She was named one of 20 to watch in 2020 by Women Of Country and regarded as “ Very Promising” by Music Critic Robert K. Oermann.
She’s opened shows for Shenandoah, T. Graham Brown and Suzy Bogguss.
She’s performed at legendary Nashville establishments like the Bluebird Cafe , The Texas Troubadour Theatre, The Nashville Palace, John A’s and Puckett’s .
She’s a signed artist for Dolly Parton’s DreamMore Resorts and performs at her resort annually.
She is Taylon Hope and she’s only 20 years old!
Q – Taylon I have to say I’ve never come across anyone named Taylon. Is that the name of one of your relatives? How’d you get that name?
A – I’m an only child and my parents were thinking of names and they were thinking maybe Taylor but they just kind of added an n instead of an r. It’s just kind of funny. I’ve never met another person named Taylon either.
Q- How did you make your way from North Carolina down to Nashville? Is that something you did on your own or did you move down with your parents?
A – I moved to Nashville with my parents when I was 12. It was kind of something where I was traveling so much back and forth working with my producer Kent Wells. He works with Dolly Parton. He’s traveled with Reba. He’s done a lot of stuff. It was just a big opportunity for me and he kind of said if you really want to be in the industry and be in the midst of everybody you kind of have to be in Nashville. So I was missing a lot of school. I was in elementary school at the time. I grew up singing in church. I started when I was 4. I started traveling doing different festivals once I learned how to play guitar. It was just kind of a thing where I did a lot in Nashville like doing CMA Fests. I was doing recording. Just real busy writing with a bunch of writers. At 12 I started going to a middle school here in Franklin where my parents are still at. I go to Belmont University now. I’ll be a Junior this coming year. It’s crazy to look back and see what a jump that was and how crazy it would have been if we would have never done that. From a very small town in North Carolina, Boone, it’s called West Jefferson, North Carolina. My parents were high-school sweethearts. My whole family is there in the town like I never, ever left. I think it’s kind of cool that we got to experience living somewhere different, being close to a city and having all these opportunities. I think they really enjoy seeing me get to do it. It’s really awesome that they supported me. It’s been awesome that Nashville supported me since I was very young doing this. I’ll be 20 on Sunday ( May 18th 2025). So, it’s kind of cool to see all the support I’ve gotten as a young artist. It’s awesome.
Q – What are you studying at Belmont University?
A – My major is Media and Entertainment Industry so that I can go into a lot of things like Broadcasting. I thought about doing tv stuff like Opry Entertainment and CMT.
Something like that. And my minor is songwriting. So, I get to take some of those courses as well. So, it’s really cool – I get to do the Media side of the industry. There’s so many amazing professors at Belmont in the industry. There’s so many opportunities through the college. I Just enjoy getting all those opportunities as a college student. It’s a beautiful campus too. I love it.
Q – I would guess you can’t make a living playing Nashville clubs. Have you ever worked at anything other than music?
A- Yeah. I actually have an internship right now with an entertainment and magazine co. They host a lot of big events in Nashville. I’ve always had a Summer job in school. I’ve lifeguarded. Just to make my own money. I enjoyed that. I really like being independent. Of course I do have a lot of shows that do pay a lot. I’ve been doing Category 10 in Nashville and the ‘Ole Red in Nashville. I play The Listening Room all the time. Of course big festivals pay but you have a band. Music is something I do because I enjoy it. I God has given me a gift and I should be out there. I sing in hospitals. Musicians On Call is a great organization not only in Nashville but in a lot of big cities across the U.S. I get to go into hospital rooms and sing to kids. Anybody that has a long lasting illness , any age. I do a lot with the Ryan Seacrest Studio which is downstairs. It’s like a little radio show. That’s one of the best things I’ve ever done that I enjoy the most. I know it makes others happy and makes people appreciate the power of music and it’s really cool to use a gift for something like that. That’s something I’m really passionate about.
Q – You played the legendary Bluebird Café. Have you ever looked out into the audience and seen any famous faces?
A – I have not specifically at Bluebird, but I have seen some famous writers and artists at the Bluebird. It’s funny it’s such a dark room. You kind of never know who’s there. That’s the thing with those rooms, they keep them very dark. It’s kind of crazy ‘cause you never know who could be in the audience. You never know who could be wandering around. There’s just people everywhere. I see Carrie Underwood a lot walking around in Franklin in downtown. It’s kind of funny ‘cause a lot of people in Nashville respect them and don’t really go up to them. You just kind of let them live and do their own thing. I’ve run into a lot of people. Everyone I’ve met has been so awesome.
Q – What is Dolly Parton’s DreamMore Resort? Is that part of Dollywood?
A – Yes. She has two resorts there now. I got to sing a lot at Dollywood but it’s basically where a lot of people come stay and there’s a little bus that takes you over to the park. She’s opening a new hotel in Nashville. She’s going to have places everywhere. I grew up singing there. I met so many people there. It’s a beautiful place. She’s done an amazing job. I just love Dolly. It’s a fun place to be.
Q – Do you have a record deal?
A – I do not. I just work with people. Independently with my team. It’s just one of those things where you want to wait for the right one and the one that feels right. I have had a lot of people reach out, but I just want to be in the right place in my career with the right people so it’s really cool to record independently, but it would be nice to have that support behind me. So, we’ll see what’s in store.
Q – I’m reading the lyrics to your song” Cold In Colorado”. “ We broke up just six months ago , said you had to move away, had to take time to grow”. Is that autobiographical or just your imagination at work? Really, a guy leaving you for the Colorado cold?! What did you do to that guy Taylon?
A – ( Laughs). It was not me. I had a friend who was going through an experience. I wrote the song about 6 months ago( November 2024). The guy she was dating moved away and it wasn’t even Colorado. I just thought it sounded cool. So, I sat down and kind of told her story in my perspective and turned it into something more deep if you listen to the lyrics. It’s a song about heartbreak. You really have to listen to it to understand that the guys leaving her. It’s a hard time. Sometimes I just want to write at the piano and tell my story from other stories. Sometimes I just make it completely up. It’s fun to be creative in that way for sure.
©Gary James
