Top 14 Country Music Artists In 2023

In our society, specific individuals possess a natural and innate talent for music. It is fascinating to observe how this talent can manifest in various genres, with country music being trendy for those with such abilities. This genre attracts a vast array of talented individuals, be it the singers who can effortlessly hit the high notes or those who possess the unique talent of weaving heartwarming stories into their music. The country music scene is blessed with diverse gifted performers who continue to captivate and enthrall audiences with impressive musical abilities.

This article features a selection of some of the trendy country music performers of 2023 that have been determined by an impartial and just algorithm that considers the views of fans and the rankings of reputable sources such as Billboard, Spotify, and Taste Of Country’s Top 40. This is in no particular order and, first and foremost, pays respects to legendary Country stars like Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Vince Gill, Cody Johnson, Tim Mcgraw, and the like, who have served as pacesetters in the genre’s evolution.

That being said, let’s get down to business.

Morgan Wallen

Morgan Cole Wallen, an American country music singer, and songwriter, was born on May 13, 1993. He participated in the sixth season of The Voice as part of Usher’s team initially, but later, he became a member of Adam Levine’s team. Although he was eliminated from the playoffs that season, he signed with Panacea Records and released his first EP, “Stand Alone,” in 2015.

2016 Wallen joined Big Loud and launched his debut album, “If I Know Me,” in 2018. The album features hit singles like “Up Down” (ft. Florida Georgia Line), “Whiskey Glasses,” and “Chasin’ You,” and topped the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Wallen’s second album, “Dangerous: The Double Album,” came out in January 2021 and made history as the only country album to stay at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for its first seven weeks since the chart’s inception 64 years ago. The album includes popular tracks such as “More Than My Hometown,” “7 Summers,” and “Wasted on You.” As of May 9, 2023, Wallen’s third studio album, One Thing at a Time, has ruled the Billboard 200 for nine consecutive weeks, with all 36 of its songs entering the Billboard Hot 100, breaking the record for the most songs by a single artist on the chart. In addition, his latest single, “Last Night,” has peaked and maintained its position at the top of the chart, making it Wallen’s maiden single to achieve this feat.

According to the Taste Of Country Top 40 for May 2023, “Last Night” ranks No. 5 in airplay, No. 1 in streaming and sales, and No. 4 on the fan poll. With its combined placements, this song has secured the top spot for May 2023. Additionally, on Spotify’s Country Top 40 2023, as of May end, “Last Night” holds the number one position. “Thinkin’ Bout Me” follows at No. 5, while the collaboration with ERNEST, “Cowgirls,” is at 10, and “Me+All Your Reasons” is at 25. Finally, “Last Drive Down Main” rounds out the top five tracks, currently at No. 34.

Bailey Zimmerman

Meet Bailey Zimmerman, a talented country music artist from the United States born on January 27, 2000. He made waves in 2022 with chart-topping singles “Fall in Love” and “Rock and a Hard Place,” which reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Fans eagerly awaited his debut album, “Religiously. The Album.,” released on May 12, 2023. Zimmerman first gained attention in December 2020 when he began sharing original music on TikTok. In January 2021, he released his debut single, “Never Comin’ Home,” which quickly rose to the top 20 on Spotify’s Viral Chart in the United States.

By February 2022, “Fall in Love” had been released and quickly climbed to number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 by August. Zimmerman followed up with two other successful singles, “Rock and a Hard Place” and “Where It Ends,” in June and August of the same year. These hits led to a significant deal with Warner Music Nashville and Elektra Records. Even Country radio stations couldn’t get enough of “Fall in Love.” And on October 14, 2022, Zimmerman released his debut major-label project, Leave the Light On, which debuted in the top ten on both the Billboard 200 and Canadian Albums charts. Due to overwhelming demand, Zimmerman extended his headlining tour of the United States well into the fall of 2022, with Josh Ross opening his early 2023 dates.

On Taste Of Country Top 40 for May 2023, Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place” goes No. 1 in airplay, No. 5 streaming, No. 8 in sales, and No. 7 on the fan poll, while On Spotify’s Country Top 40 2023, as of May end, his track “Rock And A Hard Place” makes top 10 at no. 7, “Religiously” is at no. 30, “House On Fire” comes in at 35, “Where It Ends” at 38, and “Fixin To Break” completes the 40-man list.

