Five Fresh Faces Shaking Up Country Music: Your 2025 CMA New Artist Nominees
- All Country News
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The CMA awards have released the nominees for its New Artist of the Year Award! Read below to learn more about these fresh faces who are redefining the genre:
Ella Langley
Ella Langley was born in Hope Hull, Alabama in 1999. Inspired by her grandfather at a very young age, she began playing guitar and singing in local jam sessions in her community. As she got older, she took every musical opportunity she could get, whether that was singing at restaurants, church services, or weddings. Her music career exploded in popularity after she posted a clip of her song "If You Have To" on Tiktok in 2021. Her fame continued to grow as she became Randy Houser's opener on tour. After her performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, she signed a deal with Sony Music Nashville and Columbia Records. She released her first album, Hungover, in August 2024, which included hit song "you look like you love me" featuring Riley Green. She is currently on tour playing at shows all across the United States!
Shaboozey
Shaboozey was born in Woodbridge, Virginia. He was inspired as a child to create music by the music video "106 & Park", as well as by his father's love of country music. In high school, he spent two years attending boarding school in Nigeria. He initially began releasing music on Soundcloud before signing a record deal in 2016 and releasing his first album, "Lady Wrangler" in 2018. He began to attract recognition after his feature on "Start a Riot" with Duckwrth, which was used in the soundtrack for Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. In 2024, he was featured on two tracks from Beyonce's Cowboy Carter and released "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" a smash hit which is tied for the record of most weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. He's released three successful albums and is on tour currently, playing sold out venues across the globe.
Zach Top
Hailing from a ranch in Sunnyside, Washington, Zach Top fell in love with music when he was just 7 years old. Inspired by George Strait and Randy Travis, he formed a bluegrass band with his siblings, paying tribute to the stars of 90s country. He moved to Nashville in 2021 to pursue music full time and released his debut EP, Zach Top, in 2022. He moved between bluegrass and country with his first album, Cold Beer & Country Music, released in 2024. This album was full of country songs inspired by the '90s stars he grew up listening to. Brimming with hits such as "Sounds Like the Radio", "Bad Luck", and "I Never Lie" Zach's album struck a chord with people around the world. Zach released his sophomore album, Ain't In It For My Health, in August, 2025, and he is currently traveling the world on his Cold Beer & Country Music tour.
Tucker Wetmore
Tucker Wetmore is from Kalama, Washington. While his passion for music began early in his life, he learned play piano at 11 years old, he didn't begin to pursue music until later in his life. He played football at Montana Technological University, before an injury forced him off the field. Feeling lost, he began to write songs at the piano, and six months later decided to move to Nashville to pursue music full time. His debut singles, "Wine Into Whiskey" and "Wind Up Missin' You" both appeared on Billboard's Hot 100. He began touring with renowned artists such as Luke Bryan and Kameron Marlowe. In April, 2025, he released his first album, What Not To, and is headlining his first tour, sharing his music with the world.
Stephen Wilson Jr.
Stephen Wilson Jr. was born and raised in the small town of Seymour, Indiana. As a child, he was raised by a single father who taught him to box, and he became a finalist for a Golden Gloves amateur boxing competition. He fell in love with music when he heard "Don't Take the Girl" by Tim McGraw on a school bus. That spark led him to Middle Tennessee State University, where he honed his craft as a lead guitarist in a college band. After his graduation, he worked in research & development at Mars before he returned to music with a publishing deal as a songwriter in 2016. Just two years later, life dealt Stephen a devastating blow, the loss of his father. He created his first album, Son of Dad, as a tribute to his father and released the album on the 5 year anniversary of his father's passing. The album became resonated deeply with audiences, earned critical acclaim, and launched Stephen's career as one of country's most compelling new artists. He recently released his EP, Blankets, and is currently on tour, sharing his story and connecting with audiences across the world.
It's clear the future of country music is bright with so much new talent. Each of these artists have released impressive albums making a statement that they're here to stay. From record-breaking singles to sold out world tours, each of these artists has already made their mark on country music. Be sure to tune in to the CMA Awards on November 19 at 5 pm PST to see who wins the New Artist of the Year award!
ALL COUNTRY NEWS
Country Music News & Entertainment
Country Music Country Music News Country Music Outlet Latest Country News Recent Country News New Country Music Newest Country Music New Country Music Newest Country Music New Country Songs Country