Tracy Twinkie Byrd is a 30 year entertainment industry veteran..

Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd, originally from Brooklyn, New York, is a renowned casting director, director, and executive producer with a career spanning nearly three decades. She has been instrumental in casting for acclaimed films such as Stomp the Yard, Notorious, Fruitvale Station, Sparkle, Southside with You, and The Clark Sisters. Byrd’s keen eye for talent has launched the careers of actors like Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kenneth Williams, Naturi Naughton, and Laz Alonso.   

​

Transitioning into production, Byrd has served as an executive producer on several projects, including Christmas Unwrapped, Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas, and Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas. Her directorial work includes the award-winning short film The Counter: 1960.

  

In 2025, Byrd co-executive produced the Lifetime biopic Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story, which chronicles the life of Latin-freestyle music pioneer Lisa Velez, known professionally as Lisa Lisa. The film delves into Velez’s journey from a young dreamer in Hell’s Kitchen to a music icon, highlighting her challenges and triumphs in the industry. 

​

Byrd’s multifaceted contributions to film and television continue to inspire and shape the entertainment landscape.