Chanel West Coast Talks Country Music, Nashville & Life After MTV

Chanel West Coast joins Tony Mendoza on Heart of the Gulch during CMA Fest 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, for an in-depth conversation about her transition from television and hip-hop into country music, discovering her authentic voice, and embracing a new creative chapter in Nashville.

Best known for her years on MTV's Ridiculousness and Fantasy Factory, Chanel discusses what inspired her to pursue country music, reconnect with her country roots, and begin telling more personal stories through songwriting. She also shares the inspiration behind her latest single, Down to the Filter, and what it meant to debut the song on WSM Radio, the legendary home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Tony and Chanel explore the differences between the music industries in Los Angeles and Nashville, where Chanel explains why Nashville's songwriting community is built around collaboration, creativity, and supporting fellow artists. The conversation also touches on motherhood, artistic growth, songwriting, and why this new direction feels like the most authentic version of herself.

If you're a fan of country music, Nashville songwriting, artist transformations, women in country music, independent artists, music industry conversations, and behind-the-scenes stories, this interview offers an inside look at one of the most unexpected and exciting transitions in today's country music scene.

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