2021 will go down in history as the “comeback” year! When live music was suddenly halted due to the global health crisis, several musicians turned to social media to promote original content or to share chilling covers. While many singer-songwriters took to powerful networking sites to jump-start their music venture, others utilized the downtime to channel their creative side to pen new material. So, when the world gave Music City the green light to come alive again – rising stars instantly hit the ground running.
Some newcomers that we learned to love embarked on their first tour to connect with internet friends, ran to record fresh tracks in the professional studios throughout the honk-tonk town, and several even reached out to notable names to collaborate. 2021 was the year that budding musicians had the freedom to pursue their artistry with limited restrictions, giving their fans a taste of normalcy once again. After making waves in Music City and exploring the industry’s ins and outs, the sky is the limit for the 22 hitmakers below.
*The below 22 Artists To Watch in 2022 list is in no particular order.*
Walker Montgomery
Kentucky native Walker Montgomery stepped into the country music scene with his self-penned hit, “Simple Town,” back in 2017. After the rapid success of his up-tempo ballad and independently released EP, the newcomer scored a record deal with Play It Again Music. Before the global health crisis brought live music to a sudden halt, Montgomery released his label debut, “Like My Daddy Done It.” Off the heels of his successful track, the radio-worthy artist proved that he is set to become a country music mainstay and follow in his father and uncle’s, John Michael Montgomery and Eddie Montgomery, respectively, footsteps. Montgomery’s unique blend of ‘90s country and modern musical elements is what makes him destined for greatness in the highly competitive industry.
Drew Parker
It’s no secret that Drew Parker is one of the most talented songsmiths in Music City with writing credits on projects by Luke Combs, Jake Owen and more. Parker has had a hand in penning Combs’ drinking anthem, “1,2 Many,” as well as “Lonely One,” “Nothing Like You,” and Combs’ beloved love song “Forever After All.” In 2020, the fast-rising star received his very first No. 1 as a songwriter with “Homemade” by Jake Owen. The following year in 2021, Parker earned his second No. 1 with Combs’ chart-topping hit, “Forever After All.”
While working his magic in the studio for others – he never stopped writing and recording his own music. In 2016 he released his very personal single, “Slow Down Small Town,” and a four-song collection in 2018. However, his 2020 high-energy project, The While You’re Gone EP, placed his name on the map as a vocalist. “While You’re Gone,” the title track, dominated country radio and became the most-added debut single upon impact and climbed Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
In 2021, the Warner Music Nashville recording artist made his Grand Ole Opry debut and embarked on the What You See Is What You Get tour with Luke Combs, Jameson Rodgers, and Ashley McBryde. His vulnerable yet witty wordplay has become his golden ticket into the country music space and proved that he is one of the most promising rising stars out of Nashville. Most recently – the Georgia hitmaker recorded a chilling holiday cover “There’s A New Kid In Town,” with his musical hero, country music icon Randy Travis and wrapped his headlining tour with the men of Southerland.
Ray Fulcher
An Eric Church concert in a college town inspired Fulcher to pick up a guitar and channel his creative side. Before he became Nashville’s hottest breakout star, he had high hopes to become a football coach and teacher. However, upon arrival to the ten-year-town – the newcomer started working alongside Luke Combs. Fulcher and the hitmaker produced several No.1 hits together, including “When It Rains It Pours,” “Does To Me,” Even Though I’m Leaving,” and “Lovin’ On You.” It wasn’t long until his songwriting credits raked in over 3 billion streams.
However, as an artist and vocalist, his southern twang and contagious sound has garnered over 30 million streams and received praise from country music fans across the globe. Fulcher is a musical risk-taker at his very core, as he tested out new tracks “Girl In It,” “Way Out,” and “Bucket List Beers” during his Grand Ole Opry debut In June of 2021. All of which are featured on Fulcher’s well-developed five-track collection, Larkin Hill Mixes. The project that proves Fulcher is a megastar in the making and someone you must keep your eyes on in 2022 as his career is destined to soar to new heights. The budding singer is currently showcasing his remarkable stage presence and winning over the hearts of sold-out crowds on the What You See Is What You Get Tour with reigning CMA Entertainer of The Year, Luke Combs.