Walker Hayes

Charles Edgar Walker Hayes is an American country pop singer and songwriter born on December 27, 1979. He has released three studio albums: “Boom” and “Country Stuff: The Album” on Monument Records in 2017 and “Reason to Rhyme” on Capitol Records Nashville in 2022. In addition, Hayes has had several singles charts on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts for Billboard; his most prominent peak was “Fancy Like,” which peaked at the top of late 2021 and early 2022.

Hayes’s “Country Stuff” EP was available on June 4, 2021. Through TikTok, one of its songs, “Fancy Like,” went viral and became Hayes’ highest-charting single. It peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart and third on the US Billboard Hot 100. His next single was made available to country radio and debuted at number 53 on the Billboard Country Airplay list. Additionally, “Fancy Like” was included in the extended play “Country Stuff,” whose songs were also included on his third studio album, “Country Stuff: The Album,” released in 2022. In addition, the album gave birth to the trendy singles “U Gurl” and “AA.”

Luke Combs

Luke Combs was born in North Carolina, US, on March 2, 1990. He is a notable singer-songwriter in the country music genre. Combs began his music career after dropping out of college, with his debut extended play, “The Way She Rides,” released in 2014. In 2017, he released his first album titled “This One’s for You,” which reached number four on the Billboard charts. Combs followed up with his second album, “What You See Is What You Get,” released on November 8, 2019, topped the charts in several territories. He has gained a large following since his debut and continues to produce popular music.

He has received several prestigious awards, including four Academy of Country Music Awards and two Entertainer of the Year honors. In 2021 and 2022, He was again recognized with the Entertainer of the Year award, the highest honor in their field. In addition, his song “Love You Anyway” was featured on the Taste of Country Top 40 for May 2023.

On Taste Of Country Top 40 for May 2023,  “Love You Anyway” made the Highest Debut, at No. 14, and was included in the Top 5 New country songs of May list while On Spotify’s Country Top 40 2023, as of May end, “Fast Cars” comes in at No. 4, “The Kind Of Love We Make” at 9, “Love You Anyway” at 16, “Going, Going, Gone” at 19, and his “Where The Wild Things Are” at Number 28.

Kelsea Ballerini

American singer and songwriter Kelsea Nicole Ballerini was born on September 12, 1993. She began composing songs when she was young, and in 2014 she secured a deal with Black River Entertainment. The First Time, her debut studio album was released in 2015. Unapologetically, her second studio album was released in 2017.

Seven tracks by Ballerini that were charted on the Hot Country Tracks and Country Airplay charts may be attributed to her first two albums. She started with her debut single, “Love Me As You Mean It,” which made her the first female artist to get a debut single to the top of that chart since Carrie Underwood in 2006. She now has five No. 1 singles on the latter. Following it was “Dibs” and “Peter Pan,” whose peaks also made her the first female country singer since Wynonna Judd to have her first three singles to the top of that chart. The fourth number-one hit for Ballerini is “Legends.” 2020 saw the release of Kelsea, her third studio album, and Ballerini, a companion acoustic album. Subject to Change, her fourth studio album, was released in 2022. Her song “Heartfirst” was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

The song “If You Go Down (I’m Going Down Too)” by Kelsea Ballerini, which was included in the Top 5 New Country Songs of May list but was not among the Top 40 on Spotify as of May’s end, sits at No. 36 on the Taste of Country Top 40 for May 2023.

Jordan Davis

Jordan Carl Wheeler Davis is an American country pop singer and songwriter born on March 30, 1988. He has two extended plays and the albums Home State and Bluebird Days under his contract with Universal Music Group Nashville’s MCA Nashville label. Seven singles are also included in his discography, four of which have achieved the highest position on Country Airplay. Paul DiGiovanni produced Davis’ self-titled extended play, which he said will be released in May 2020. The singles “Cool Anymore,” “Detours,” and “Almost Maybes” were released before the EP, with “Buy Dirt” ft. Luke Bryan Davis is nominated for ACM Song of the Year and Single of the Year. They also received Song of the Year.

