18 Country Music Artists to Watch in 2018

With an impressive group of stars emerging in 2017, who will be the “Ones to Watch” in Country Music in 2018? Everyone has an opinion, and Nashville Music Guide has compiled a list ranked 18 to 1 of promising artists who will likely see some major breakthroughs in 2018.

#18. Stephanie Quayle

  • Montana Native; Nashville-Based Artist
  • Label: Rebel Engine Entertainment
  • Album: Love the Way You See Me (2017)
  • Notable Single(s): “Ugly” | “Selfish” | “Drinking With Dolly
  • Musical Influences:  Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, The Judds, and Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Garth Brooks.
  • Toured/Performed with Gary Allan, Trace Adkins, Chase Rice, Granger Smith, Lee Brice and Jon Pardi.
  • If you like Faith Hill, Cassadee Pope, and Lauren Alaina

Stay Connected:

StephanieQuayle.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | SnapChat

#17. Kalie Shorr

  • From Portland, Maine; Nashville-Based Artist
  • Label: Unsigned
  • EP: Slingshot (2017)
  • Album: Awake (January 2018)
  • Notable Single(s): “Two Hands” | “On the Horizon”
  • Musical Influences: Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks, Michelle Branch and TLC
  • Toured/Performed with Sara Evans, Lindsay Ell,  and Kaleigh Bannen
  • If you like Kelsea Ballerini and Carly Rae Jepsen

Stay Connected:

KalieShorr.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Snapchat

#16. Tegan Marie

  • Michigan Native; Nashville-Based Artist
  • Label: Warner Music Nashville
  • Noteable Single(s): “Lucky Me”
  • Over 10-Million Youtube views and is the youngest female Country singer to sign a record deal since Tanya Tucker.
  • Musical Influences: Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Lane, Florida Georgia Line and Zac Brown Band.
  • Performed with Craig Campbell
  • If you like Maddie & Tae, Kelsea Ballerini, Lauren Alaina

Stay Connected:

TeganMarie.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Snapchat

#15. Walker Hayes

  • Alabama Native; Nashville-Based Artist
  • Label: Monument Records
  • Album: boom. (2017)
  • Notable Single(s): “You Broke Up With Me”
  • Walker Hayes is a father to six – soon to be seven.
  • Musical Influences: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard
  • Toured/Performed with Thomas Rhett
  • If you like Sam Hunt, The Chainsmokers, Thomas Rhett, Chase Rice, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore

Stay Connected:

WalkerHayes.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#14. Brandon Lay

  • From Jackson, Tennessee; Nashville-Based Artist
  • Label: EMI Records Nashville
  • Notable Single(s): “Speakers, Bleachers & Preachers”
  • Musical Influences: John Mellencamp, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen
  • Toured with Old Dominion, Cole Swindell, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney
  • If you like Eli Young Band, Kenny Chesney, Sam Hunt

Stay Connected:

BrandonLay.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#13. Carly Pearce

  • Kentucky Native; Nashville-Based Artist
  • Label: Big Machine Records
  • Album: Every Little Thing (2017)
  • Notable Single(s): “Every Little Thing” | “Hide The Wine”
  • Musical Influences: Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, Sara Evans, Alison Krauss, Shania Twain and Sonya Isaacs
  • Toured/Performed with Eric Church, Kelsea Ballerini, Martina McBride, Kip Moore, Brett Young, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, and Rascal Flatts
  • If you like: Lee Ann Womack, Brandy Clark, Cam

Stay Connected:

CarlyPearce.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#12. Ryan Kinder

  • Alabama & Tennessee Roots; Nashville-based Artist
  • Label: Warner Music Nashville
  • Album: Set to Release 2018
  • Noteable Single(s): “Still Believe in Crazy Love”
  • Musical Influences: John Mayer, Jackson Browne, Keith Urban
  • Toured/performed with Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Zac Brown Band, Brett Eldredge, Ty Herndon and Tim McGraw.
  • If you like Chris Stapleton, Zac Brown Band, David Fanning

Stay Connected:

RyanKinder.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

 #11. Jimmie Allen

  • Delaware Native; Nashville-based Artist
  • Label: Stoney Creek Records
  • EP: Jimmie Allen (2017)
  • Noteable Single(s): “Blue Jean Baby” | “Back of Your Mind” | “Best Shot” | “Underdogs”
  • Spotify’s Viral Top 50 Playlist
  • Musical Influences: Alan Jackson, Aaron Tippin, Montgomery Gentry, and Jason Aldean
  • Toured/Performed with Toby Keith and Taylor Swift
  • If you like Billy Currington, Jake Owen, Dustin Lynch

Stay Connected:

JimmieAllenMusic.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#10. FILMORE

  • From Missouri; Nashville-based Artist
  • BMI Artist
  • University of Missouri graduate
  • Album: Proof (2016)
  • Notable Single(s): “You Know You Wanna” | “Headlights”
  • Toured with Sam Hunt, Michael Ray, Chase Rice, Jon Pardi, Canaan Smith
  • If you like Sam Hunt, Florida Georgia Line, Love and Theft, Rascal Flatts

Stay Connected:

