Draft:Tanya Nolan (musician)

{{Short description|American singer-songwriter}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Tanya Nolan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|12|24}}
| birth_place = [[Galveston, Texas]], U.S.
| origin = [[Houston, Texas]], U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B]]|[[soul music]]|[[smooth jazz]]}}
| occupation = [[Singer]]
[[songwriter]]
[[record producer]]
| website = {{URL|tanyanolanmusic.com}}
}}
'''Tanya Nolan''' (born December 24, 1973) is an American [[singer-songwriter]]. She has appeared on [[Adult R&B Songs|Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay]] and [[Smooth jazz|Smooth Jazz]] Airplay charts. Nolan founded the record label ArtsessionZ and operates childcare businesses in [[Galveston County, Texas]].{{cite news |last=Guerra |first=Joey |title=Houston singer Tanya Nolan takes pride in being a Black lesbian artist in country music |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/music/article/Houston-singer-Tanya-Nolan-takes-pride-in-being-a-17243987.php |work=Houston Chronicle |date=June 16, 2022 |access-date=April 16, 2026}}{{cite news |date=March 1, 2024 |title=Tanya Nolan |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/gooddaysacramento/video/tanya-nolan/ |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=CBS News |publisher=Good Day Sacramento}}
== Early life and education ==
Nolan was born and raised in [[Galveston, Texas]]. She was a snare drummer for the Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band while attending [[Grambling State University]].{{cite news |date=February 28, 2024 |title=Galveston native Tanya Nolan is a multifaceted trailblazer |url=https://www.galvnews.com/blackhistory/galveston-native-tanya-nolan-is-a-multifaceted-trailblazer/article_cb0c81be-799a-51e7-86f3-aa8438d93055.html |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=GalvNews}}{{cite news |last=Beazley |first=Kathryn |date=March 2023 |title=No Pressure |url=https://www.coastmonthly.com/currents/music/no-pressure/article_13b12e97-3717-5f8b-b6a1-bb848f41c353.html |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=Coast Monthly}}
== Career ==
In 2022, her single "Good Woman" charted on the [[Adult R&B Songs|Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart]].{{cite news |date=May 25, 2022 |title=First Listen: Tanya Nolan – 'Good Woman' |url=https://soultracks.com/first-listen-tanya-nolan-good-woman/ |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=SoulTracks}} Her collaboration with [[CeeLo Green]], "My Best," also appeared on the same chart.{{cite news |date=August 26, 2022 |title=New in LGBTQ Entertainment – August 26, 2022 |url=https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2022/08/new-in-lgbtq-entertainment-august-26-2022/ |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=OutSmart Magazine}} In 2023, "Pace Yourself" featuring [[Raheem DeVaughn]] continued her presence on the [[Adult R&B Songs|Adult R&B Airplay chart]].{{cite news |date=June 25, 2025 |title=Singer and songwriter Tanya Nolan blends beats, business, and blessings in her next chapter |url=https://www.click2houston.com/houston-life/2025/06/25/singer-and-songwriter-tanya-nolan-blends-beats-business-and-blessings-in-her-next-chapter/ |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=Click2Houston |publisher=KPRC-TV}}{{cite news |date=January 2023 |title=Tanya Nolan Enlists Raheem DeVaughn for New Song 'Pace Yourself' |url=https://ratedrnb.com/2023/01/tanya-nolan-raheem-devaughn-for-new-song-pace-yourself/ |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=Rated R&B}}