Alexandra Kay
In a tiny town outside Chicagoland, there was once a young budding songstress who would turn to poetry and songwriting when she was not dominating the softball field. Instead of continuing her athletic career at the collegiate level, Kay exchanged her glove for a microphone and started working with hip-hop icon Nelly within the world-renowned St. Louis R&B music scene. Before returning to her country music roots – she scored placement on the New Music Top 40 pop chart, Hot AC, and the Hot 100 roundup with her heartwarming ballad, “No More.” Kay’s shift to country confirms that she is a genre-bending artist on the rise.
Throughout the years, Kay made waves throughout social media and generated a devoted fan base of over 526,000 followers on Facebook, 126,000 on Instagram, and rummaged over 2.6 million on TikTok for her beloved “Coffee Covers” series. While using the power of social media, the angelic vocalist kept the positive momentum up and produced several radio-worthy tracks such as “Tall Boys,” “We Wouldn’t Be Us,” “How Do We Go,” and even embarked on several sold-out legs of the In Real Life Tour with social media sensations Thomas Mac and Cooper Alan. Just in 2021 alone, the powerhouse musician received praise from country music legends such as Tim McGraw, Randy Travis, and Sara Evans. Kay’s perseverance and attentive songwriting proves that she is among the women that are shaping the modern country music space and reassuring the male-dominated industry that they have a seat at the table.
Alana Springsteen
21-year-old fast-rising country star Alana Springsteen is an artist to watch in 2022 as she is set to dominate the country music scene! The promising vocalist may be young – but her mature take on songwriting proves that she is wise beyond her years. Springsteen’s contagious sound and relatable lyrics scored her a spot on Pandora’s 2021 ‘Country Artist to Watch’ list, more than 37 million career streams, and over 670 playlist adds. Since moving to Music City at age 14, the budding artist rubbed elbows with elite songsmiths – Walker Hayes, Jared Ray Keim, Jerry Flowers, Tyler Filmore, and Andrew DeRoberts to produce quality material that embodies the type of vocalist she is at her very core.
In fact, that group had a hand in penning her most recent EP – History of Breaking Up (Part One.). In 2021, Springsteen also teamed up with country newcomer Roman Alexander on the mid-tempo melody “Trying Not To,” and hit the road with LANY on their gg bb xx Tour, which allowed her star to shine even brighter as she gained thousands of new fans who related to her lyrics and adored her impressive showmanship. Springsteen’s transparent lyrics, modern twist on country, and vibrant vocals make for a refreshing sound that sets her apart from other newcomers in the industry.
Morgan Wade
Morgan Wade made 2021 her year with her critically-acclaimed introductory album, Reckless. Upon release, the record received praise for her thoughtful lyrics and signature sound that includes a unique blend of country-rock elements. The budding songstress worked alongside GRAMMY-award winners Paul Ebersold and Sadler Vaden to establish a striking ten-piece collection that highlights her strengths as a vocalist.
The rising star’s emotionally-driven project, Reckless, infuses confidence within listeners and confirms that Wade is the fiercest newcomer of 2021. Most recently, Wade kept up the positive momentum by dropping a pair of holiday anthems – “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “Santa Claus is Back in Town.” While bringing joy into music enthusiasts’ homes, Wade also announced that she will be joining Luke Combs on his sold-out 2022 stadium tour, leaving them excited for the near future.
Additionally, Wade’s single “Wilder Days” was recently ranked No. 9 on TIME’s 10 Best Songs of 2021 list. Wade is poised to have an even bigger year in 2022 with her rapidly growing fan base and continued success of her debut project.
Conner Smith
Following the viral success of his sideline anthem, “I Hate Alabama,” which amassed over 2 million streams an trended on TikTok for weeks and earned praise and received recognition from football schools nationwide, Conner Smith is destined to become country music’s next superstar. Smith’s rapid rise to fame does not come as a surprise, as his introductory tracks “Tennessee” and “Learn From It” flawlessly showcase his vocal abilities and innovative storytelling.
