Singers scheduled to perform May 10 in Biloxi

When Hart sisters Devynn and Danica, along with their cousin, Trea Swindle, a.k.a. Chapel Hart, make a stop on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, it’s not just another tick in their tour schedule. It’s a special place, the trio says, that has helped set them on a course to follow their dreams.
     “This is our home and where it all started,” Danica said of the country music group’s success that has taken them from the small Mississippi town of Poplarville to the big stages in Nashville, Tenn., Los Angeles, Calif., and as far away as the United Kingdom.
     “It’s not an easy journey, but if you dedicate yourself to it, keep your faith in the good Lord and work hard, there’s nothing that can come between you and your goals.”
     This spring, Chapel Hart will headline for Biloxi’s Ground Zero Blues Club, 814 Howard Ave., on May 10 starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.  
     According to the talented ladies, performing in their good ol’ Magnolia State is the group’s favorite pastime.
     “We are always trying to find our way back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Devynn.
     Just last month, the group accepted invitations to lead as Grand Marshals in two of the region’s Mardi Gras parades including Krewe of Neptune in Biloxi on February 10, and Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse Lundi Gras in Bay St. Louis on February 12.

     In Biloxi, crowds lined the streets for a glimpse of the performers who stole the hearts of fans with their bright smiles and dazzling red attire. Atop a float with Miss Mississippi Vivian O’Neal of Hattiesburg, Miss., and Miss Biloxi Katelyn Perry, the singers’ high energy and enthusiasm kept onlookers excited and engaged as the nighttime procession moved along its route through the city’s downtown area.
Motivating others to remain hopeful, faithful and to never give up on reaching for something more in life are just some of the inspiring messages the singers aim to carry over into their music.
     “We want our songs and our story to resonate with people in a way that encourages them to take that thing they know or that limitation they may think they have and run with it; put their focus on their own unique talent or situation and build on it,” Danica said.
     “If we can do it, anyone can.”

     Chapel Hart was born in the mid-2000’s on the streets of New Orleans, just 75 miles from the hometown church their named after.
     “We all grew up singing together as children in Hart’s Chapel (Poplarville, Miss.),” said Danica. “Then we decided to move to New Orleans. We had a mobile van. We grabbed a keyboard and set up in the street and started singing. We had no idea the streets would fill up.”
     Eventually, the artists started playing gigs at venues in New Orleans and then traveling to perform in Nashville. And it didn’t take long before audiences noticed their talents as incredible vocalists with a natural ability to capture a crowd and bring them to their feet.
According to family friend, Nina Stevison of Poplarville, the singers still get surprised when they have sold out concerts. 

     “All three of these ladies are just so kind and down to earth that they don’t even realize just how loved and how famous they are,” said Stevison. “And I think that’s what makes them so special.”
     Alice Smith, also of Poplarville, a traveling nurse and mother to Trea and aunt to Devynn and Danica, said, “Our entire family is proud of the accomplishments of Chapel Hart. Their dedication and determination to rise above all the challenges should inspire everyone whether in or out of the entertainment industry.
     “Their success is proof that with God all things are possible.”
     To date, the spirited performers continue to pack venues across the country and beyond. As stated on their web site, the singers “embody the sweet and southern sound of country with the soulful undertones noting their gospel roots,” and “have found a way to gift wrap their Mississippi roots and Louisiana spunk and share it with listeners around the world.”
     The vocalists attribute their musical style and ability to stay humble amid the attention from thousands of fans from across the nation to their strong ties to church and community.
     “We were raised in church by our grandparents – preachers and deacons,” said Danica. “The saying always was ‘If you ain’t wearing boots seven days a week then you’re not really from the South.’ We are reminded, too, to be proud of our Mississippi heritage and ‘don’t get too big for your britches.’
     “It helps keep us grounded.”

     Friend Janna Graham of Poplarville affirms the three ladies are doing just that. Graham was close friends with Devynn in high school where the two shared a love for country music and artists like Patsy Cline, Reba McEntyre, Tanya Tucker and Wynonna Judd.
     “When people hear ‘Chapel Hart,’ I’m sure some think, ‘just another group searching for fame and fortune,’” said Graham. “…but not these girls.”
     “These girls are the most genuine, true grit, home grown and funniest people around. And now seeing Chapel Hart amongst some of those greatest female artists is incredible to me! The determination and will power these girls have gone through to get where they are today is beyond words for me. I pray they keep climbing that chain and enjoy their success with one another so that one day, when I’m in my 70’s, I’ll be able to add Chapel Hart to my list of the greatest, old country music.”

