Tara Thompson was born in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Her grandmother's first cousin is country singer Loretta Lynn.[1] Thompson began singing in her youth, which led to her serving as an opening act for Lynn. Upon reaching adulthood, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to begin a country music career. This led to her becoming a regular performer at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.[2]
In October 2015, Big Machine Records simultaneously signed her to a recording contract with the label's Valory imprint, and a songwriting content with their publishing company Spoon Tunes.[3] The label issued her debut single "Someone to Take Your Place" by year's end.[2] Taste of Country writer Billy Dukes praised the song's "swagger" and thought the verses were detailed.[4] Thompson wrote the song with Leslie Satcher and Alex Kline, the latter of whom also produced it.[1][5] "Someone to Take Your Place" charted at number 60 on the Billboard Country Airplay charts in May 2016.[5] Also in May 2016, she performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time.[6]
The song was included on a five-track extended play of the same name, released a month later.[7] iHeartMedia writer Andy Ellis described Thompson's lyrics as "honest" and "unapologetic", and thought that the project showed Thompson's musical personality despite its short length.[8]
In addition to the release of her single and EP, the television channel CMT included Thompson in their Next Women of Country tour, which promotes up-and-coming women artists in country music.[2] She was dropped from Valory not long afterward. After this, she independently released a Christmas project titled Hillbilly Christmas in 2019.[9]