Introduction
Country legend Travis Tritt is giving his oldest daughter, Tyler Reese, a gentle nudge into the music world, but he admits he’s apprehensive about her journey. The 15-year-old makes her debut on his new album, The Calm After …, with a duet of “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough.”
Tritt, a veteran of over 20 years in the industry, understands the high-stakes world she’s about to enter. He spoke to Taste of Country about the challenges young artists face. “The business can chew you up and spit you out in a heartbeat,” he explains, highlighting the psychological toll it can take on child stars who experience early success and then quickly fade from the spotlight.
The pressures today are different from when he started out, he says. It’s not just about a quick hit song; it’s also the constant scrutiny from tabloids and the public. Having been through it all himself, Tritt hopes his daughter’s unique upbringing will serve as an advantage. “She knows what kind of hard work and what kind of commitment it takes,” he says, adding that her ability to tune out negativity is already better than his was at her age.
The idea for the duet came about spontaneously. Tritt had originally recorded the Patty Smyth and Don Henley cover for his 2007 album, The Storm, but after hearing Tyler singing along to it on a road trip, he knew he had to re-record it with her. The song is now the lead single from his new album.