Following his strong debut, the impressive solo artist kept up the positive momentum and dropped “Take It Slow” and his latest single, “Why I Can’t Leave.” Smith’s sound is similar to Morgan Wallen’s smooth country twang, and his party-like stage presence proves that he is stadium-ready.
Over the course of the last year, Smith carved his own path in country music and has shared the stage some of country music’s hottest hitmakers, including Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Sam Hunt, and more. More recently, the breakout star was announced as direct support for Ryan Hurd’s 2022 Tour and he will ring in the New Year performing alongside Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell in Minnesota.
ERNEST
Big Loud Records’ multi-platinum artist, ERNEST, has been turning heads since he stepped into the country music scene. Before he became a well-respected vocalist, he was putting his unmatchable songwriting abilities to the test, writing hit songs for some of the leading names in the industry. To date, Ernest has writing credit on several No. 1 smash hits, including Morgan Wallen’s “More Than My Hometown,” Florida Georgia Line’s “I Love My Country,” “Big, Big Plans” by Chris Lane, and more recently Sam Hunt’s “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s.”
While his songwriting catalog can go on for days and includes Kane Brown’s current single “One Mississippi,” as well as 11 tracks from Wallen’s record-breaking album, Dangerous: The Double Album – it was his vibrant melodies, free-spirit personality, and soulful sound that placed him on music radars nationwide.
Following his toast-provoking anthem “Cheers” and his catchy single, “American Rust,” he began to team up with other musicians in the studio to elevate his career as a singer. For instance, he joined forces with Hailey Whitters to tackle the classic 1983 Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers duet, “Islands In The Stream.” More recently, the breakout star teamed up with David Lee Murphy and Ben Burgess for “Red Dirt Clouds,” which marked the ninth release of HARDY’s star-studded HIXTAPE: Vol. 2. Additionally, the singer is gearing up to release his highly-anticipated new song, “Good Day For Flowershops,” in the coming weeks, which is bound to elevate his career to new heights.
The chart-topping songwriter also kept his fans engaged and continues to with his podcast, Just Being Ernest, where he talks music, life, current events, and more with friends, old and new.
Over the course of 2021, ERNEST has cemented himself as the next big name in country music and 2022 will certainly create a country superstar out of the fast rising singer.
Tyler Braden
Tyler Braden was born with the country music bug, as his parents introduced him to a diverse array of musicians and taught him the art behind songwriting early on in life. While Braden expanded his musical palette, he pulled from his top influences to craft a sound of his very own.
However, it was the 2017 Whiskey Jam Concert series that jump-started his career. Since then, the gritty powerhouse vocalist garnered over 70 million streams and has hit the road with several country megastars, including Brantley Gilbert and many more. Although, it was his twangy, yet mesmerizing rendition of NEEDTOBREATHE’s smash hit “Brother,” which serves as an ode to his firefighter brethren’s, that captured the attention of music fanatics nationwide.
The Warner Music Nashville artist has a bright future ahead with his inspiring debut project, What Do They Know, under his belt. Throughout the seven-track collection, Braden perfectly executes his moving message to fans, which is to chase their dreams and to prove their naysayers wrong. The passionate hitmaker behind “Ways To Miss You,” “Secret,” “What I See,” “What Do They Know,” and “Try Losing One” is set to conquer 2022 with his contagious sound and creative drive.
Larry Fleet
Larry Fleet is destined for greatness in country music with his Chris Stapleton-like sound and authentic songwriting approach. The Tennessee native has found a happy balance between traditional and contemporary country, which molded a diverse fan base of music enthusiasts. Fleet has spent several years honing in on his craft, which scored him the opportunity to share a stage with one of his biggest influences – Willie Nelson.
While the rising star rubbed elbows with well-respected tunesmiths in the ten-year-town, he won over hearts worldwide with his blissful ballad “Where I Find God.” The powerful ode that reveals his relationship with the lord quickly became a life-changing phenomenon for many listeners as it encouraged them to reflect on their religious beliefs. The powerful hymn climbed the charts on Sirius XM’s The Highway, and the heartwarming visual raked in 19 million views on YouTube. The critically-acclaimed hit is featured on Fleet’s full-length album, Stack of Records.
