2020 was a challenging year for everyone but especially professional musicians. With the increased use of streaming platforms and overall drop off in pure album sales across the board, most recording artists rely heavily on touring to both make money and grow their fanbase. However these challenges were met with innovation as musicians took to social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook live to share their music with the world. Now as the pandemic seems to be nearing an end the new country artists that blossomed during the lockdown are on track to have a break out year in 2021.

Below are Country Evolution’s 16 hottest new names, in alphabetical order according to last name.

1. Logan Brill

Logan Brill burst onto the scene with her single “Roll” in 2019 while spending time playing and writing music in the UK. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Brill was raised in the heart of the country scene, just hours from famed Music City. At 18 she moved to Nashville signing to the Carnival Music Company not long after. Under the publishing label she released her debut album, “Walking Wires,” in October of 2013. In 2020 Brill announced via Facebook that she will be working on releasing new music which is huge news as her last full length project came in 2015. It is a safe bet that since her announcement in 2020 Brill may release a project or more singles in the coming year.

2. Jordana Bryant

A product of social media, Jordana Bryant made a splash on the internet with her first single, “This Love,” which was a hit on Instagram. Bryant started writing music at just the age of 10 and began posting covers of popular songs and her own original work to Instagram not long after. At just 15-years-old Jordana has already enjoyed some major success with her first six-song project “Last First.” Coming out of the pandemic it will be great to see how she develops her sound and continues utilizing social media for future releases.

3. David Adam Byrnes

An Arkansas native, David Adam Byrnes, found his passion for country music at a young age. Much like many other aspiring country artists Byrnes moved to Nashville at just 19-years-old. During his time in music city Byrnes learned how to navigate the music business, write, record, and how to be an artist. With the release of his debut album, “Neon Town,” during the height of the nationwide lockdown Byrnes is eager to take the stage and begin touring. If you plan on enjoying live Country Music this year, David Adam Byrnes is a name to watch.

4. Brian Callihan

The personification of the “self made man,” Brian Callihan has entered into the country music world with pure determination and talent. Traveling to Nashville on a whim with nothing but his truck and a dream of becoming a country artist, Callihan initially found a job installing hardwood floors. He did what was required of him to get by, even if it meant hopping from place to place and on one occasion living in a friend’s shed for a brief time. Since releasing his debut self-titled album in 2020, Callihan has released another single titled “Jon Boat.” Brian Callihan will surely be a staple of Music City in the year to come with new music on the horizon.

5. Ashland Craft

A contestant on season 13 of NBC’s “The Voice” Ashland Craft began her musical career singing Country and Rock covers at a local honky-tonk in South Carolina. After her appearance on television in 2017 Craft has gone on to open tours for major acts like Luke Combs. Since the beginning of the pandemic Craft has released two new singles, “Trainwreck” and “Two Wildflowers and a Box of Wine” that you’ll definitely want to add to your playlist if you haven’t already. With tour dates already booked for 2021 we will be seeing a lot more of Ashland Craft in the future.

6. Hannah Dasher

A native of Georgia, Hannah Dasher moved to Nashville shortly after graduating college. Unable to make ends meet with her degree in music business she began working at a local Bass Pro Shop that shared a parking lot with the historic Grand Ole Opry. Shortly after getting fired for writing music on the job Dasher signed her first publishing deal. Dasher has worked with Music City heavyweights like Brad Paisley with writing credits on “Go to Bed Early,” and Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three. With two new singles released in 2020 “Girls Call the Shots” and “Left Right” we can’t wait to see what Dasher has in store for 2021.

7. Erin Enderlin

Starting with her 2013 Album “I Let Her Talk” Erin Enderlin has been fulfilling her dream of being a successful country artist. She began playing music when she was just five-years-old when she started taking piano lessons. Since then Enderlin has become much more well known for her guitar work with writing credits on songs featuring LeeAnn Womack, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, and Randy Travis just to name a few. She even has writing credits on a song for Reba! In 2019 just prior to the pandemic Enderlin released her third full length album titled “Faulkner County,” and later released a single in 2020 amidst the nationwide lockdown. With a return to normalcy on the horizon we are excited to see what Erin Enderlin has coming next!

8. Kylie Frey

Making her debut in 2017 with her single, “Too Bad” featuring Randy Rogers, Kylie Frey has been a name to watch in country music for a time now. With a more traditional country style and swagger, Frey is a third-generation rodeo girl and Louisiana state goat-tying champion. In 2020 Frey persevered through the pandemic releasing the singles “Rodeo Queen,” “I Do Thing,” and “Spur of the Moment.” Her most recent release “Horses in Heaven” is off to a hot start in 2021. With big plans on the horizon including a tour we can’t wait for her next project.

