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Darius Rucker is teaming up with beloved America’s Got Talent trio Chapel Hart as he puts the final touches on his forthcoming album. Rucker and Chapel Hart, who recently made their Grand Ole Opry debut, will collaborate on “Ol’ Church Hymn,” releasing the song at the end of this month. The song comes shortly after the “Beers and Sunshine” star joined forces with the trio for a performance of Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About” during the America’s Got Talent season finale last week.
“Ol’ Church Hymn” is a gospel-inspired love song, written by Rucker, Ben Hayslip, Josh Miller and Greylan James, according to a press release from Rucker’s record label: “You soothe my soul like an ol’ church hymn/ Found in a book in the back of a pew/ Born again love I’m a new person/ Hand in the air hallelujah/ Amen, Amen, Amen/ Amen, Amen, Amen/ You soothe my soul like an ol’ church hymn.”
Chapel Hart — made up of sisters and cousins Danica Hart, Trea Swindle and Devynn Hart — captivated audiences ever since their golden buzzer audition on the smash-hit NBC competition show. They delivered a rendition of “You Can Have Him, Jolene,” an original song inspired by Dolly Parton’s iconic 1970s hit, “Jolene.” Danica explained during the trio’s high-energy audition: “…We were so inspired by the song ‘Jolene,’ and we just loved the storyline. We figured, though, from 1973 to 2022, we could not still be fighting over this same man. So, we decided to tell her, you can just have him, Jolene!”
Since then, Chapel Hart has earned praise from some of country music’s biggest legends, including Loretta Lynn — who wondered what Chapel Hart “might be able to do with one of my songs!” — and Tanya Tucker, who said the group has “a great vibe. It’s so different.”
“Like so many people, I was blown away when I saw Chapel Hart’s original response to ‘Jolene,’” Rucker said in the release from his record label. “I was recording ‘Ol’ Church Hymn’ at the time and instantly had this vision of it becoming a duet once I heard their voices. I’m so thankful they said yes to singing on it with me, and I can’t wait to see the huge career they’re going to have.”
Devynn recently shared: “He really took a chance on us… He saw some of our stuff online and he was like ‘I love what you ladies are doing. I have an idea and I want to hear you guys on this song.’”
“Ol’ Church Hymn” is set to release on Friday, September 30.