     The group has independently released three studio albums and eleven singles. Shortly after the release of their album “Out the Mud” in 2019, the group was discovered by their producer and manager Jeff Glixman, who has produced, mixed or remastered artists like Black Sabbath, Ludacris, the Allman Brothers, Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley.
     In 2020, the trio performed their standalone single “Jesus & Alcohol” with ZZ Top member Billy Gibbons. A music video featuring Gibbons was also produced for the song.
     According to Danica, Gibbons’ support of the trio and their music placed the group in a pinnacle position in their career.
     “It was unbelievable to us that someone like Billy Gibbons would notice us as performers,” said Danica. “He flew from LA to Nashville to see us and eventually make music with us. It has really been an eye-opening experience and reminds us that no matter how high up you get, remember to stay human.
     “And whenever you get a chance to pull someone up or if you’re ever in a position to help pull someone up, then, pull them up.”

     Chapel Hart traveled back to Poplarville to film the video for their song, “Made For Me.” The song is about having big dreams in a small town. It’s also about growing up in Poplarville, which was also home to the late musician Jimmy Buffett during his college years at Pearl River College, and about leaving the past and the town’s history behind in search of those dreams.
     While filming the video, Chapel Hart was presented with a “Key to The City” by Poplarville city mayor and aldermen for their numerous contributions to their hometown community, for returning home to celebrate their success with local citizens, and for the healing and unifying power of their music.
     Other songs by the group, including their single “I Will Follow,” have also garnered a music video production.
     According to Trea, the song tells the story of the group’s unwavering dedication to continue to follow their hearts no matter the obstacle.

     “It’s a song about our journey,” said Trea, adding that the title joins two others, including the group’s “Glory Days” and “Love in Letting Go,” that will be part of the soundtrack for the new movie, “Bull Street,” a drama, starring Loretta Devine and Amy Madigan, about a woman who faces the battle of her life when her estranged father’s family tries to evict her and her grandmother from the only home she has ever known.
     In February, just one day before their parade appearances on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the singers returned after a flight to Los Angeles, where they attended a special Red Carpet event for the movie’s premiere.
     “We’ve been blessed on this journey with so many memorable moments,” said Trea, also citing their America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer performance, taking on country music’s biggest stage at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, openings at the CMT Awards, and much more.
     In July 2022, Chapel Hart’s popularity soared while competing in the seventeenth season of America’s Got Talent, where they finished fifth. And earlier this year, the group was invited back to perform in the popular TV show’s AGT: Fantasy League.
     Also in 2022, Chapel Hart was featured on Darius Rucker’s single “Ol’ Church Hymn.” They also made their Grand Ole Opry debut and were personally requested by country music legend Loretta Lynn to write the single “Welcome to Fist City” before she died, just as the group had done when they wrote the Dolly Parton spin-off “You Can Have Him Jolene.” The song, an answer to Parton’s 1973 track “Jolene,” earned “International Song of the Year” with performances earning them the title of “International Group of the Year” in Scotland. They were also nominated in multiple categories by the British CMAs including “Group of the Year” and “Album of the Year” for their second studio album “The Girls Are Back in Town.”
     The talented trio kicked off 2023 with their 60-date tour featuring their third album “Glory Days,” and last spring took the stage at the Country Music Television (CMT) Music Awards. The group was previously inducted into CMT’s Next Women of Country in 2021 and named one of the 20 artists in CMT’s Listen Up Class of 2023.

     To date, the group, which reports say is currently working on their first Christmas album, continues to operate independently under a label. The status, they say, while not ideal, allows the singers to have more control over the songs they write and the way they perform them. Apart from just a couple of songs, Chapel Hart has written all of their own tunes. And they enjoy the freedom to maintain personal connections with their fans and focus on producing music that sparks inspiration and growth; two objectives that are very important to them, both personally and professionally.
     Together, the vocalists – Danica, the matriarch; Devynn, the peacemaker; and Trea, the tech expert – started breaking into the country music industry at the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic and have been uplifting other Black women in the genre ever since.
     “That was the year we decided to really jump in,” said Danica about their decision to start working with their manager and producer and take a chance on investing everything they had into turning their love for music into a career. “While the rest of the world shut down, we were like, “Let’s go!”
     To learn more about Chapel Hart and the group’s upcoming shows, and to follow along with them on their journey, visit www.chapelhart.com.

On the cover: Mississippi Gulf Coast residents Donny and Nina Stevison, are greeted by Chapel Hart singers – Hart sisters Danica and Devynn, and their cousin Trea Swindle – during a recent performance in the trio’s hometown of Poplarville, Miss. Nina, also of Poplarville, has been friends with Swindle’s mother, Alice Smith, a traveling nurse, ever since the two once worked together at South Mississippi Regional Center headquartered in Long Beach, Miss.

Amanda Compton-Ortiz

Amanda Compton-Ortiz holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the University of Mississippi. She relocated from North Mississippi to Long Beach in October 2016. Amanda has worked for more than 20 years in journalism, leading and reporting for various community news publications throughout the state. She has received numerous awards for her editorial contributions from the Mississippi Press Association and placed among 224 universities competing across the United States and Canada for Reach, a personally created magazine for women.