Hey, Jason Kelce, we heard you’re tired of “bro-country” sounding music, and man, so are we. Thankfully, country music is alive and well beyond the “check out my jacked-up truck” lyrics you referenced.
On the most recent New Heights podcast episode, Jason Kelce went on a tangent about how he is over “modern-day” country music and wishes people would return to the sound of classics like Willie Nelson.
And it’s the same thing in country music. If I have to hear one more country song that’s like, ‘I got my boots in my truck, going through the fields.’ What the f*** are we talking about? That’s not country music.
Put on some f***ing Willie Nelson. I am tired of country music and what it’s become. It is horseshit.”
@whiskeyriff Who does he need to listen to? // Full story at whiskeyriff.com // 🎥: @New Heights #whiskeyriff #jasonkelce #willienelson #countrymusic ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff
So Jason Kelce, thank goodness you have platforms like us that hear your cries for more authentic, twangin’ country music, and we can deliver. Here is a list of ten artists you should check out that are far from “I got my boots in my truck, going through the fields.”
Jesse Daniel
Hailing from California, Jesse Daniel IS country music… and his latest album Countin’ The Miles is just the latest proof that the future of country music is in great hands.
“That’s My Kind Of Country”
Ryan Bingham
Many will recognize him as Walker on the Paramount Network series Yellowstone, but long before he was in the acting business, he was a Grammy-winning country music singer. Hailing from New Mexico, Ryan’s catalog is one of the most underrated in all of country music.
“Southside Of Heaven”
Cody Jinks
The Fort Worth native has almost single-handedly provided the blueprint for independent country music. Without an ounce of support from country radio or major awards shows, Jinks has been proving for the past decade that working hard, taking care of your fans, and playing great country music is all you need to be successful in this business. And he’s selling out BIG venues doing so.
“Somewhere In The Middle”
Charles Wesley Godwin
Charles Wesley Godwin quite possibly the best thing happening in country music right now, a cornerstone of the independent music scene coming out of the Appalachian region of the United States. Although he is now signed to Big Loud, he has remained tried and true to the sound curated as an independent, creating songs that will shake you to the core. As a family man, I think you’ll fall in love with many of his tracks on his latest record, Family Ties.
“Family Ties”
Flatland Cavalry
A stellar Texas group with loads of fiddle and steel guitar, complimented by frontman Cleto Cordero’s masterful vocals, Flatland delivers the best of both sad country and sweet love songs. These boys do not miss.
“Dancin’ Around A Fire”
Brent Cobb
A masterful songwriter turned singer; Brent Cobb brings his Georgia flare to his music with his thick Southern drawl and words that cut deep. Every song has such profound meaning put into digestible lyrics that it makes you stop and think about life’s beauty and complexity. While Cobb (similar to many other artists on this list) has a discography filled with heaters, his love songs are unmatched. Fire this one up for Kylie.
“Patina”
Shane Smith & The Saints
“It’s Been Awhile”
Sierra Ferrell
One of the most talented artists in the business, Sierra Ferrell is making waves with her Appalachian-inspired sound. With a vocal range that could kill and a unique style that intertwines influence from blues, jazz, Latin music, and more, her West Virginian twang shines on each track. Both her studio albums masterfully tell a story, from her slow heartbreak ballads to songs about dreaming of making it big. The vocals showcased on her records is precisely how she sounds on stage… she’s truly a talent unlike any other.
“American Dreaming”
Charley Crockett
“Just Like Honey”
Zach Top
Talk about bringing back ’90s country. If you could put Keith Whitley and Alan Jackson together in one body, you’d get Zach Top. Top is bringing back the REAL sound of country music, delivering jukebox jam after jukebox jam.
“Sounds Like The Radio”
And that’s just a quick 10 artists… I didn’t mention artists like Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Turnpike… ones you have garnered some major national attention on the past couple years, but the list of great country music artists is actually pretty endless right now. 49 Winchester, Silverada, Kelsey Waldon, Red Clay Strays, Wyatt Flores, Muscadine Bloodline, Emily Nenni, Meg Mcree… the list goes on and on.
Go ahead and pick pretty much anybody out of Texas and Oklahoma, anyone out of Kentucky or West Virginia and you’ll find yourself with some good country music.
If you like what you hear, listen to our 2024 Country playlist. It features the best releases of the year thus far.