9. Randall King

A hometown boy from Amarillo Texas, Randall King has never lived outside of his home state despite being signed to Warner Music Nashville. Starting with his first release in 2016 an EP titled “Another Bullet,” King has been bringing the Texas sound to center stage, opening shows for the likes of Garth Brooks. Prior to the pandemic King released a self titled album in 2018, followed by a slew of singles throughout 2019 and 2020. His most recent release an EP titled “Leanna” honors his late sister of the same name. King is a prime example of an artist who seemingly released more music during the pandemic, so it will be very interesting to see what direction he plans on taking things this year.

10. Shelby Lee Lowe

A native Tennessean hailing from the town of Cornersville, Shelby Lee Lowe puts a modern twist on his states classic country style. Making his debut in 2016 with his self titled album, Lowe has gone on to share the stage with the likes of Cowboy Troy, Darryl Worley, and the Charlie Daniels Band just to name a few. During the height of the nationwide lockdown Lowe released his single “Something in Me” which he has followed with four new singles here in 2021. Having already completed national tours starting in 2016 we are expecting 2021 to be a big year for Shelby Lee Lowe.

11. Cory Marks

The first Canadian to make an appearance on this list, Cory Marks’ country-rock fusion has been earning him serious looks. Hailing from North Bay, Ontario, Marks started playing the drums at the age of 10. With early influences ranging from Ozzy Osborne and Rush, to Waylon Jennings, and Merle Haggard, Marks is somewhat of a rare bird in todays country landscape. His most recent album “Who I am” which was released in 2020 during the pandemic has done extremely well. The single “Outlaws & Outsiders” from the project boasts well over 17 million streams on Spotify alone. Putting up those kind of numbers during the lockdown is no joke, so it is a safe bet that Cory Marks will be gearing up for a big year in 2021.

12. Drake Milligan

Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, Drake Milligan made a name for himself portraying Elvis Presley on the television show “Sun Records” which aired on CMT. He also appeared for a brief stint on American Idol in 2018. Since then Milligan has capitalized on his time in the spotlight to move to Nashville and begin working on music professionally. Milligan has not yet released any original music but has performed numerous covers both on live television and during his time on “Sun Records.” At the age of 23, and with some time in the spotlight under his belt, Milligan will expectedly make his country music debut sometime this year.

13. Elvie Shane

When Elvie Shane graduated high school he did what most aspiring country artists do, he moved to Music City. For Shane however, nothing beats home and after bouncing around to a few different cities he eventually found his way back to Kentucky where he now resides with his wife. Making his country music debut in 2020 during the height of the pandemic with his single, “My Boy,” Shane has gone on to release a full-length EP here in 2021 titled “Country Roads.” With plenty of new material and currently undertaking a summer tour, Elvie Shane will be a name to watch for years to come.

14. Jenny Tolman

With a more comedic take on a throwback country style, Jenny Tolman prides herself on crafting quick-witted lyrics with a twist of tongue-n-cheek humor. A native of Music City, Tolman began playing piano by ear at just age 3. Making her country music debut in 2016 with her single “Thinking Out Loud,” Tolman has gone on to refine her sound and approach her craft with a decidedly feminine perspective offering witty and cunning lyrics. During the beginning of the pandemic in 2019 her debut album, “There Goes The Neighborhood,” was met with critical acclaim. With a new album in the works and a summer tour underway, Jenny Tolman is making a bold run at bringing comedy to country.

15. Hailey Whitters

Born in the small town of Shueyville Iowa, Hailey Whitters moved to Nashville with hopes of hitting it big. After 10 years of dedicated hard work she feared that she had ran out of time, still not seeing any commercial success. Bottling all of this anxiety and fear regarding her career she let it all out on her break out hit, “Ten Year Town.” From then on Whitters has gone about creating music on her own terms with a commitment to writing songs with lyrics that resonate with everyone. Since the release of “Ten Year Town” she has gone on to release her debut album in 2015 titled “Black Sheep” as well as a brand new album in 2020 titled “The Dream.” Truly possessing the grit to stand the test of time, Hailey Whitters will undoubtedly be one of the biggest names in country music in the years to come.

16. Lainey Wilson

A small town girl from Baskin, Louisiana, there is nothing small about the fiery sound of Lainey Wilson. An auxiliary deputy in her home state, Wilson’s journey to Music City happened in a rather unique way. When she first arrived in town, she lived in a camper trailer for three years outside of a recording studio owned by a friend. During this time, Wilson did what she could to survive working as a Hannah Montana impersonator at kids birthday parties. These days Wilson makes a living by combining her on-stage swagger with her ever expanding discography. Her most recent album titled “Sayin’ What Im Thinkin” has been received with critical acclaim. A true testament to the star power of Lainey Wilson, the single from the album “Things A Man Oughta Know,” currently has over 30 million streams on Spotify alone.