Fleet co-wrote each of the 14-songs on Stack Of Records alongside some of country music’s most sought after songwriters, including Rhett Akins, Brett James, Connie Harrington and more.
Without a doubt, Fleet carefully created the best record of the year by a country newcomer and he will be bringing it out on the road in 2022, while serving as support on Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous tour. Keep your eye on Fleet because his music career is about to skyrocket in the new year.
Brittney Spencer
Brittney Spencer is one of the strongest newcomers in Nashville. When the powerful vocalist arrived in town in 2013, she immediately scored a spot on tour with Carrie Underwood, Christopher Cross, and several other musicians as a background singer. While touring with Nashville’s hottest stars, she continued to have her eye on the prize to further develop her flourishing career. Now, Spencer is conquering the honky-tonk town as a solo artist and paving a new path for women in country music.
Spencer solidified her star status back in 2020 with the release of her four-track EP, Compassion. However, her latest release, “Sober & Skinny,” has received praise for her passionate lyrics and impressive vocal control. The Baltimore born songstress has had quite the year – as she has been seen gracing Billboards throughout Time Square in Manhattan, performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame in between Kenny Chesney and George Strait, shared a stage with Mickey Guyton at the 2021 CMA Awards, and embarked on her 15-city headlining tour.
The burning fire within Spencer is recognizable to her loyal fans and even country legends. Spencer is set to open for country music icon, Reba McEntire out on tour in 2022 and demand attention with her jaw-dropping melodies.
Lily Rose
Lily Rose may be new to the country music space – but in a short amount of time, the Georgia native has made a significant impact on the industry with her encouraging anthems and the way she utilizes her growing social media platforms. The Big Loud artist released her introductory project, Stronger Than I Am, in October of 2021.
The impressive seven-track project proves that Rose is a fearless vocalist and is not afraid of a challenge. It’s no secret that Rose has the songwriting recipe for success, as her smash hit “Villain” scored the No. 1 spot on the iTunes all-genre chart and made an appearance on Sirius XM’s The Highway Hot 30 Weekend Countdown.
Following the release of her highly-anticipated record, the buzz-worthy artist rounded out the collection with three new songs – “Someone New In Town,” “Every Last One,” and “I’d Be Lying.” Rose understands the importance of staying ahead of the ever-changing media landscaping, leaving her to introduce honky-tonk fans to her modern blend of country and R&B. The genre-bending musician is set to join Chris Lane on his Fill The Boots Tour in 2022.
Rose’s knack for songwriting, passion for singing and her strong, unique vocals will without a doubt earn her a spot at the tops of the charts in 2022.
Chayce Beckham
Chayce Beckham broke into the music scene on fan-favorite competition show, American Idol. When Beckham shared his astonishing talents during the first round of auditions, Katy Perry did not fail to mention that his voice sounded like “the heart of America.” After receiving the golden ticket to Hollywood, Beckham dominated Season 19 and continued to wow fans at home with chilling covers of Chris Stapleton, Ed Sheeran, and Luke Combs hits. And It wasn’t long until Beckham scored the grand title and released his autobiographical debut single, ”23,” which has quickly garnered tens of millions of streams. The sentimental track about life struggles and alcohol addiction quickly scored the No. 1 spot on iTunes upon release and continues to be a fan-favorite.
Following his big Idol win, the singer packed his bags and move from California to Nashville to pursue his country music dreams full time. Beckham’s likable personality, impressive vocal abilities and relatable song lyrics earned him a spot on stage alongside artists such as Combs, Luke Bryan, Midland, and several other chart-topping country stars.
The fresh face of country is not stopping anytime soon as the singer signed with BBR Music Group earlier this year and recently released “Can’t Do Without Me” featuring labelmate Lindsay Ell. “Can’t Do Without Me” marked Beckham’s label debut and is his first-ever single at Country Radio.
