There is a slew of new talent in the country music field. Over the past year, we have heard artists like Chase Rice, Cole Swindell, and Sam Hunt take their place on the charts.
With summer tours taking shape, the next crop of musicians are ready to sit atop the country music landscape.
Cannan Smith: Smith isn’t new to the country music scene. His career dates back to 2009 when he co-wrote the Love and Theft single, Runaway. His current single, Love You Like That, has given Smith the opportunity to showcase himself beyond songwriting. He released an EP on March 24, 2015 which debuted at No. 16 on the country music charts. His debut album, Bronco, releases on June 23rd.
Kelsea Ballerini: The newest sweetheart of country music, Ballerini has seen immense success with her single, Love Me Like You Mean It. The song has reached as high as 12th place on the country airplay charts, and has digital sales reach well over 209,000 units sold. Her debut album, The First Time, will arrive in stores on May 19th.
Michael Ray: Ray is still very new to the country field. He has only produced one single, Kiss You in the Morning, which has gone as high as 23 on the country charts. He was discovered on the CW show, The Next, and was mentored by John Rich of Big and Rich. In addition, he also co-wrote the duo’s 2015 single, Run Away with You.
Mickey Guyton: Guyton is one of the few African-American country stars on the market, but that shouldn’t be her only claim to fame. Her single, Better Than You Left Me, has sold over 65,000 units, and has hit as high as 35 on the country airplay charts. Her self-titled debut album releases to digital services in May 19th.
A Thousand Horses: The four-man group from South Carolina has seen incredible success with its single, Smoke. The song set the record for highest debut for a new act on the County Aircheck chart, when it debuted at No. 28. Many have compared the duo to Lynyrd Skynyrd the Black Crowes, and the Rolling Stones.