FilmoreMusic.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Snapchat

#9. Logan Mize

  • Kansas native; Nashville-based Artist
  • Label: Big Yellow Dog Music
  • Album: Come Back Road (2017)
  • Notable Single(s): “Ain’t Always Pretty” | “Come Back Road” | “Somebody to Thank”
  • Musical Influences: Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Nirvana, the Foo Fighters and Stone Temple Pilots.
  • Toured with Cam, Eric Church, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley
  • If you like Chase Rice, Dylan Scott, Brantley Gilbert

Stay Connected:

LoganMize.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#8. Ryan Griffin

  • Florida Native; Nashville-Based Artist
  • Label: BMG
  • EP: Sake of Summer (2017)
  • Notable Single(s): “Backseats and Burnt CDs” | “Woulda Left Me Too”
  • Co-wrote Kelsea Ballerini’s “Dibs”
  • Musical Influences: George Strait, Brian McKnight, Vince Gill, Reba, Usher, K-Ci and JoJo, Keith Urban
  • Toured/Performed with Michael Tyler
  • If you like Thomas Rhett, Dan & Shay, Chris Young, Luke Combs

Stay Connected:

RyanGriffin.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#7. Emma White

  • From Baltimore; Nashville-based Artist
  • EP: Emma White (2017)
  • Notable Single(s); “Overthink It”
  • Berklee College of Music graduate
  • Named after EmmyLou Harris
  • Musical Influences: Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye, Mary J. Blige, Patty Griffin, The Dixie Chicks, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Irving Berlin, Henri Mancini, Katy Perry, Michael Jackson, Adele, Ryan Tedder, Lauryn Hill, Lady Gaga, Jay Z, Beyonce, David Ryan Harris, Sarah Buxton
  • Toured/Performed with Rodney Atkins, Brad Paisley
  • If you like Maren Morris, Brad Paisley, Rodney Atkins, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift

Stay Connected:

EmmaWhiteMusic.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#6. THE REKLAWS

  • From Ontario,Canada
  • Jenna & Stuart Walker (Brother-Sister Duo)
  • Reklaw spelled backwards is Walker
  • Label: Universal Music Canada
  • Over 60K Spotify Listeners; “Hometown Kids” has had over 800K Spotify Streams
  • Noteable Single(s): “Hometown Kids”
  • Toured/Performed with Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Kip Moore, Brothers Osborne
  • If you like Little Big Town, Thompson Square

Stay Connected:

TheReklaws.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#5. Ashley McBryde

  • Arkansas Native; Nashville-based Artist
  • Label: Warner Music Nashville
  • EP: Jalopies & Expensive Guitars (2016)
  • Notable Single(s): “Girl Going Nowhere” | “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega”
  • CMT’s Next Women of Country Artist (2017)
  • Musical Influences: Carl Jackson, Hank Jr., Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Jim & Jesse, Shawn Camp, Carly Simon, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix
  • Toured/Performed with Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, Hank Williams Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Willie Nelson
  • If you like Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Gretchen Wilson, Pistol Annies, Patty Loveless, Brandy Clark

Stay Connected:

AshleyMcBryde.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#4. Jordan Davis

  • From Louisiana; Nashville-based Artist
  • Label: UMG Nashville
  • Notable Single(s): “Single You Up” | “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot” | “Take it From Me”
  • 1-Million Spotify Listeners
  • Musical Influences: John Prine, Jason Isbell, Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Johnny Cash
  • Toured with Kip Moore
  • White Wine & Whiskey Tour with Jillian Jacqueline
  • If you like Sam Hunt, Cole Swindell, Old Dominion, Gavin Degraw, Thomas Rhett,

Stay Connected:

JordanDavisOfficial.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#3. Jillian Jacqueline

  • From Pennsylvania; Nashville-based Artist
  • Label: Big Loud Records
  • EP: Side A
  • Notable Single(s): “Reasons”
  • Musical Influences: Gwen Stefani, Carole King, Natalie Merchant, Reba, Faith Hill and Kenny Rogers
  • Toured/Performed with Kenny Rogers, Dwight Yoakam, Ryan Adams, Billy Currington, Vince Gill, Brett Eldredge, Ryan Adams, Thomas Rhett
  • If you like Maren Morris, Sherryl Crow, Kacey Musgraves, Cam

Stay Connected:

JillianJacqueline.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#2. Morgan Evans

  • From Australia; Nashville-based Artist
  • Label: Warner Music Nashville
  • Notable Single(s): “Kiss Somebody” | “I Do” | “Dance With Me”
  • CMA Global Artist of the Year (2017)
  • 14-Million Spotify streams
  • Married to Kelsea Ballerini
  • Musical Influences: Keith Urban
  • Toured/Performed with Cole Swindell, Lee Brice, Old Dominon, Chris Young
  • If you like Cole Swindell, Thomas Rhett, Keith Urban

Stay Connected:

MorganEvansMusic.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#1. Devin Dawson

  • From Orangeville, CA; Nashville-Based Aritst
  • Label: Warner Music Nashville
  • Album: Dark Horse, set to release January 19th
  • Notable Single(s): “All on Me” | “Dark Horse” | “Asking For A Friend”
  • Belmont University graduate
  • Check Out his “Songs in the Key of F” web series
  • Musical Influences: John Mayer, Marvin Gaye, Hunter Hayes,  Credence Clearwater Revival, Alan Jackson and Johnny Cash
  • Toured/Performed with Maren Morris, Michael Ray, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Brett Eldredge
  • If you like Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley

Stay Connected:

DevinDawsonMusic.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Snapchat

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