Lately, Country music has seen an impressive influx of young stars gaining popularity, and with the internet, it’s never been easier for an artist to gain popularity and a following quickly. This list highlights the top rising stars of country music who have blown up at a relatively young age within the genre, all under 25 years old. We ranked these artists based on their recent popularity, lyricism, vocal performance, and overall discography thus-far:
10. Conner Smith
Conner Smith, a Nashville native, has taken a somewhat traditional route with his music. His sound is quite similar to how most country music sounds now in terms of the typical chord progressions with lyrics about heartbreak and trucks, and he does it well. He manages to step out on songs like “I Hate Alabama,” and it will be interesting to see if he steps out of the traditional themes of the genre more often and takes more risks with his sound and songwriting. He has great songs like “Country in the Clouds” and has already begun his career with momentum and steadiness that many artists do not reach.
9. Jonas Conner
Jonas Conner has four songs out, but he’s on this list because his ceiling looks extremely high. His writing is scenic and personal, letting listeners in on what he’s feeling at a very young age. His hit single “Father in a Bible” seems to be his version of “Follow You to Virgie,” an extremely vulnerable look at loss in his life. It takes many artists a long time to write about their personal lives, but right off the bat, Jonas Conner can let all his listeners in on a hard life. Conner has a great social media presence, and at a very young age, the sky is the limit.
8. Avery Anna
Avery Anna is a tremendously talented singer from the dunes of Arizona. She’s got two knockout features on Sam Barber’s latest album in “Indigo” and “Restless Mind,” as well as a feature on “LOW ROAD.” It’s hard to hear much of a country music sound in Anna’s solo work, more of a Taylor Swift or Lana Del Rey sound. It will be interesting to see if Avery Anna leans more towards her country sound on features or her solo work, which tends to have less of a country influence. Out of a state that has produced artists like Dierks Bentley and Waylon Jennings, she certainly fits well within the country world and has a lot of runway for an already stout career.
7. Chandler Walters
Walters may be lesser known outside of Nashville, but he’s had a role in multi-platinum songs, both writing and playing steel guitar. He plays steel guitar for one of the biggest songwriters in the genre, Ernest. He’s played on several hit songs and co-wrote on smash hits like “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen. Out of Marietta, Georgia, Walters is quickly gaining traction and seems to have a lot of runway for a successful solo career, being signed to the somewhat brand-new Deville Records, a “new school label built on old-school creative values.”
6. Waylon Wyatt
At 18 years old, this small-town boy from Hackett, Arkansas, is off to one hell of a start. His debut EP “Til The Sun Goes Down” makes Zach Bryan’s “DeAnn” come to mind, with its smooth lyricism, acoustic guitar, and singer-songwriter who has something to say. “Arkansas Diamond” is a standout, paying tribute to his home in a way only he could. “Smoke and Embers” showcases one of the two most unique voices in country music, with both Waylon wailing and Willow Avalon floating over the top. He seems to have a ton of personality and confidence at a young age, and hopefully, his music continues to reflect his uniqueness as an artist in the overall sound. Not everybody gets to play Stagecoach at 18 years old, but Wyatt certainly belongs there.
5. Vincent Mason
Vincent Mason is a Georgia native who, simply just has a great voice and writes consistently great songs. Much like Chris Stapleton, he could sing just about anything, and you’re going to feel lots of emotion in it. He’s got range, with songs like “Hell is a Dance Floor” that are built for a back porch late at night after a breakup, and songs like “Painkiller” that are made for sunny days on the lake with your buddies. He’ll be able to put out catchy country songs and do well; however, his ability to show where he’s at in life at different points in time through his music will determine his depth as an artist. Put one on the board for Roswell, Georgia.
4. Sam Barber
One of the deeper voices in country music, Sam Barber is known for profound writing with a gravelly sound on hit songs like “Straight and Narrow” and “Indigo.” The 22-year-old writes from a perspective much older than his age, and his music shows true maturity in his growth as an artist. Sam Barber makes music with a ton of emotion to it, and his lyrics tell you how he’s feeling at the time and convey a unique worldview. The Missouri native also has a knack for absolutely crushing covers, showing his influences singing songs like “Jersey Giant” by Tyler Childers and “Ophelia” by the Lumineers. There’s a bit of heaviness to Barber’s music, falling in the ranks of Colter Wall and Zach Bryan, with an underlying weight and honesty. Barber doesn’t have “the Nashville sound,” and will continue to help grow country music as a whole to new horizons.
3. Wyatt Flores
Wyatt Flores turned 24 in June, but already doesn’t have much left to prove. The Oklahoma native has truly embodied red dirt country and also put his own twist on the genre, with elements of folk, Americana, and Spanish influence as well. His music is easily accessible, whether you’re a country music fan or not, especially his fantastic cover of The Fray’s “How To Save A Life.” Flores puts on excellent concerts with tons of stage presence, and he’s bound to keep growing his audience. Things will certainly keep rolling for this Okie.
2. Ty Myers
Another Texas native takes the scene at a relatively young age. If John Mayer had been born outside of Austin, he’d probably sound a lot like Ty Myers. There’s a clear Mayer influence in terms of songwriting and guitar work in Ty’s music, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan, with live covers of “Lenny.” Starting off with a steel guitar banger, “Tie That Binds” was an extremely catchy start to the discography. Songs like “Malibu” and “Can’t Hold Me Down” really show his range, from slow beach country to upbeat blues. Few artists at this age have the production talents seen on The Select, and it’s exciting to see an artist with a big vision this young, looking to craft scenes through a song and make sure every detail adds to that. It’s hard not to envision Myers being a massive star down the road.
1. Hudson Westbrook
Parker McCollum has been hailed as the next George Strait, and now it seems we’ve got the next Parker McCollum. Westbrook has taken the country music scene by storm (or Texas tornado), part of a new generation of singer-songwriters who have risen to prominence overnight with the internet. Out of Stephenville, Westbrook seems to have a knack for songwriting, and it’s hard not to get that early Taylor Swift vibe when listening to his music. His new album, “Texas Forever,” sounds like picket fences and cicadas, summer night songs that are well produced. Even the heartbreak songs are catchy and take a hard turn from the depressing love songs that seem to currently dominate country music. “5 to 9” starts exactly like a Turnpike Troubadours heartbreaker, and then turns right around into a happy-go-lucky love song. “Take it Slow” has a bit of a Treaty Oak Revival vibe to it, but makes it clear that he’s able to make music all his own and learn from his influences as well. After a hot start, it’s all up from here for this TTU red raider.
Honorable Mention: Caiden Wallace
Wallace has a good number of knockout singles. The California kid crafts heartbreak songs that are uniquely his own, with a western sound that’s dramatic and deep. Each song sounds very different, yet they all convey a sense of loss and sorrow at times. An initial comparison would be early Thomas Day, but countrified. If you listen to “Love Song,” you’ll hear extreme potential with great production. He’s likely to be one of the top artists in the years to come, and be on the lookout for what he’s got coming next.
