Tift Merritt (born January 8, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter. Born in Houston TX, United States, Merritt moved to North Carolina at a young age. Merritt began her career playing small clubs in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1999 she released a 7-song EP with the Two Dollar Pistols, led by John Howie, Jr. The EP was very much a country music compilation as it featured two original songs and five covers, including Charley Pride's "I'm So Afraid of Losing You Again."