Grammy-Nominated Singer Tenelle Represents American Samoa on ‘American Song Contest’
Trae Patton/NBC Reading Time: 2 minutes
Tenelle is representing her family on the first ever American Song Contest. She is a Samoan American singer/songwriter from Carson, California. Here’s everything you need to know about her and her career.
Tenelle brought her American Samoa pride to the American Song Contest. This singer was first seen during the fifth episode of qualifier rounds with her original song “Full Circle.” Her upbeat tune and bright personality landed her a place in the semifinals.
Even though Tenelle wasn’t born in American Samoa, she proudly represents her heritage in both the American Song Contest and everyday life. Tenelle filmed the music video for her 2018 release “Shine” on her grandmother’s property. Although it’s been years since this release, reports state that Tenelle’s grandmother still resides there.
This Singer is Proud to Represent Her Roots
At the age of 12, Tenelle began taking singing lessons with vocal coach Tim Carter. Her coach has worked with other artists such as Beyoncé and Willow Smith. She gained exposure at the time by singing at funerals, churches, and family gatherings. After graduating high school, she joined her three uncles in a band called Chord Brown. She began writing music around this time.
In 2008, she left Chord Brown to create a name for herself as a solo artist. Her career began as a regional performer on America’s west coast and in Oceania. Tenelle rose to fame after her single “Flava” released. The song rose on the iTunes chart and even hit No. 1. This song was written by Grammy Award winner, Meghan Trainor. Following her debut success, her third single was almost an immediate hit in Hawaii. It became the Honolulu’s most requested song on the contemporary hits station KCCN-FM.
Tenelle released her debut album For The Lovers in 2017. This album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart and earned the singer a Grammy Award nomination. She released his album under the label, Island Empire Records.
Tenelle’s Life Before the Competition
Ahead of the competition, Tenelle won multiple awards. Her most notable recognition was the award for Female Artist of The Year from Island Music Awards 2021. Before her performance on the series, she released her latest single “Fool In Love.”
Outside of music, Tenelle is the owner of the clothing line, 10×10 clothing Company. Her goal for this clothing line is to make the buyer inspired. Then name 10×10 comes from the number of new beginnings and the symbol of the authority of god. The company is currently selling hats, shirts, hoodies, and phone cases.
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