Houston, Texas-born singer-songwriter and recording artist Sunny Sweeney, accompanied by Harley Husbands, performs songs she has written, shares the stories behind them, and takes questions from the audience. This program was recorded on March 11, 2023, and is presented in support of the Museum’s 2023 edition of the exhibition “American Currents: State of the Music,” which explores musical developments, artist achievements, and notable events that transpired over the prior year.

During the program, Sweeney shares a selection of songs she has written, including “A Song Can’t Fix Everything” and “Leaving Is My Middle Name,” from her 2022 album, “Married Alone,” which reflects her creative ties to both Texas and Tennessee. Sweeney co-wrote the songs on this project with ace Nashville songwriters; sings with Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill on the title track; and enlisted well-respected Texas musicians Paul Cauthen and Beau Bedford to co-produce the album. She also talks about how she first began performing and writing songs, shares the advice given to her by Country Music Hall of Fame member Loretta Lynn, and recounts how she fell into hosting her own morning radio show, “Sunny Side Up,” on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse channel. Sweeney closes the show with “Poet’s Prayer,” joined onstage by Erin Enderlin, who co-wrote the song, and Jamie Lin Wilson.

Sweeney first found success in Texas with her self-released debut album “Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame” in 2006. After signing a record deal in Nashville, the album was reissued the following year on Big Machine Records. In 2011, she released her sophomore album, “Concrete,” on Big Machine’s Republic Nashville label, which included the Top Ten single, co-written by Sweeney, “From a Table Away.” Since then, she has independently released three albums: “Provoked” (2014), which includes the Texas Country Music Chart #1 singles “Bad Girl Phase” and “My Bed”; “Trophy” (2017); and “Married Alone” (2022).

Along with Charley Crockett, Cody Johnson, and Parker McCollum, Sunny Sweeney is featured in the Texas Country portion of the Museum’s 2023 installment of the exhibit “American Currents: State of the Music.”

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