Country music is preparing to enter the new year with a stacked roster of rising stars who are already shaking things up in the genre and making their names known. From powerhouse vocalists like Kaitlin Butts, who used a viral moment to kick her career into high gear, to prolific storytellers like Jacob Hackworth and Chandler Walters who made their debut as an artist after earning acclaim as a songwriter, this year’s picks are proving their impact across streaming platforms, social media, and live stages, all while continuing to define their sound.
As 2026 approaches, we’re spotlighting 10 artists who have built serious momentum and are poised for even bigger milestones to come. Some, like Zach John King and Blake Whiten, are gearing up for opening slots on stadium tours, while others are preparing to release exciting projects or hit major festival stages. Wherever they are in their careers, each is making their mark, and the next 12 months promise to bring one of the most exciting waves of new country talent yet.
Jacob Hackworth
Over the past year, Jacob Hackworth has carved out his own lane and emerged as one of country music’s fastest-rising new voices. Already an in-demand Nashville songwriter with more than 20 major label credits, Hackworth spent 2025 proving he’s got just as much talent behind the mic as he does in the writing room. In April, the Missouri native debuted as an artist with “When I Don’t,” followed by a stripped-down version of the song inspired by the powerful Ryman performance that earned him a standing ovation. He also hit the road with Tucker Wetmore on the Waves On A Sunset Tour, where he recorded his sophomore single “You Ain’t.” The track arrived just in time for his first full-band Nashville show at Barstool, complete with a surprise moment of sharing the stage with Wetmore for “Wine Into Whiskey,” the career-launching hit they wrote together. Now fresh off his second No. 1 at country radio with Corey Kent’s “This Heart,” and more new music on the way, Jacob Hackworth will reunite with Wetmore in 2026 for select dates on the Brunette World Tour, continuing a streak that shows no signs of slowing.
Zach John King
Zach John King has been on a steady upward climb over the past year and a half, checking off bucket-list moments and earning nods from some of country’s biggest names. The Sony Music Nashville newcomer kicked things off with his Slow Down EP and kept the momentum going with a run of releases like “Still Feel The Burn,” “Space,” and his latest heartbreak gut-punch, “Happy For You.” King spent the summer opening dates on Wallen’s I’m The Problem Tour, where he hit the stage nightly to perform “Up Down” with the headliner himself. He also joined Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour and wrapped the fall on the road with Dylan Scott and Gavin Adcock. With a massive touring year behind him and even bigger stages ahead like Stagecoach, Riley Green’s Cowboy As It Gets Tour, and another stadium run with Wallen on the Still The Problem Tour, 2026 is shaping up to take Zach John King’s career to a whole new level.
Kaitlin Butts
Kaitlin Butts has spent 2025 making a name for herself on every front. Her viral anthem, “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” has racked up over 157 million TikTok views, 67 million global streams and inspired thousands of fan-made videos. Featured on her acclaimed Roadrunner! album, the track puts her fearless, boundary-pushing songwriting on display for the world to hear. Butts toured extensively this year, including opening dates for Lainey Wilson’s Whirlwind Tour, Molly Tuttle’s The Highway Knows Tour, and Ella Langley’s Still Hungover Tour, on top of reuniting with Flatland Cavalry for their Flatland Forever Tour. Offstage, she was named to the 2025 Opry Next Stage Class and the CMT Next Women of Country and featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibition. The country/Americana singer/songwriter capped the year off with her major-label debut with Republic Records, the Yeehaw Sessions EP, capturing the fun, electric energy of her live shows in one place. In 2026, she’ll reunite with Lainey Wilson in Australia and continue writing new music, proving she’s more than just a viral sensation, she’s a force to be reckoned with.
Graham St. Clair Band
In 2025, Graham St. Clair Band transformed their West Texas roots into a vibrant Americana sound, that’s capturing the attention of fans and members of the industry. Fronted by singer-songwriter Graham St. Clair, the group released several standout tracks in 2025 like “Carry Me Home,” “Lose Ourselves,” and “Outlaw Bill,” and saw their debut album surpass 500,000 streams. During their time together as a band, they’ve brought their roots buried deep in the Lone Star State to stages alongside Randy Rogers Band, Shane Smith & the Saints, and Josh Abbott Band, while carving out a sound all their own across the country. A big highlight of the year came when they returned to where it all began, their alma mater, Baylor University, where the band originally formed as a “fraternity band” before evolving into a full-fledged act. With more Texas dates on the horizon, Graham St. Clair Band’s career is just beginning.
Waylon Wyatt
There’s no denying that Waylon Wyatt has spent 2025 working to establish himself as one of country music’s most compelling new voices. The year brought a string of career highlights, including his latest releases “Frostbite,” “Pretty Little Liar,” and “Wishbone,” as well as sophomore EP Out of the Blue. He brought these songs to life on his 35+ date Out of the Blue tour, where the fan-favorite track “Smoke & Embers” (with Willow Avalon) became a nightly sing-along with lucky fans. Wyatt also delivered standout performances at Stagecoach, Cavendish Beach, and FairWell Festival, and marked international milestones while opening for Zach Bryan at London’s Hyde Park and completing his debut Australian tour. Looking ahead, Wyatt is set to take his music across Europe for C2C Festival 2026, hitting Berlin, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, and London. He’ll also join Sam Barber on select North American dates, bringing his raw storytelling and authenticity to audiences from coast to coast.
