Twinnie’s latest single Don’t Need a Cowboy was released on Friday 10th October, and her music video to her previous release Back to Jack was debuted by CMT on a Paramount+ billboard in Times Square in June. In November 2024, Twinnie released her most recent album Something We Used To Say (which has been named by NPR as one of the best albums of that month), with her debut album Hollywood Gypsy having released in 2020. It has been announced that Twinnie is heading out on her Dirt Road Disco Tour during March and April 2026, with her first venue being The Lexington in London and her last being Komedia Studio in Brighton, and she has recently been featured on Rob Brydon’s Honky Tonk Road Trip on BBC Two. Previous live performances for Twinnie include Glastonbury Festival this summer, performing on the Grand Ole Opry and at the World Table Tennis Championships at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, and she became the first British artist to sing the US National Anthem at GEODIS Park in Nashville. This year, Twinnie was nominated for Best Female Artist and Best Single for her song Hypothetically at the British Country Music Association (BCMA) Awards, and she relocated to Nashville from the UK in 2023. As an actor, Twinnie played the recurring character Jade Garrick in Emmerdale last year, working closely with Michael Parr as Ross Barton and Jay Kontzle as Billy Fletcher, and she has been in the cast of Hollyoaks playing Porsche McQueen, which saw her be part of the big anniversary storyline. Alongside music and acting, Twinnie founded the non-profit global mental health initiative I Know a Woman. Catching up with Twinnie, she talks about her latest single Don’t Need a Cowboy, her albums Something We Used to Say and Hollywood Gypsy, the upcoming Dirt Road Disco Tour and her acting roles in Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
Your latest single Don’t Need a Cowboy was released on Friday 10th October; can you tell us about the song?
Don’t Need a Cowboy is really about self-worth and knowing that you don’t need to be ‘saved’. I love a cowboy as much as the next girl, but the message is about not waiting around for someone else to complete you. It’s sassy, empowering, a bit tongue-in-cheek… and very me.
How has it been seeing the response to the release and who do you think your music will appeal to?
I think my music appeals to anyone who’s ever felt a bit out of place but still believes in love, hope, and having a laugh along the way. It’s for the dreamers and the ones trying to figure it all out… just like me.
CMT debuted the music video to your song Back to Jack on a Paramount+ billboard in Times Square in June, how did this feel?
It was awesome. Growing up in Yorkshire, I never imagined I’d see my face in Times Square! It was such a full-circle moment. A great reminder that dreams don’t have borders if you work hard and stay true to who you are.
How was it working on your most recent album Something We Used to Say (which was released in November 2024), and how different did you find it to your debut album Hollywood Gypsy in 2020?
Something We Used to Say feels like the most authentic version of me yet. Hollywood Gypsy introduced me to the world, but this album digs deeper emotionally. It’s raw, honest, and vulnerable… a great ending to my ‘sad girl’ era. I’ve lived a lot of life between those two albums and I’ve grown a lot from the experiences, but I’m very proud of both albums.
It has been announced that you will be heading out on your Dirt Road Disco Tour, what are you looking forward to most for touring in March/April next year?
Seeing everyone singing the words back to me is such a beautiful feeling. I’m really looking forward to connecting with the fans and sharing my new music. Touring is tough, but it’s one of the best parts of the job.
The tour starts at The Lexington in London and finishes at Komedia Studio in Brighton; how will you prepare for the tour and what can audiences expect from one of your live performances?
I’ll definitely be rehearsing like mad, but also making sure I stay grounded. My shows are about connection, not perfection. You can expect big vocals, a lot of glitter and probably a few emotional moments too. It’s storytelling, dancing, and a bit of therapy all rolled into one.
You have recently featured on Rob Brydon’s Honky Tonk Road Trip for BBC Two, what was this like to film and how was it meeting Rob Brydon for his show?
Rob is absolutely hilarious and so genuine. We had such a fun time filming together. The whole crew made it feel really relaxed and fun and I loved getting to show off Nashville. It was one of those days where work didn’t feel like work at all. Just great music, great company, and plenty of laughs.
How did you find the experience performing at Glastonbury Festival this summer?
It was honestly a dream come true. I used to go as a fan, so standing on that stage felt so surreal. The crowd and the energy were both amazing and some of my family members surprised me and came out to see me perform. It’s one of those moments I’ll never forget.
We understand you became the first British artist to sing the US National Anthem at GEODIS Park in Nashville and also performed at the World Table Tennis Championships at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas recently, can you tell us about both?
