Country music always has new talent coming up, but the current crop of rising artists is worth paying attention to. These are ten names that are building real momentum heading into 2026, each bringing something different to the table.
1. Megan Moroney
Megan Moroney writes breakup songs with a specificity that makes them stick. Her debut album “Lucky” landed her on the Billboard Country charts and her single “Tennessee Orange” became the kind of song that people heard once and immediately texted to a friend. She’s got a knack for balancing genuine emotion with dry humor, and her live shows are tighter than you’d expect from someone still early in her career. If you haven’t listened yet, start with “Tennessee Orange” and “No Caller ID.”
2. Zach Top
Zach Top sounds like he walked out of 1993 and nobody told him. His music is straight-ahead neotraditional country with fiddle, steel guitar, and a baritone voice that draws obvious comparisons to early George Strait and Alan Jackson. “Cold Beer & Country Music” could’ve been a hit in any decade. In a streaming landscape full of genre-bending experiments, Top’s commitment to a classic sound feels almost radical.
3. Ella Langley
Ella Langley leans into the rowdier side of country. Her breakout duet with Riley Green, “You Look Like You Love Me,” got a lot of attention, but her solo material shows more range than that single suggests. She writes about small-town life with an edge and a sense of humor, and her vocals have a raspy quality that cuts through on recordings. Worth watching as she puts together her next project.
4. Tucker Wetmore
Tucker Wetmore built a following on social media before Nashville noticed, which usually goes one of two ways. In his case, the music backed up the hype. “Wine Into Whiskey” showed strong songwriting for someone so early in his career, and his voice sits in a comfortable spot between traditional and modern. He’s still developing as an artist, but the foundation is solid.
5. Nate Smith
Nate Smith’s “Whiskey on You” was one of the biggest country debut singles in recent memory, reaching number one on country radio. His voice has a soulful quality that sets him apart from the typical Nashville sound, and his writing pulls from personal experience in a way that comes across as genuine rather than performed. His follow-up releases have been solid, and he’s building the kind of career that looks like it has staying power.
6. Corey Kent
Corey Kent went from “The Voice” contestant to independent country artist to major label signee, and the path showed in his work ethic. “Wild as Her” became a genuine hit, and his album showed a songwriter who could work in multiple styles without losing his identity. He’s got a strong live show and a dedicated fanbase that grew organically, which counts for something in an era of manufactured buzz.
7. Kassi Ashton
Kassi Ashton doesn’t fit neatly into any subcategory of country, which is probably the best thing about her. Her music is strange in the best way, pulling from retro country, psychedelia, and Southern gothic storytelling. She’s polarizing, and she seems fine with that. If you want something that sounds genuinely different from everything else on country radio, she’s your artist. Start with “Dates in Pickup Trucks.”
8. Josh Ross
Josh Ross came out of Canada where he’s already had significant chart success. His voice is his biggest asset, a warm, full-bodied tone that gives his ballads real weight. “First Taste of Gone” and “Trouble” are good entry points. He’s been building an American audience steadily and has the vocal talent to break through on a larger scale.
9. Dasha
Dasha came from pop and pivoted to country, which usually makes people skeptical. But “Austin” was catchy enough to overcome the skepticism, spending weeks on the charts and racking up hundreds of millions of streams. Whether she sticks in the country lane or drifts back toward pop remains to be seen, but she’s got the audience and the commercial instincts to make either work.
10. Dylan Gossett
Dylan Gossett represents the Texas/Red Dirt side of the new wave. His music is rooted in the Turnpike Troubadours and Cody Johnson tradition of country that’s more concerned with songwriting than production. “Coal” put him on the map, and his independent approach to releasing music has built a loyal following that shows up to live shows. He’s one to watch as the line between independent country and mainstream Nashville continues to blur.
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