Cole Goodwin
From honky tonks to festival stages, Cole Goodwin has dominated 2025 as one of country’s most exciting newcomers. He has been on fire all year long, honing in on his signature sound that features his smoky vocals and heartfelt songwriting that pays tribute to classic Country storytelling. Since emerging in 2023 with his self-produced EP, Soon Enough, he’s toured the Southeast playing everything from dive bars to clubs, and festivals, in addition to opening for artists like Zach Top and Billy Currington. In 2025 alone, Goodwin signed with Big Machine Records and released standout tracks including “Girlfriend’s Got A Boyfriend,” “Dust On The Dancefloor,” and “Messin’ With My Mind,” which resulted in him earning praise from fans online and during live shows. He recently wrapped up a run opening for Luke Bryan on select dates of his Country Song Came On Tour and is gearing up for an ambitious 2026, featuring new music and festival appearances at Tortuga, Rock The South, Tailgate N’ Tallboys, and more.
Elizabeth Nichols
It’s safe to say that Elizabeth Nichols has packed a career’s worth of milestones into just 12 months. Just before ushering in 2025, the rising star dropped her debut single, “I Got A New One,” during her first semester of law school finals, which catapulted her career and led her to put her studies on hold for the foreseeable future. Since then, she’s racked up 60M+ streams, performed her first show and later embarked on her first tour, signed a record deal, and hit stages she once only dreamed about, including the Grand Ole Opry. Along the way, she released her Tough Love EP, and followed it with songs like “Daughter,” “Little Birds,” and her newest single, “Oh The Things Men Do.” The 23-year old gained even more momentum while touring with Wyatt Flores and getting to see Kelly Clarkson deliver a Kellyoke cover of her debut single, sending it to No. 1 on iTunes. With major 2026 festival slots already on the books, including Stagecoach, Nichols is stepping into her next chapter with serious momentum.
Chandler Walters
Chandler Walters has become one of country music’s most electrifying voices in 2025, captivating audiences with his traditional storytelling, musicianship, and unforgettable live performances. The GRAMMY®-nominated singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist accomplished a lot in the past 12 months, including releasing his first original tracks as an artist. After signing with DeVille Records, Walters debuted on the collaborative compilation album, Cadillac Sessions with “Worth The Trouble,” “Whatever Happened To Us,” and a cover of Vince Gill’s “One More Last Chance.” Prior to that, his 2024 publishing deal with ERN’s Cadillac Music earned him GRAMMY®, CMA, and ACM nominations for co-writing Post Malone’s 5x Platinum, all-genre No. 1 single “I Had Some Help (feat. Morgan Wallen).” Walters followed up his appearance on the project with solo releases like “Justa One Kiss” and “All I Need Is You.” On the road, he joined Post Malone’s The BIG ASS Stadium Tour as an opener, pedal steel player, and host of the Walters Western Road Show after-parties, while continuing his Walters Western Wednesdays series. The rising star now gears up to join ERNEST on the Live From The South Tour and Josh Ross on the Later Tonight Tour in 2026, with more new music on the way.
Blake Whiten
Blake Whiten might only be 21 years old, but he’s already beyond his years, making waves as one of country music’s brightest rising stars and helping shape the next generation of the genre with his prolific songwriting and sought-after stage presence. The South Carolina native started the year off strong with his hometown-inspired Six Mile EP and the single “Carolina,” followed by “Hard to Break” and his latest release, “Night N’ Day.” In between, he gained momentum with the full-band version of “Rollin’ Stone,” which has amassed over 69 million global streams and landed on SiriusXM’s The Highway, Spotify’s Hot Country playlist and Apple Music’s Country Risers. The song inspired his headlining Rollin’ Stone Tour, set the stage for his supporting dates with Waylon Wyatt, Whiskey Myers, and Vincent Mason, and is propelling him into the new year with upcoming stadium dates on Morgan Wallen’s Still the Problem Tour following a lengthy 2026 run with Bailey Zimmerman.
McCoy Moore
McCoy Moore spent 2025 hitting the road hard and making a name for himself as a dynamic performer. He joined HARDY on THE JIM BOB WORLD TOUR and Chase Rice on The Go Down Singin’ Tour, and he’s set to keep the momentum going into 2026, setting the stage for an even bigger year with dates on HARDY’s Country! Country! 2026 Tour and Kip Moore’s Solitary Tracks World Tour. The Florida native capped off the year with the release of his self-titled debut EP, featuring seven tracks that give listeners a clear picture of his sound and the image he’s molding as an artist. Fan favorites include “Memories We Never Made,” “John Deere Blue,” “Naming Boats,” and his first single, “Something To You.” With new songs dropping, headline tours on the horizon, and audiences taking notice, McCoy Moore is set to make 2026 a defining year and this rising star is just getting warmed up.