Tanner Adell’s new single “Going Blonde” tells the emotional story of her adoption and identity journey.
Country-pop singer Tanner Adell delivers her most personal release yet with “Going Blonde,” a vulnerable and honest new single that peels back the layers of the artist’s identity and story. The track is out now, marking her first release of 2025 and a poignant preview of her upcoming debut album.
Written solo in a Nashville bar, “Going Blonde” was born from the emotional fallout of a shocking discovery. After taking an ancestry DNA test gifted by her adoptive parents, Adell connected with her biological brother and learned that the story she was told about her birth and adoption was false—and that her birth mother had passed away before they could meet.
Clinging to a single image of her mother—blonde, blue-eyed, and strikingly similar to Dolly Parton—Adell began to find healing through the country legend’s music. Parton’s debut song “Dumb Blonde” sparked a connection that reframed how Adell saw herself and her heritage.
“Being blonde has been something that’s been a major part of my identity,” she says. “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.”
Adell shared her story on social media in a multi-part video series, opening the door to deeper connection with fans. “Going Blonde” signals a turning point as Adell reveals the woman behind the music—still the fierce ‘Buckle Bunny’ her fans adore, but more whole than ever.