Jordan Davis’ “Next Thing You Know” is placed No. 7 on Taste of Country’s Top 40 for May 2023, while “What My World Spins Around” and “Next Thing You Know” are listed Nos. 18 and 11, respectively, on Spotify’s Country Top 40 for May 2023.

Elle King

Tanner Elle Schneider, sometimes known as Elle King, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actress born on July 3, 1989. Country, rock, and blues are genres that have impacted her music. Her “King’s Debut” EP and The “Elle King” EP were released by RCA in 2012; one of its songs, “Playing for Keeps,” served as the title song for the Mob Wives Chicago television series on VH1.

2015 saw the release of her debut album, Love Stuff. It resulted in the top ten single in the US, “Ex’s & Oh’s,” which led to her receiving two Grammy Award nominations. Of Monsters and Men, Train, James Bay, The Chicks, Heart, Joan Jett, Michael Kiwanuka, and Miranda Lambert are just some artists King has shared the stage with. London King, a former model, and actor and comedian Rob Schneider are her parents. However, she sets herself, her work, and her identity apart from her father’s by using her mother’s last name. King has been recognized by the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards and nominated for four Grammy Awards—two in the rock and two in the country categories.

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Leigh Lambert is an American country singer, songwriter, and guitarist born November 10, 1983. She began her career in early 2001 with the independent release of her self-titled debut album. She was born in Longview, Texas. She was third in the singing competition on the USA Network television program Nashville Star in 2003. She joined the Pistol Annies in 2011, together with Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, before pursuing a solo career. The Grammy Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and the Country Music Association Awards have all recognized Lambert. Furthermore, Lambert has received more Academy of Country Music Awards than any other performer in history.

The singles from 2011’s Four the Record included “Baggage Claim,” “Over You,” “Fastest Girl in Town,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” and “All Kinds of Kinds.” Platinum, Lambert’s fifth album, was released in 2014. The album’s debut track, “Automatic,” made it to the top five on the Country charts and earned the record the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. The Weight of These Wings, her sixth studio album, was released on November 18, 2016, and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) subsequently awarded it Platinum certification. Wildcard, her seventh studio album, was released on November 1, 2019, and in early 2021 it won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. The album’s three singles (“It All Comes Out in Wash,” “Bluebird,” and “Settling Down”) made it into the top 20 of the country music charts. The album’s second official single, “Bluebird,” became Lambert’s first song to top the Billboard Country Airplay Chart as a solo artist since 2012.

Later, she worked with composers Jon Randall and Jack Ingram to create the album “The Marfa Tapes,” deviating from her usual style to create a more natural, acoustic vibe. On May 7, 2021, it was released to critical acclaim. “Palomino,” Lambert’s eighth studio album, was released on April 29, 2022. The same year, she was included in Times’ 100 Most Influential People list.

Chris Stapleton

Christopher Alvin Stapleton, an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, was born on April 15, 1978, in Lexington, Kentucky, and raised in Staffordsville, Kentucky. Upon moving to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2001 to pursue an engineering degree at Vanderbilt University, Stapleton dropped out and focused on his music career. Following this decision, he signed a contract with Sea Gayle Music to write and release his music.

Since 2018, Stapleton has written or co-written over 170 songs, earning credits for his work. He’s co-written six number-one country songs, such as Kenny Chesney’s “Never Wanted Nothing More,” enjoying five weeks at the top. Josh Turner’s “Your Man,” George Strait’s “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright,” and Luke Bryan’s “Drink a Beer” are also among his successful collaborations. Stapleton’s music has appeared on albums by various artists, including Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, and Taylor Swift. In addition, he’s worked with Vince Gill, Peter Frampton, Sheryl Crow, and Ed Sheeran. Stapleton has been honored with numerous awards, including eight Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, and 14 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. In addition, the ACM named him the Artist-Songwriter of the Decade. Additionally, in 2023, Rolling Stone placed Stapleton at number 170 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Kane Brown

