Who Is Lanie Gardner? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music (2026)

Every once in a while, a special artist emerges on the country music scene. Lanie Gardner is one of those artists. Despite focusing on music for what seems like forever, it is only in the last few years or so that fans and the industry have finally taken notice. We reconnected with the artist to chat about her music and what she’s been up to lately.

Growing up in a small mountain town in North Carolina, she was surrounded by a mix of bluegrass, country, and Top 40 radio. Her grandfather, who played and sang himself, was one of the biggest influences on her decision to pursue music. He had always dreamed of making it to Nashville, and Gardner eventually found herself carrying that dream with her. “The generational aspects of the Appalachian Mountains influenced me a lot, even today.” Gardner also credits artists like Chris Brown and Rihanna for her love of more dance-vibe music, as well as, country artists like Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, and Eric Church for their songwriting.

“My grandpa used to play and sing, and he was a beekeeper as well,” she shared in a previous conversation. “He’s a big part of why I do what I do today. He said if he had enough money to make it out of that little mountain town, he believes he would have made it. I kind of carried his dream over and just picked it up with mine.”

Her dad taught her how to play guitar, and by the time she was 12, she was already writing songs. Her first one was a love song about a boy in school named Adam.

Gardner has always been a fan of music in all forms, and that hasn’t changed over the years. While artists like Blackberry Smoke and Miranda Lambert remain favorites, her current rotation also includes Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, Olivia Dean, and Gorillaz.

“I just love music as a whole, so I love many, many different genres,” she said. “It kind of changes with the season, so probably next time we speak, it’ll be completely different.”

The Turning Point:

With her grandfather’s dream in mind, Gardner eventually made the move to Nashville, Tennessee. She attended school for about three years before one cover changed the direction of her career. After posting a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” Gardner caught the attention of the music industry and signed a record deal just two months later.

Songwriting has remained an important part of that journey. For Gardner, inspiration can come from just about anywhere, whether it’s a melody, a passing thought, or something as simple as the wind blowing a certain way. Interestingly, some of her favorite places to write aren’t necessarily in a studio.

“I love writing in moving vehicles, trying to get from one point to the next,” she explained. “Usually, I like to write on tour and I like to write on long drives, like going home. I think most of my inspiration kind of comes from being in a small space. Being in transit.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Gardner’s debut album, Faded Polaroids gave listeners a deeply personal look at a specific period of her life. While she describes much of her songwriting as diary entries, this collection was especially reflective of her mid-20s, capturing the relationships, struggles, lessons, and self-discovery that came with that time.

The album became a way for her to look back at where she came from and reconnect with the person she was becoming. Now, with the expanded version of Faded Polaroids, Gardner is adds three songs that she felt were necessary to complete the story.

“I think the best way I’ve been explaining it is Faded Polaroids kind of needed a final piece,” she shared, adding, “The album holds just such a specific version of me, someone who was like in the middle of all those experiences and what was happening. I feel like it needed a resolution… it needed to show the woman I am now, after all that.”

Of the three new songs, “Bye Bye” is the one that stands out to her right now. The song is rooted in the importance of having people around you who remind you when it’s time to walk away from relationships or friendships that aren’t good for you. “I couldn’t have made it through that part of my life without friends telling me that I need to, you know, end relationships and even friendships,” she shared. “If there’s anybody out there that can relate to it or end the relationship for the good of themselves, then I’d probably say that’s the most important one right now.”

With Faded Polaroids now feeling like a completed chapter, the songstress is already looking ahead. “I’m ready to start this new chapter in my career, and kind of really get into the nitty gritty of who I am as an artist and as a person.”

Stay tuned for more!

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