Tanner Adell and Her ‘Blackbiird’ Collaborators Keep in Touch After Joining Beyoncé’s Beatles Cover (Exclusive)

Adell called Paul McCartney's approval of the recording "one of the more iconic things to happen to me"

Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer and Tiera Kennedy pose for the 2024 CMT Music Awards portraits at the Moody Center on April 07, 2024 in Austin, Texas.
(left to right) Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer and Tiera Kennedy in April 2024. Photo:

John Shearer/Getty

Tanner Adell and the other country artists who joined Beyoncé to record a new version of The Beatles’ song “Blackbird” are still in touch, months after recording the track.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in Nashville, Adell said she is still in contact with Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts and Tiera Kennedy

That was unsurprising since the quartet previously showed off similar tattoos they got after working on “Blackbiird” during the CMT Awards in April. Although they are not the same, the tattoos all depict birds. Adell’s shows a bird wearing cowboy boots, while Roberts’ tattoo has the words “Thou shall reign heavenly fire” framed by black wings.

Tanner Adell visits Spotify House at CMA Fest 2024 - Day 1 at Ole Red on June 06, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Tanner Adell in June 2024.

Ed Rode/Getty

Adell calls Beyoncé’s decision to include her, Kennedy, Roberts and Spencer on “Blackbiird” “really a special move” and shows her support for Black female country artists.

“It’s kind of weirdly her wrapping her wings around us and saying, ‘Time to fly little babies,’ ” Adell jokes with PEOPLE.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“Blackbird” was written by Paul McCartney in 1968 as a response to the civil rights movement he saw unfolding in the U.S. and was inspired by the Little Rock Nine. In response to Beyoncé’s recording, McCartney said it “reinforces the civil rights message” that inspired him 56 years ago.

"I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place," McCartney wrote in an Instagram post. "I think Beyoncé has done a fab version and would urge anyone who has not heard it yet to check it out. You are going to love it!"

Beyonce East Rutherford 07 29 23
Beyoncé in July 2023.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

McCartney’s response is “one of the more iconic things to happen to me,” Adell tells PEOPLE. 

Now that Adell has a collaboration with Beyoncé on her resume, her next steps include the release of her single “Too Easy” from the Twisters soundtrack and her first album for LVRN Records. She signed with the label earlier this month, after leaving Sony Columbia. 

Adell describes LVRN as a “family,” noting that it felt like she was “walking into a home” when she arrived at the label. The singer teases that “people are going to hear my story this year” when her new music is released.

Related Articles