Kane Allen Brown, an American singer born on October 21, 1993, first gained public attention through social media. In June 2015, he released his first EP, “Closer,” followed by a new single, “Used to Love You Sober,” in October of the same year. After signing with RCA Nashville in early 2016, he released his EP “Chapter 1” in March 2016, including the song mentioned earlier. On December 2, 2016, Brown released his first full-length album, self-titled “Kane Brown,” featuring the hit single “What Ifs.” In October 2017, he made history as the first artist to have simultaneous number one on all five main Billboard country charts. In November 2018, he released his second album, “Experiment,” which became his first number-one album on the Billboard 200. Recently, in 2021, Brown made history once more, becoming the first black person to win Video of the Year at the ACM Awards for his song “Worldwide Beautiful.” He was also recognized in Time’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, the Time 100, for 2021.

According to the current rankings on Taste Of Country Top 40 for May 2023, Kane Brown’s “Thank God” featuring Katelyn Brown holds the 9th position. His song “Bury Me in Georgia” also secures the 37th spot. On the other hand, as of the end of May, Spotify’s Country Top 40 2023 ranks Brown’s “Thank God” at number 8.

Thomas Rhett

Did you know that Thomas Rhett Akins Jr. is a talented American country singer-songwriter who is the son of another famous singer, Rhett Akins?

Thomas has released a total of six studio albums under Big Machine Records’ Valory Music label, which include It Goes Like This (2013), Tangled Up (2015), Life Changes (2017), Center Point Road (2019), Country Again: Side A (2021), and Where We Started (2022). He has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, with two albums being recognized as Best Country Album in 2017 and 2019.

Twenty-one singles from his six albums have appeared on the Billboard Hot Country and Country Airplay charts, with 17 of them peaking at No. 1 on the latter: These songs include “It Goes Like This,” “Get Me Some of That,” “Make Me Wanna,” “Crash and Burn,” “Die a Happy Man,” “T-Shirt,” “Star of the Show,” “Craving You,” “Unforgettable,” “Marry Me,” “Life Changes,” “Sixteen,” “Remember You Young,” “Look What God Gave Her,” “Beer Can’t Fix,” “What’s Your Country Song,” and “Country Again.”

According to the May 2023 Taste of Country Top 40, “Angels Don’t Always Have Wings” by the artist ranks at number 32. However, it did not reach the top 40 on Spotify this Time.

Dierks Bentley

Born on November 20, 1975, Frederick Dierks Bentley is an accomplished American country music singer and songwriter. He signed with Capitol Nashville in 2003 and released his self-titled debut album, certified Platinum in the United States. His second album, Modern Day Drifter, also achieved Platinum certification, while his third album, Long Trip Alone, was certified Gold. In 2008, he released a greatest-hits album, followed by Feel That Fire in 2009 and Up on the Ridge, a bluegrass album, in 2010. He continued to release successful albums, including Home (2012) and Riser (2014), before releasing Black in 2016 and The Mountain in 2018. His tenth studio album, Gravel & Gold, will be released in February 2023.

Bentley has released several studio albums that have produced 27 singles on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. Out of these, 18 have managed to reach the top spot, including his debut singles such as “What Was I Thinkin’,” “Come a Little Closer,” “Settle for a Slowdown,” “Every Mile a Memory,” “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go),” “Feel That Fire,” “Sideways,” “Am I the Only One,” “Home,” “5-1-5-0”, “I Hold On,” “Drunk on a Plane,” “Say You Do,” “Somewhere on a Beach,” “Different for Girls,” “Woman, Amen,” “Living,” and “Beers on Me.” Eight more of his singles have also made it to the top 5.

As of the end of May 2023, “Gold” has made it to No. 39 on Spotify’s Country Top 40 and No. 21 on Taste Of Country Top 40 for the same month.

Hardy

Did you know that Michael Wilson Hardy, also known as Hardy, has written songs for big names like Florida Georgia Line, Chris Lane, Blake Shelton, and more? Hardy released his debut album, “A Rock,” for Big Loud Records, along with the mixtape “Hixtape, Vol. 1.” Some of his popular singles include “Rednecker,” “One Beer,” and “Some Things Never Change.” Recently, Hardy released four new songs from The Mockingbird & the Crow on October 9, 2022. These include “TRUCK BED,” “.30-06”, “here lies country music,” and “Mockingbird & THE CROW.” It’s worth noting that his latest song marked a departure from his usual country sound and embraced a more rock genre.