Beckham is proving to be a stand out country star with his gritty vocals that blend perfectly with his rock-infused, country sound and it seems he is en route to really kick his career into high gear in 2022.
Zach Bryan
Zach Bryan is predicted to be the next big name in Music City, as his distinctive mix of classic folk and outlaw country secured him a spot beside some of the best newcomers in Nashville.
Bryan’s risk-taking and bravery as an individual are evident in his songwriting and is well respected by music fans nationwide. The raspy vocalist received his big break two years ago after uploading a passionate acoustic-driven track called “Heading South.” At the time, the budding artist recorded the moving melody outside his NAVY quarters overseas and raked in over 13 million views.
After being honorably discharged, the 25-year-old artist channeled his energy into his craft and produced state-of-the-art albums. In 2020 he dropped his 18-piece project, Elisabeth – a collection that highlights his edgy take on country and includes his viral hit, “Heading South.” In April 2022, the Veteran made his Grand Ole Opry debut and he recently wrapped his Ain’t For Tamin’ Tour.
Bryan’s rugged sound captured the attention of Hollywood executives, as his 2019 hit “Condemned” was re-recorded by producer Dave Cobb for the action-packed drama, Yellowstone. “It was a surreal moment that I’ll never truly grasp…I’ve got no idea what in the hell is going on because I’m just some window-licking kid from Northeast Oklahoma,” the rising star shared on social media. Bryan continued to see his songs pop up in the fan-favorite show, as his single “Flying Or Crying” was also featured. The hitmaker is expected to check a massive milestone off his list in the near future, as he is set to support country megastar Luke Combs on his upcoming 2022 stadium tour.
Brandon Davis
A horrific car accident in 2019 encouraged Brandon Davis to have a new perspective on life. After placing his passion on the back burner for several years, Davis had an epiphany to give music another shot.
After getting discharged from the hospital, Davis honed in on his craft and played at local hotspots around Nashville. As soon as he gained positive traction, live music came to a sudden halt due to the global health crisis. While stuck in quarantine, Davis fell into the world of TikTok and quickly garnered a loyal community of eager fans hungry for hot covers and original music.
With 1.5 million followers on the powerful platform for budding singers, the social media sensation scored a record deal with Big Yellow Dog Music. Now, the rising star is writing and recording new original material. In fact – just in 2021, David dropped his self-titled EP, several toe-tapping singles, including “What Cowboys Are For,” “More Than A Flag,” “Ice Cold,” “Minus You,” and his recently released holiday song called “One More Christmas Eve.”
The singer continues to use the TikTok platform to grow his fan base while showcasing his vocal talents and expertise as a husband and father of four. With several of his songs quickly gaining significant traction on TikTok, he is guranteed to start the new year with a bang.
Priscilla Block
Honest, authentic, relatable, and raw are just some characteristics that describe singer-songwriter Priscilla Block! Block is already a role model to many young females, as she utilizes her large platform to promote self-love, empowerment, and acceptance.
Similar to many breakout stars today, Block got her start on TikTok during quarantine when live music was put on hold. After sharing her wide vocal range with her unapologetic anthem “Thick Thighs,” which reminds all females to embrace their body, the powerhouse vocalist became a music sensation nearly overnight. Following the success of the confidence-infused anthem, the rising star dropped the breakup ballad, “Just About Over You.” It wasn’t long until the up-tempo track climbed the iTunes Country and All Genre Songs Chart and eventually became her first-ever single at Country Radio.
The Nashville newcomer is currently selling out venues across the southeast and has already shared the stage with hitmakers such as Gabby Barrett, Adam Craig, Ashley McBryde, Adam Doleac, and more. A few months after making her Opry Debut, Block performed hits from her debut self-titled EP at the Opry Next Stage concert alongside Tenille Townes, Travis Denning, and Niko Moon. In November 2021, the self-made singer shared her country-pop and southern rock hit, “Peaked In High School.” After exploding into the spotlight in 2021, Block is set to jump-start the new year on the right foot with her devoted Block Party by her side.
