-written with Jim Beavers; this single received acclaim for its narrative quality and harmonies though some critics offered mixed opinions regarding its lyrics.
In 2023, they also issued "Welcome to Fist City," an answer track to Loretta Lynn’s 1968 hit "Fist City", which Lynn had personally requested prior to her passing. Both songs appeared on their third studio album Glory Days, released in May 2023. This album was supported by a concert tour that included a performance at the CMA Music Festival, earning praise from reviewers for its rich vocal harmonies and energetic mood.
Chapel Hart returned to America's Got Talent spin-off series America's Got Talent: Fantasy League in January 2024 performing "American Pride" while simultaneously releasing a new single titled "2033". In that same year, they signed with Origins Records to produce their inaugural Christmas album Hartfelt Family Christmas, featuring collaborations with Darius Rucker, the Isaacs, Vince Gill, and T. Graham Brown. The trio made their California debut during the 2025 Rose Parade and performed at Jazz Fest in New Orleans in April. They unveiled the single "Perfect for Me" in January 2025 and collaborated with a cappella group Home Free on a cover of Beyoncé's "Texas Hold 'Em" released in May.
In July 2025, Danica publicly expressed discomfort within the band citing unspecified abuse allegations and contemplated departing but later withdrew her statement after receiving threats; she confirmed her commitment to continue with Chapel Hart. Despite this development, the group announced their disbandment in August. Devynn Hart and Trea Swindle intend to form a duo named Magnolia Rising while Danica plans to embark on a solo career.
Musical influences and style
In 2020, Danica revealed to the Houston Chronicle that albums by George Strait and Kenny Rogers had a significant impact on her musical development. Both she and Devynn acknowledged Gretchen Wilson as an important source of inspiration.[1] Joey Guerra from the Houston Chronicle emphasized Chapel Hart's emphasis on vocal harmonies, likening Danica's vocal tone to that of Etta James and observing a "classic girl group" influence in some of their tracks.[1] That same year, Swindle shared with American Songwriter that country music forms an essential part of their core: "Country music wasn't really a choice for us; it’s embedded in our upbringing and identity."[2] Jessica Nicholson of Billboard characterized their sound as a fusion of "intricately layered family harmonies combined with heartfelt, sincere lyrics".[3] Devynn mentioned that the encouraging reception to their America's Got Talent rendition of "You Can Have Him Jolene" inspired them to compose additional tracks for Glory Days.[3] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic describes Chapel Hart as "an energetic country harmony ensemble deeply rooted in tradition yet possessing a savvy, contemporary awareness".[4]
Studio albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| Out the Mud[lower-alpha 1] |
|
| The Girls Are Back in Town |
|
| Glory Days |
|
| Hartfelt Family Christmas |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| Made for Me[lower-alpha 2] |
|
Singles
| Single | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Digital | |||
| "Just Say I Love You" | 2019 | — | The Girls Are Back in Town |
| "Jesus & Alcohol" | 2020 | — | |
| "I Will Follow" | 2021 | — | |
| "You Can Have Him Jolene" | 4 | ||
| "Grown Ass Woman" (Mickie James with Chapel Hart) |
— | ||
| "The Girls Are Back in Town" | 21 | ||
| "Made for Me" | 2022 | — | — |
| "Ol' Church Hymn" (Darius Rucker with Chapel Hart) |
— | Carolyn's Boy | |
| "Glory Days" | 2023 | — | Glory Days |
| "Welcome to Fist City" | — | ||
| "2033" | 2024 | — | — |
| "Perfect for Me" | 2025 | — |
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| "Whenever Forever" | 2020 | N/A |
| "Country Paradise" | ||
| "Jesus & Alcohol" | David Abbott | |
| "I Will Follow" | 2021 | Nick Barrett Media |
| "You Can Have Him Jolene" | David Abbott | |
| "Made for Me" | 2022 | Edward Miller |
References
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedallmusic - ↑ "Hyperphlyy - Made for Me". Spotify. September 20, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
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- 2014 establishments in Mississippi
- African-American country musicians
- African-American musical trios
- America's Got Talent contestants
- Country music groups from Mississippi
- Family musical groups
- Musical groups established in 2014
- Musical groups disestablished in 2025
- People from Poplarville, Mississippi
- Vocal trios