Both were such incredible experiences! Singing the US National Anthem at GEODIS Park was such an honour, especially as the first British artist to do it. I was so excited, but very, very nervous at the same time. Standing there, looking out at that crowd in Nashville, really felt like a full-circle moment for me. And Las Vegas was just pure fun. It was such a high-energy event with an amazing atmosphere. I still have to pinch myself sometimes that I get to do things like that. I’m just a girl from Yorkshire with big dreams, and one of them is to be the first British country artist to have a #1 on the charts.
At this year’s British Country Music Association (BCMA) Awards, you have been nominated for Best Female Artist and Best Single for your song Hypothetically, how does it feel being recognised for your music?
It feels incredible, honestly. To be recognised by the BCMA and my peers in the country music world means so much to me. Hypothetically is such a special song to me and seeing it resonate with people in this way is really validating. I’ve poured so much of myself into my music, so to have that hard work and heart recognised is just the best feeling.
Can you tell us about the non-profit initiative I Know a Woman that you founded and how did it come about?
I Know a Woman was born out of wanting to create real change. It’s a global mental health initiative that focuses on giving women and marginalised voices a platform and a sense of community. I’ve always believed in using art as activism, and this is my way of paying it forward.
What was it like relocating to Nashville in 2023 and what are some of your favourite highlights since moving to America, which has seen you perform on the Grand Ole Opry and partner with Musicians on Call?
Coming to Nashville was scary, but it was such an exciting, life-changing move. It’s inspiring to be surrounded by so much talent and so many people who live and breathe music every day.
Performing at the Opry was, of course, one of the biggest highlights of my career. That stage is iconic and walking out there gave me chills. I’m so grateful for how the country music community has accepted me here, and working with wonderful organisations like Musicians on Call truly is what this dream is all about.
I’m incredibly proud and humbled that my album Something We Used to Say was named by NPR as one of the best albums of November 2024, and I was so honoured to be named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country. Fort Nash also included me in their ‘Six Women That Deserve to Be Played on Country Radio’ list. Wow. I’ve now had over 30 million organic streams and I’m so grateful for all the love and support.
As an actor, you most recently played recurring character Jade Garrick in Emmerdale alongside a cast including Michael Parr as Ross Barton and Jay Kontzle as Billy Fletcher last year, how was it joining the soap and what was your storyline like to film?
It was brilliant! The Emmerdale team were so welcoming and the character of Jade was a lot of fun. She was a bit of a bad girl, which I loved playing. Acting is another way for me to tell stories, so it felt like coming home in a way.
Do you have any stand-out memories from your time as Porsche McQueen in Hollyoaks that you can share?
My opening storyline was part of the big anniversary stunt. It was nominated for various TV soap awards. This really cemented my character with the audience and people still remember it now. I remember throwing Alex Fletcher out of a window and she might still have whiplash from it!
Where does your love of music and acting come from and how did you get into both?
I’ve been performing since I was about four. I grew up in the Romani Travelling community, so storytelling was always a huge part of my life. Music and acting were just natural extensions of that. They’ve always been my way of making sense of the world.
What are some of your favourite music artists to listen to and films and TV shows to watch?
I’ve got quite a mix of favourites! Musically, I love artists like John Mayer, Chris Stapleton, Chet Baker, Carole King, Megan Moroney, Lainey Wilson, Sabrina Carpenter, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, and Willie Nelson, and I’m also obsessed with RAYE and Olivia Dean. I’m drawn to great songwriting and storytelling, no matter the genre.
When it comes to films, I’m a sucker for a classic – Sweet Home Alabama, When Harry Met Sally, Steel Magnolias, The Green Mile, Dirty Dancing and Forrest Gump are all favourites. I love that mix of heart, humour, and nostalgia – anything that makes you feel.
For TV, I’m into everything from Friends and Stranger Things to Strictly Come Dancing, Severance and The Morning Show. I love a good mix of comfort watches and thought-provoking storytelling.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I’m happiest when I’m out in nature – hiking, exploring, or just switching off and breathing it all in. I also love reading and writing scripts; storytelling is a huge part of who I am, whether it’s through music, film, or TV.
What are you hoping the next year brings for you and do you have any projects apart from the Dirt Road Disco Tour coming up that you can tell us about?
I really hope to just continue living out my dreams on a daily basis. I would love to support one of my fellow artists on an upcoming tour. Vegas gave me a taste of performing in sold-out arenas and now I’m itching to get back on the road. I will definitely be releasing new music in 2026 and I may have a few new projects up my sleeve… but, you’ll have to stay tuned to find out!
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