Kameron Marlowe
Kameron Marlowe was first discovered by the producers of The Voice during Season 15, and although he didn’t win the popular singing competition show, the fan-favorite singing competition show became his launching pad to stardom. Following his exit from the singing competition, Marlowe made a name for himself with his debut single, “Giving You Up.” The irresistible instrumentals intertwined with the emotion-driven lyrics amassed millions of streams and scored him his first management deal with AMG. In the summer of 2020, Marlowe signed with Columbia Nashville/ Sony Music Nashville and launched his debut self-titled EP.
Marlowe’s recent hits “Raise One Up,” “Tequila Talkin’,” and “Steady Heart” prove that he’s a musical risk-taker who is not afraid to push the boundaries of traditional country music. His delicate touches of rock elements within each ballad confirm that he is a genre-bending artist on the rise.
In 2021, Marlowe made his Grand Ole Opry debut in late September and wrapped up his time with Brad Paisley out on the road, but the budding soloist did not rest long. The “Burn ‘Em All” singer embarked on the We Out Here Tour with Riley Green on Nov. 3 and will finish the 15 date trek in February of 2022. With elite names in his corner and fans believing in his craft, the dynamic hitmaker is set to dominate 2022 and become the hottest newcomer out of Nashville.
Restless Road
Garrett Nichols, Colton Pack, and Zack Beeken are the talented men that makeup Nashville’s hottest trio, Restless Road. The group has made a name for themselves within the country music scene with their astonishing covers, mashups and their catchy original music. While showcasing their captivating harmonies, their fanbase began to skyrocket. With 2.1 million devoted fans on TikTok to date, the group connected with their famous friend Kane Brown – who they met back in 2013 during Season 3 of The X Factor. Their music career took off once Brown took them under his wing in 2020, the same year they signed a record deal with Brown’s label 1021 Entertainment and Sony Music Nashville.
The unstoppable trio made their debut with the release of their single, “Take Me Home,” featuring Kane Brown as signed musicians. The soulful ballad became a stepping stone, as they created several other radio-worthy tunes. Off the heels of their self-titled EP, the men released their 2021 smash hit “Took One Look at Her Momma.” While staying consistent on TikTok and sharing buzz-worthy mashups – the country heartthrobs continued to make original content. Just in 2021, the group dropped party-anthem “Bar Friends,” “Hometown Tonight,” and “Headlights.”
With a killer tracklist, the men made their way onto Brown’s nationwide Blessed & Free Tour. Come May 18, 2020 – Restless Road will kick off their first-ever headlining trek, dubbed the Bar Friends Tour, to prove that they can turn their social media recognition into a devoted fan base.
Kat & Alex
Kat & Alex are making a substantial impact on the country music scene, as they introduced fans to a fresh new honky-tonk sound. It’s their spicy Latin flair that sets the duo apart from others in the highly competitive industry. Kat’s wide vocal range compliments her husband Alex’s deep southern twang, making their harmonies soulful and “pitch” perfect.
As an unstoppable duo, the pair took their bilingual lyrics to American Idol. Alex “Space Cowboy” Garrido was eliminated during the singing competition after performing Lauren Daigle’s, “You Say.” However, Kat Lopez continued to the third round as a solo artist. After her exit from the show, the two joined forces once again and created magic in the studio. In 2020, they scored a management deal with AMG and earned a publishing contract with Warner Chappell. The group made their debut with the single, “How Many Times.” The mid-tempo track left fans dead in their tracks, but what shook their community to the core was their Spanish rendition of the tune.
After creating quite the stir in 2020, country music’s most promising duo – kept up the positive momentum and released playlist-worthy hits like “You and the Radio,” “Most Nights,” and “Heartbreak Tour.” The three new tracks take music-goers on an emotional rollercoaster ride, as “Heartbreak Tour” describes the push and pull of their musical journey, and “You and the Radio” is your classic rowdy anthem backed by memorable guitar riffs. During Hispanic Heritage Month, the married couple took to the legendary circle hand-in-hand at the Grand Ole Opry to present their signature style and prove that they are ready to pave a new path within the country music genre.
