Rising Nashville stars Sam Williams and Carter Faith are adding their modern flair to a country classic for their cover of Tammy Wynette’s “‘Til I Can Make It On My Own,” out now on Mercury Records Nashville – listen HERE. Fans can also hear the heartbreakingly beautiful cover live tomorrow night at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry. The new song will also be featured on Williams’ upcoming project expected later this year.
On the significance of recording the cover, Williams shares, “This release is simply surreal in several ways. My new album was completed when this idea came about and this record became the cherry on top. I have always adored Carter Faith, from her music to her style and free-spirited personality. As we became closer, it was clear we should make some music together. I think we are very much cut from similar cloth. We’re from small towns and had big dreams that led us to a city that’s hard to cut through. I believe we’re making our mark now. Tammy Wynette being the legend she is, it was an honor to reinvent her beautiful words. It’s also very heartwarming to know she lived in Hank and Audrey, my grandparents’, home for a long time. Tammy purchased their home on Franklin Road after Audrey passed. History seems to tip its hat at me nowadays and I embrace the nod. I am so excited for everyone to hear what comes this year.”
“Recording ‘Til I Can Make It On My Own’ with Sam Williams was one of the most special moments of all time to me,” Faith says of the collaboration. “Tammy Wynette is a musical hero of mine and a major influence, and when my dear friend Sam—whose voice just hits me all the way to the heart every time I hear it—asked me to sing on a new version of this song, I was so honored and excited. I have always adored the honesty that Tammy wrote with and this song is such a beautiful example of that, heartbreaking and hopeful at the very same time. One of my favorite parts of the recording process was when we were all sitting around and getting ready before starting the session, we talked about what the song meant to us and how we wanted to honor it. More than anything, I just hope we made Tammy proud.”
Originally released in January 1976, “‘Til I Can Make It On My Own” was Tammy Wynette’s 15th No. 1 song at Country Radio, staying on the charts for 11 weeks. The song, which Wynette deemed her favorite composition she had written, perfectly captures the devastation of the end of a relationship. Last week, Wynette was honored with the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Special Merit Awards Ceremony, which praised her impact on the music industry.
As two of Nashville’s most exciting new talents, Williams and Faith pay homage to the iconic ballad while blending it with their uniquely contemporary perspectives. The accompanying music video exemplifies their ability to mix the past and present, seamlessly combining 70s-inspired silhouettes and vintage pieces with modern touches that reflect the artists’ identities.
Williams and Faith’s collaboration proves that although the country music scene is ever evolving, its legacy rests in extremely capable hands.
About Carter Faith:
Born and raised in North Carolina, Faith relocated to Nashville after college to pursue her dream of becoming a country musician, learning the ropes from seasoned professionals who saw her massive potential. Fast forward a few years, and Faith has solidified her place in an ever-changing country music scene with over 75 million global streams on tracks like “Wild,” “Greener Pasture” and “Already Crazy.” Her soaring vocals and authentic storytelling, paired with a delicate delivery and breezy confidence, have captivated audiences and led to stages shared with Little Big Town, Keith Urban and one of her biggest influences, Willie Nelson. She recently inked a deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, closed a sold-out show at the Ryman Auditorium and was featured in CMT’s LISTEN UP 2024 campaign highlighting rising country artists.
About Sam Williams:
Grandson of country pioneer Hank Williams and the son of outlaw legend Hank Jr., Sam Williams is the latest in a long line of American originals, who sings with his own singular voice and writes in his own singular style, fusing gut-wrenching honesty and plainspoken poetics with raw vulnerability and deep empathy. In 2021, Williams released his debut album, Glasshouse Children, which was a testament to his brilliant lyricism and soulful vocals and received rave reviews from Rolling Stone, Music Row, Associated Press, and so much more. In October 2022, Williams also unveiled a deluxe edition of the record, which featured “Tilted Crown,” a reflective track about navigating his legacy in life. Williams followed up his debut with a string of powerful singles in 2023, along with multiple shows at the Grand Ole Opry and show-stopping performances at Nashville’s CMA Fest and the UK’s Country 2 Country Fest. With more music coming in 2024, Sam continues to prove that he is making a legacy for himself that is completely his own.
