RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER, THE

(director/writer: Kathlyn Horan; cinematographer: Jessica Young; editor: Brady Hammes; music: Tim & Phil Hanseroth/Brandi Carlile; cast: Brandi Carlile, Tanya Tucker, Shooter Jennings, Beau Grayson; Runtime: 108; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Christopher Clements/Julie Goldman/Carolyn Hepburn/Kathlyn Horan; Sony Picture Classics; 2022)

“An appealing comeback story on an appealing Nashville country singer.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Kathlyn Horan (“The If Project”/”Indigo Girls: One Lost Day”) is the director and writer of this enjoyable new musical documentary. It tells us that Tucker (born in 1958) is as good as ever with the release of her new album While I’m Livin’, after being out of the music business scene for the last 17-years.

The film starts with a montage of the legendary country singer Tucker’s past (avoiding some of her wilder moments) and then suddenly takes us right to the present, where the current star country singer Brandi Carlile goes fan-girl and wants to make an album with her hero, Tanya, to resurrect her career (writing the album for Tucker so she can reach a new audience).

It’s an inspirational documentary following Tucker’s musical success as a teenager in the 1970s and then mostly covering Tanya as she is today.

It’s an appealing comeback story on an appealing Nashville country singer.

It played at the Nashville Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 11/3/2022  GRADE: B