Roman Alexander
Roman Alexander is a country newcomer that should be on everyone’s radar. While Alexander may only be in his 20s, he has pursued music for nearly two decades. Before Alexander embarked on his solo career, he was the head vocalist and played the guitar for his family friend’s classic-country cover band.
While crushing it on stage, he took the impressive renditions and shared them on social media. Slowly, the rising star gained a large following and a loyal fan base, and after making waves online, the young singer-songwriter scored a publishing and development deal with Twelve 6 Entertainment in Nashville. Alexander started working alongside notable names in the industry, such as award-winning songwriter Jerry Flowers.
It was 2020 when the ambitious country singer released his debut EP, Between You & Me. Upon release, the collection garnered over 6 million streams and received praise for tracks like “Cocktail Conversations” and “Bad for Me.” Alexander’s title track “Between You & Me” even scored a spot on Rolling Stone’s Top 25 Trending Songs of the Week and charted on Spotify’s US Viral 50 in December. Off the heels of his five-piece collection, the hitmaker turned his romantic ballad “Between You & Me” into a duet with country newcomer Ashley Cooke. The duet debuted at No.1 on the iTunes Country Chart and has been played on Sirius XM The Highway’s “On the Horizon.”
The breakout star recently dropped his feel-good anthem “Better In A Car” and earlier this year teamed up with Alana Springsteen on her breakup ballad “Trying Not To.” Alexander recently wrapped up his tour with Levi Hummon.
Ashley Cooke
If you are a TikTok user and a country music enthusiast, odds are you already know Ashley Cooke. The up-and-coming musician’s sense of drive and vibrant country sound captured the attention of millions of social media users, but also several leading names in the industry. While producing buzz-worthy anthems, Cooke also co-founded The 615 House – which bonds aspiring country singers together.
While staying in touch with her entrepreneurial side, Cooke jumped on every opportunity that came knocking on her door. Just in 2021, the breakthrough star teamed up with Roman Alexander on his romantic duet track “Between You & Me” and penned “Good Goodbye” alongside Blake Pendergrass. Once the moving lyrics for “Good Goodbye” were complete – Cooke called in GRAMMY-nominated artist Jimmie Allen. Cooke’s lively vocal inflections and Allen’s buttery sound on “Good Goodbye” generated cutting-edge harmonies, leaving the duet to be one of the best collaborations to come out of 2021.
Additionally, the blonde powerhouse also released her debut record, Already Drank That Beer – Side A. The collection, produced by Jimmy Robbins, includes everything from heartbreak ballads to joyous day drinking anthems. Cooke performed her well-rounded tracklist live on tour with rising star BRELAND and on her run with TikTok sensation, Spencer Crandall.
The viral hitmaker recently announced that she will be opening for multi-platinum artist Cole Swindell on his Down To The Bar Tour alongside Travis Denning. Keep your eye on Ashley Cooke because she is set to be the next chart-topping country female in the near future.
Chase Matthew
Holler Boys Records signee Chase Matthew is a breakthrough artist to watch in 2022, as he understands the importance of listening to his fans and giving them what they want. The “County Line” singer-songwriter is known for remaining true to himself and writing from real-life experiences in order to produce vulnerable, yet relatable tracks.
In 2021, Matthew blew fans away with the release of his six-track project, County Line. The title-track, that served as his debut single instantly took off and hit 2.59 million streams on Apple Music, raked in 631K views and counting on YouTube, and received over 1.4 million streams on Spotify.
Chart-topping artist and CEO of Holler Boy Records, Ryan UpChurch has always believed in Matthew’s artistry and has been his biggest cheerleader since day one. “Chase embodies the kind of artist I want on my label,” UpChurch told Music Row in July of 2021. “His songs have an authenticity that reflect a shared experience.”
Matthew’s deep southern vocals and Tennessee lifestyle fascinated over hundreds of thousands of TikTok users and quickly turned him into a social media sensation. Off the heels of his popular EP, the hitmaker is set to drop a new single called “Love Like That” on Dec. 10.