In 2024, Nolan released the smooth jazz single "Nobody." In 2025, "Like Water (SoulPersona Remix)" charted on the ''Billboard'' [[Smooth Jazz Airplay]] chart.{{cite news |last= |first= |title=Galveston's Tanya Nolan scores Top 10 Billboard Smooth Jazz hit |url=https://www.click2houston.com/houston-life/2023/06/14/meet-the-official-grand-marshal-for-the-juneteenth-parade-in-galveston/ |work=KPRC-TV (Click2Houston) |date=June 25, 2025 |access-date=April 16, 2026}} In 2025, she released "Blessings," her first gospel single.{{cite news |last= |first= |title=JGM Pick of the Week: October 7, 2025 |url=https://journalofgospelmusic.com/reviews-2/jgm-pick-of-the-week-october-7-2025/ |work=Journal of Gospel Music |date=October 7, 2025 |access-date=April 16, 2026}}{{cite news |date=February 28, 2024 |title=Galveston native Tanya Nolan is a multifaceted trailblazer |url=https://www.galvnews.com/blackhistory/galveston-native-tanya-nolan-is-a-multifaceted-trailblazer/article_cb0c81be-799a-51e7-86f3-aa8438d93055.html |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=GalvNews}}
=== Business and philanthropy ===
Nolan owns and operates childcare centers in the Galveston area, including Aww Better Child Care and Nolan's Child Care Center. She also works in real estate and consumer product development.{{cite podcast |url=https://steveharvey.com/episode/tanya-nolan |title=Tanya Nolan on The Steve Harvey Morning Show |website=The Steve Harvey Morning Show |date=February 18, 2025 |access-date=April 16, 2026}}

Her [[nonprofit organization]], Nolan's Gift of Hope, conducts community outreach. She has performed for the She Ready Foundation, founded by [[Tiffany Haddish]].{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Janelle |date=June 26, 2025 |title=Tanya Nolan Heats Up Houston Life with Chart-Topping Music, Boss Moves & Big Heart |url=https://www.sheenmagazine.com/tanya-nolan-heats-up-houston-life-with-chart-topping-music-boss-moves-big-heart/ |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=SHEEN Magazine}}{{cite news |date= |title=Tanya Nolan Returns as Headliner for Tiffany Haddish's She Ready Foundation Gala |url=https://lasentinel.net/tanya-nolan-returns-as-headliner-for-tiffany-haddishs-she-ready-foundation-gala.html |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=Los Angeles Sentinel}}

== Personal life ==
Nolan is a member of the [[LGBTQ+]] community. She married Kimberly Crawford.{{cite news |last=Guerra |first=Joey |date=June 23, 2023 |title=Houston Pride playlist: Christina Wells, Jazell Royale, DJ GNDRBNDR and more LGBTQ+ artists |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/music/article/houston-pride-music-playlist-parade-lgbtq-18167330.php |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=Houston Chronicle}}{{cite news |date=June 23, 2022 |title=Houstonians talk about what Pride means: 'Love, acceptance, celebration' |url=https://www.ingalt.com/festivals/houstonians-talk-about-what-pride-means-love-17258180 |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=ingalt.com}}{{cite news |date=June 24, 2024 |title=Watch: Meet R&B songstress and LGBTQ activist Tanya Nolan |url=https://thegrio.com/2024/06/24/watch-meet-rb-songstress-and-lgbtq-activist-tanya-nolan/ |access-date=April 17, 2026 |work=TheGrio}}
== Honors ==
Nolan has received a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award (2024), honorary doctorates in Humanitarianism and Music from Leaders Esteem University (2024), and an annual proclamation of Tanya Nolan Day by the City of Galveston.{{cite news |title=R&B and Wine Connoisseur: Chart-Topper Tanya Nolan |url=https://www.blacknewsscoop.com/2024/03/get-scoop-on-how-talented-r-chart.html |work=Black News Scoop |date=August 15, 2024 |access-date=April 16, 2026}}

== Discography ==
* "Good Woman" (2022) – No. 20 Billboard Adult R&B Airplay
* "My Best" featuring [[CeeLo Green]] (2022) – No. 25 Billboard Adult R&B Airplay
* "Pace Yourself" featuring [[Raheem DeVaughn]] (2023) – No. 13 Billboard Adult R&B Airplay
* "Nobody" (2024) – No. 28 Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay
* "Like Water (SoulPersona Remix)" (2025) – No. 11 Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay
* "Blessings" (2025)
==See also==
* [[Adult R&B Songs]]
* [[Smooth Jazz Airplay]]
* [[List of Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay number-ones of the 2020s|List of ''Billboard'' Smooth Jazz Airplay number-ones of the 2020s]]
* [[LGBTQ culture in Houston]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.tanyanolanmusic.com/}}
* {{IMDb name|14732370}}
* {{AllMusic|id=mn0002689711|title=Tanya Nolan}}
* {{Discogs artist|Tanya Nolan}}
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas]]
[[Category:Musicians from Galveston, Texas]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from Texas]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ singers]]