21 Country Artists to Watch in 2021

Our lists of Country Artists to Watch are always our most popular article of the year. Although the music industry took a huge hit in 2020, artists continued to release great music and play shows while they could. We discovered so many artists that need to be heard and we’re very excited to bring you 21 country artists to watch in 2021. Enjoy!

21 Country Artists to Watch in 2021:

Drake Milligan

You may remember Drake Milligan from the CMT show Sun Records or from his brief time on The Voice. Drake is planning to release an album in 2021 and we can’t be more excited. We saw him perform in Fort Worth and he’s incredibly talented.

Ashland Craft

We also saw Ashland Craft in Fort Worth last month and just knew she needed to be on our list. She recently released “Trainwreck” and “Two Wildflowers and a Box of Wine” that you’ll definitely want to add to your playlist.

Lizzie Cates

Lizzie Cates released “I Like the Way” in 2020 and we liked it so much we asked her to create a video that we could share with all of you. Not only did she send us a custom video, but the official video for the song also debuted on CMT in September.

Nora Collins

We first discovered Nora Collins at CMA Fest in 2019. After listening to every artist that was scheduled to perform, we added her to our list of 83 artists to see at CMA Fest. Last year, she released the super catchy “Neon Healing” and we’re expecting more great things from her this year.

Cory Marks

Cory Marks had an incredible 2020 with the release of his album Who I Am, which garnered widespread acclaim. The album contains songs that lean more traditional country, as well as ones with country-rock fusion. We can’t wait to see what he has in store for 2021.

Kameron Marlowe

Kameron Marlowe burst onto the country music scene in 2020 with his debut single “Giving You Up,” which reached over 30 million streams on Spotify alone. Later in the year he released “Sober as a Drunk,” an equally radio-worthy song that deserves recognition.

Shelby Lee Lowe

Shelby Lee Lowe kept popping up on our suggested songs on Spotify and we were immediately drawn to his sound. He released a couple of EPs in 2020, titled Something in Me and Joy Juice #2 Pack.

Colton Chapman

Colton Chapman blew us away with his self-titled acoustic sessions album released in 2020. Additionally, he released several singles like “Out Here” and “Back Home.” His next album Can’t Hide the Truth will drop February 5.

Mae Estes

We discovered Mae Estes on TikTok and she’s always playing her original music in addition to some great cover songs. Mae released several songs in 2020, including “Best Side” and “Love You Now.”

Paige King Johnson

Ever since we heard Paige King Johnson‘s single “Just Like You,” we knew she was going to be an artist to watch. We featured a video of her performing the song and the official video was also on CMT.

Kin Faux

Every time we listen to Kin Faux, our feet begin tapping and it puts us in a good mood.

They released a handful of songs in 2020, including “Honky Tonk in Heaven,” “Drinkin’ Problems,” and “Locked up in Lubbock.”

Kylie Frey

If you’ve been following our journey, you’ll know that we absolutely love country artists with a more traditional sound and Kylie Frey fits that description perfectly. In 2020, she released her EP Rodeo Queen, including songs like the catchy “I Do Thing” and the relatable “Spur of the Moment.”

Cliff Cody

We discovered Cliff Cody through his 2020 single “Warning Labels.” Upon reviewing the previous year’s album, we knew he was someone who needed to be heard and we’re looking forward to more music in 2021.

Chevel Shepherd

Chevel Shepherd was The Voice’s season 18 champion. In 2020, she released several songs including “Just Like the Circus,” “The Letter,” and “Southern Boy.” Written by iconic songwriters like Kacey Musgraves and Shane McAnally, it’s no wonder her songs caught our attention.

Mitch Rossell

Mitch Rossell is an incredible songwriter and we’re willing to bet you’ve heard some of his work. He wrote Garth Brooks’ “Ask Me How I know” and “Dive Bar” for both Garth and Blake Shelton. Recently, Mitch released several singles of his own, including “Then Again” and “Seemed Like a Good Idea.”

Carter Faith

We featured Carter Faith’s video “Leaving Tennessee” last year and we instantly loved her style. She also released “Easy Pill” and “Sinners in a Small Town.” We’re looking forward to see what she comes up with next!

Jordan Rainer

Jordan Rainer caught our attention with her captivating single “Crossfire,” telling the story of what happens after a woman finds her husband cheating. We can’t wait to see what Jordan has in store for 2021!

Sarah Allison Turner

Sarah Allison Turner is another fabulously talented songwriter who writes hits for huge stars, but is also a strong solo artist. In 2020, she released “Save Me the Trouble,” “The Idea of You,” “Intervention,” and “Never Gonna Break Up.”

Brian Callihan

Brian Callihan released his debut album in 2020 and it’s definitely worth listening to if you haven’t already. This album gave him the chance to release some songs he’d been holding onto for years.

David Adam Byrnes

We premiered David Adam Byrnes’ song, “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, And Loud Music” prior to his Neon Town album release. Deemed “too country for Nashville,” you’ll want to check it out!

Kat Hasty

If you’re on TikTok you’ve undoubtedly heard Kat Hasty‘s song “Pretty Things.” The song resonated with so many people that it reached over 3.3 million streams on Spotify.