February 9, 2024 (Los Angeles, CA) - 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 Make It On My Own,” out now on Mercury Records / Nashville.
Fans can also hear the heartbreakingly beautiful cover live tomorrow night at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry. The song will also be on Sam’s new album coming soon.
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 Make It On My Own” was Tammy Wynette’s 15th #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.
Sam and Carter’s collaboration proves that although the country music scene is ever-evolving, its legacy rests in extremely capable hands.
