College professor, songwriter, and producer pays tribute to her childhood musical inspiration while highlighting the storytelling behind her growing catalog.
Nationwide — Alabama-born, Compton-raised songwriter, producer and college professor AYANNA (Ayanna Henderson, MBA) is honoring one of her earliest musical inspirations with the release of “Jolene,” a tribute rooted in her childhood connection to country music and her admiration for Dolly Parton as a songwriter. Long before Henderson understood genre or what music a Black girl was supposedly expected to love, she says she wanted to be Dolly Parton. That connection followed Henderson from her Southern childhood to Compton, where hip-hop became another major influence, eventually shaping a career that has included work as a rapper, battle rapper, music-industry professional, producer, marketer, entrepreneur and educator.
The tribute carries an especially personal meaning because of a striking parallel Henderson sees between Parton’s family story and her own. Parton frequently spoke about her father’s inability to read and write and established the Imagination Library in 1995 in his honor, eventually helping provide books to children around the world. Henderson’s grandmother also could not read or write, yet two generations later her family includes teachers, principals, a superintendent, and Henderson herself, a college professor. “My grandmother couldn’t read or write, but two generations later, her granddaughter is a college professor,” Henderson said. “Her sacrifices changed generations.”
Henderson’s own journey as a storyteller began with a childhood love of books, followed by poetry at approximately age 12 and complete songs by age 13. After moving from Alabama to Compton, her musical influences expanded from country to hip-hop, eventually leading her into the recording industry, including professional experience at Priority Records and Capitol Records. Today, Henderson teaches AI, marketing, graphic design, digital and social media disciplines while leading her marketing and production company, Ayanna Henderson Marketing. “Alabama gave me country. Compton gave me hip-hop,” Henderson said. “Neither one erased the other. They both taught me how to tell stories.”
That emphasis on storytelling also drives Henderson’s original song “Savannah,” an emotionally vulnerable, narrative-focused work centered on love, longing and uncertainty. Henderson says the connection between “Jolene” and “Savannah” is less about genre than the ability of a songwriter to create characters and emotions listeners can recognize in their own lives. “Dolly could take a woman’s fear, jealousy, love or heartbreak and make you see the people inside the song,” Henderson said. “That’s what I love about songwriting. I want you to see the story, not just hear a record.”
As AYANNA, Henderson writes and produces her own material but says her larger ambition is for the songs to extend beyond her own performances. She hopes established recording artists will discover songs in the AYANNA catalog and is actively interested in songwriting placements, co-writing opportunities and collaborations with other artists, songwriters and producers. Henderson points to Whitney Houston’s landmark interpretation of Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” as an example of how a songwriter’s work can take on an entirely new life through another artist. “My dream isn’t limited to people hearing me perform my songs,” Henderson said. “I want a major artist to hear something I’ve written and say, ‘I need that record.’”
Henderson also incorporates AI-assisted and emerging technologies into elements of her music and visual production, reflecting the digital innovation she studies and teaches professionally. She emphasizes, however, that technology supports rather than replaces the human experiences behind her songwriting. “AI didn’t grow up in Alabama. AI didn’t move to Compton. AI didn’t know my grandmother,” Henderson said. “Technology can help me create. It cannot give me my memories. For me, AI is a tool. The story is human.”
Ultimately, Henderson describes “Jolene” as an expression of gratitude to a songwriter whose work helped shape a Black Southern girl’s understanding of music, storytelling, and creative ownership. “I’m saying thank you,” Henderson said. “Thank you for helping a little Black girl from Alabama fall in love with songs. Thank you for showing women we could write, understand our business, own our creativity, and never apologize for where we came from.”
Both “Jolene” and “Savannah” by AYANNA are available now on major streaming platforms. She is available for artist collaborations, co-writing, songwriting placements, and reinterpretations of songs from her catalog.
Listen to “Jolene”: https://music.apple.com/us/album/jolene-dont-take-whats-mine-single/6769065704
Watch “Jolene”: https://youtu.be/xbyT_gVk9vI
Watch “Savannah”: https://youtu.be/Ulb_B8ghQYw?si=niFWyYJWEip-Zfs9
Listen to “Savannah”: https://open.spotify.com/album/1zTDXYJCinaGxymFEiF9PE?si=798de8a7e2764150
About
Ayanna Henderson, MBA, is an Alabama-born, Compton-raised songwriter, artist, producer, former rapper and battle rapper, music-industry professional, marketer, entrepreneur, and college professor. She began writing poetry around age 12 and completed songs by 13 before entering hip-hop and later working professionally in the recording industry, including at Priority Records and Capitol Records. Through the AYANNA project, Henderson writes and produces narrative-driven music influenced by country storytelling, hip-hop, R&B, pop, and her lived experiences.
For press or business inquiries, contact hello@ayannahendersonagency.com