Hardy received nominations for two awards in the 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards. He was nominated for Song of the Year for co-writing Blake Shelton’s “God’s Country” and for Songwriter of the Year. In 2021, Hardy received three nominations for New Male Artist, Songwriter of the Year, and Music Event of the Year. His song “One Beer,” which he co-wrote with Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson, was nominated for the latter award. Hardy was once again nominated for two awards in the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards, which took place in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. Although he lost the New Male Artist award to Parker McCollum, he was named the Academy of Country Music’s 2022 Songwriter of the Year, marking his first ACM Award.

On Taste Of Country Top 40 for May 2023, his duet with Lainey is a big winner from the fan poll and is number 1. Country lovers chose this song above all others, with Lainey’s  “Heart Like a Truck” coming in at No. 2. On Spotify’s Country Top 40 2023, “Wait In The Truck” is at Number 2 as of May end.

Zach Bryan

Zachary Lane Bryan is a singer-songwriter from Oologah, Oklahoma, born on April 2, 1996. Having served in the U.S. Navy, he made his major-label debut with the album “American Heartbreak,” which debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

According to the latest rankings, “Something in the Orange” by this artist has claimed the 11th spot on the Taste Of Country Top 40 for May 2023. Meanwhile, “Oklahoma Smokeshow” has secured the 17th position on Spotify’s Country Top 40 as of the end of May, with “Burn Burn Burn” following close behind at 22. Additionally, the collaboration between this artist and Maggie Rogers, titled “Dawn,” continues to maintain its hold at 31.

Jelly Roll

Jelly Roll, real name Jason Bradley DeFord (born December 4, 1984), is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter best known for his collaborations with Lil Wyte, Struggle Jennings, and Tech N9ne. He was given three CMT Music Awards in 2023 for the song “Son of a Sinner.” Jelly Roll began his career in hip hop before switching to country music with 2023’s Whitsitt Chapel CD. With the song “Dead Man Walking,” Jelly Roll achieved his first number-one on Rock Radio on May 9, 2022. On December 9, 2022, he and Chris Young, Sam Hunt, Riley Green, Shinedown, Ernest, Struggle Jennings, Tech N9ne, and Krizz Kaliko sold out Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in front of 15,000 people. In Jan 2023, Roll scored his first number 1 song on Country radio with his debut Country single, “Son of a Sinner,” written by himself and David Ray Stevens.

The song, the second single from the album “Ballads of the Broken,” reached its highest point on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart at number eight in 2021. In addition, he created history in February 2023, spending a record-breaking 25 consecutive weeks at the top of Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart. He will set out on the 44-city “Backroad Baptism Tour” in the summer of 2023.

According to the latest rankings, “Need A Favor” has secured the 16th position on Taste Of Country Top 40 for May 2023. Meanwhile, on Spotify’s Country Top 40 2023, the song has climbed to Number 12 as of the end of May, with “She” positioned at no. 33.

Parker McCollum

Meet Parker Yancey McCollum, a talented American Americana and country singer-songwriter from Texas. He founded PYM Music and kickstarted his career with his first single and EP in 2013. In 2015, he released his debut album, The Limestone Kid, which received a 3.5/5 star rating from The Austin Chronicle. Critics compared his music to Charlie Robison’s, and the album became a fan favorite. McCollum and his band went on tour across Texas to promote the album, performing at popular events like RedGorilla Music Fest. In 2017, he released two EPs, “Probably Wrong: Session One” and “Probably Wrong: Session Two,” followed by the full album, “Probably Wrong,” later that year. His latest album, “Gold Chain Cowboy,” was released on July 30, 2021, marking his major-label debut.

As of May 2023, “Handle on You” has earned the 8th spot on Taste Of Country’s Top 40 chart, while on Spotify’s Country Top 40 chart, it currently occupies the 21st position as of the end of May.