Chanel West Coast is feeling a lil' bit country.
The Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory alum announced her unexpected latest career move with the release of her latest single, "Lil' Bit Country," which marks Chanel's first foray into the country music genre.
In the song, which she wrote with collaborator ill Nicky, the Los Angeles native sings, "always been a country girl in my head, but the big city's where I got my start." For the accompanying music video, she rocks a plaid shirt over a white tank top, jean shorts and sparkling over-the-knee boots as she dances around an open field and on a Ford pickup truck surrounded by friends.
"I started homeschool at 16 to work and pursue my music career full time and have been working on it ever since," the 36-year-old said in a statement April 11 to mark the song's release, "following my passion while experimenting as an artist—and I'm so excited for people to really hear me sing for the first time."
Chanel—who shares Bowie Breeze, 2, with boyfriend Dom Fenison—noted that "music has always been a huge part of my life, it's in my DNA" before explaining why she decided to start making country music.
"When I was a kid I spent summers in rural Ohio with my mom's family and going to family reunions at the Grand Ole Opry," she explained. "Country music was the soundtrack to so many great summertime memories and now that I have a little one of my own, it's so special to have this full circle moment and create new Country music memories."
The TV personality's career pivot comes two years after she shocked fans by stepping down as host of Ridiculousness after 12 years in March 2023.
"I think this was just the natural time,” Chanel told E! News’ Francesca Amiker in an exclusive July 2024 interview. “And that it was the natural evolution of me. I think my fans saw everything I was doing outside of Ridiculousness, and I would constantly get comments and stuff like, ‘When are you gonna have your own show? When do we get to watch this?’ So it was just the natural next step."
After over a decade in the role, it was time for her to step out on her own, which she was able to do with her one-season 2024 reality show West Coast Hustle.
“I've always wanted to show the world what I was doing outside of Ridiculousness,” Chanel said. “I was pitching trailers, trying to get somebody to pick up a show for a while, and nobody was biting at first. And I think the universe has plans for us. It's funny, once I had my baby, Bowie, it's like the blessings kind of just started rolling in.”
And having her own show was a dream come true for the MTV star.
"I've been manifesting this since I was a little girl,” Chanel explained. “I have video clips when I was a kid being like, ‘This is my TV show. It's better than MTV and VH1.’ And I was saying that when I was eight, so we've really manifested where we are now."
Keep reading to look back at MTV reality shows we miss…
Life of Ryan
Can't we all just skateboard in peace? In the MTV series, Ryan Sheckler tried to balance the demands of his growing celebrity and skateboard career under the management of his mother. Another plot twist came when his parents decided to divorce.
Newport Harbor
While Kristin Cavallari, Lauren Conrad and the cast of Laguna Beach will always hold a special place in MTV viewers' hearts, respect has to be given to the high school students featured in Newport Harbor. Cameras moved up the coast to the town of Newport Beach where Clay Adler, Chrissy Schwartz and other affluent kids shared their lives with America.
The Ashlee Simpson Show
After the success of Newlyweds with Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, Ashlee Simpson decided to dive into reality TV and document her journey into the music industry with her debut album, Autobiography. On a Monday in 2004, we were waiting. Tuesday, we were fading. And by Wednesday, we just wanted a new episode.
Pimp My Ride
For six seasons, a resourceful team of experts introduced viewers to the world of car customizing by transforming broken down vehicles into impressive new rides. Occasionally, if the participant's car was deemed unfixable, the crew gave the person a new car—tricked out, of course.
Meet the Barkers
Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and his then-wife, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler, decided to open up their over-the-top lives for MTV between 2005 and 2006. While the couple ultimately divorced, fans got to know a completely different side of a rock star and beauty queen.
‘Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave
Before saying "I do," Baywatch alum Carmen Electra and rock star Dave Navarro gave viewers a glimpse into their wedding planning in the MTV series. From an epic bachelor and bachelorette party to a fairytale wedding, it was hard not to fall in love with these two.
My Super Sweet 16
Hilary Duff's "Sweet Sixteen" became the theme song for this must-see reality show that included lavish gifts, surprise performances and must-see meltdowns. For these special birthdays, everyone was invited to the party thanks to MTV.
Paris Hilton’s My New BFF
After filming The Simple Life with Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton had some fun with MTV when she went on a search for her new BFF. International spin-offs followed proving more than a few viewers found the show "hot."
Legally Blonde: The Musical—the Search for Elle Woods
After Legally Blonde became a fan-favorite thanks to Reese Witherspoon's unforgettable performance of Elle Woods, ten women from across the country decided to bend and snap and compete to become Elle in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde: The Musical.
Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club
In 2019, cameras rolled as the singer and actress returned to the spotlight and launched the Lohan Beach House in Mykonos, Greece. Despite plenty of cast drama and an iconic dance move, the show only lasted for one season.