In our quest to promote great country music, we’ve selected twenty country artists that we feel will do big things this year. Some of the artists are more well-known than others, but we recommend checking them all out. Let us know what you think about our list of 20 artists to watch in 2020.
Note: This list is not in any particular order. Enjoy!
1. Lainey Wilson
We chatted with Lainey Wilson at CMA Fest last year and even then, we knew to expect big things from this amazing songwriter and performer. She released her EP Redneck Hollywood in 2019, had a radio tour, and is currently on tour in the US.
2. Randall King
Randall King‘s latest single “Hey Cowgirl” has been getting a lot of traction already and we anticipate that he will be doing big things in 2020. He is currently touring with Josh Ward and we’re excited for what’s next.
3. Mikayla Lane
Mikayla Lane released her first EP Rooftop Nights in 2019. As soon as “Jezebel” started playing, we were immediately captivated by the catchy, upbeat song that is commercial enough for radio, but still pulls in a traditional country vibe. We can’t wait for her to release more music.
4. Randy Rogers Band
You’ll notice that the Texas acts are dominating our list and the Randy Rogers band is part of that group! In 2019, they released Hellbent, an eleven song album with songs that belong on everyone’s playlists.
5. Josh Ward
Josh Ward is another Texan whose music we love. He released a live album in 2019 and his single “One More Shot of Whiskey” is as relatable as they come. He is currently on tour with Randall King.
6. Amanda Kate
Amanda Kate released her album Time in 2019 and it comes with an incredible story about love and following her dreams. We had the opportunity to speak with her about her album, seizing the moment, and traditional country music.
7. Dalton & The Sheriffs
Dalton & The Sheriffs hail from Boston, Massachusetts and we saw them play live last fall. They captivated the crowd and it was clear that they have a lively and enthusiastic fanbase. They had a great mix of original and cover songs and are definitely a force to be reckoned with.
8. Aaron Watson
Aaron Watson isn’t new to the country scene, but he continues to release new music that deserves recognition. He released Red Bandana in 2019 and his 2020 tour is well underway.
9. Hailey Whitters
Hailey Whitters is looking forward to a busy 2020. She’s a supporting act for Jordan Davis and also releasing new music in February. Her voice and musical style is reminiscent of Kacey Musgraves and her EP The Days is fantastic.
10. Erin Enderlin
We had the pleasure of interviewing Erin Enderlin and discussing some of the songs she’s written for other people as well as her own. Enderlin is an amazingly talented storyteller, captivating audiences with each song that she writes. We’re expecting big things from this lady.
11. John Riggins
John Riggins‘ latest album I Want My Country Back encompasses who he is as an artist. His style is traditional outlaw country and is always pushing to get better music on people’s radar. He even created his own playlists to introduce people to a more traditional sound and included both old and new songs.
12. Logan Brill
Logan Brill released her infectious single “Roll” in 2019 and spent time playing and writing in the UK. We’re hoping for more music in 2020 and she announced on Facebook that she’ll be doing exactly that.
13. George Ducas
George Ducas released Yellow Rose Motel in 2019 and we’re “all in” on this album! He says it’s “inspired by and is an ode to Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger.” Ducas will be on tour beginning in April.
14. Cody Jinks
In late 2019, Cody Jinks released not one, but two albums, both which reached #2 on the US country charts. This guy is on fire! What’s he going to do next (pun intended)? Cody is currently on tour in the US.
15. Jenny Tolman
We saw Jenny Tolman perform in Nashville last year and she did not disappoint! In 2019 she released There Goes the Neighborhood, which we have on repeat.
We saw Jenny Tolman perform in Nashville last year and she did not disappoint! In 2019 she released There Goes the Neighborhood, which we have on repeat.
16. Tyler Childers
Tyler Childers is one of those artists whose music you listen to for hours on end. He’s currently nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Country Solo Performance” category. Childers is currently on tour with Sturgill Simpson.
17. Shane Owens
Shane Owens has been around a while, but just released a new album late last year, Thankful for Country Music. We’ve seen Owens perform and he definitely deserves to be heard nationwide.
18. Gone West
Gone West is an incredible group comprised of two couples who have written songs that are carefully crafted. They emphasized that they don’t like to waste words, so they put a lot of time and effort into every song. Their EP, Tides, is definitely worth listening to.
19. Cody Johnson
Cody Johnson is huge in Texas and throughout the south, but has yet to become a household name in many other areas. He’s on tour with Miranda Lambert this year for a portion of her Wildcard tour and we expect that he’ll continue to rise to the top of the country charts, where people are eager to return to a more traditional sound.
20. Hannah Dasher
We saw Hannah Dasher perform at Spotify House during CMA Fest 2019. At the time, she hadn’t yet released any music (that we could find) but boy oh boy, can this lady perform! She blew us away with her feisty attitude and incredible show. She has since released music, with more on the way.
George Ducas is one of the finest human beings I know, and as a performing artist, has truly run the ring, in regards to Country Music, and is still selling out venues, and touring with his New Album “The Yellow Rose Motel” as his signature showpiece, I know George personally and he adores his fans, and is 100% American Texas Country…. This is where he should be, and its an honor for him to be included, I know he is very happy to share this incredible group of amazing musicians as his colleagues…. Keep on Rocking it George, Congrats!!!