Who’s the next big name in Kentucky music? Here are 5 to watch in 2025
There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it — Kentucky music is on a hot streak, and 2024 may have been its best year yet.
Perennial heavyweight Chris Stapleton added to his trophy collection, most notably with a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance and three more CMA Awards including Male Vocalist of the Year. The Kentucky native also headlined locally at Railbird Festival in June in front of nearly 45,000 people.
Meanwhile, Kentucky musicians Tyler Childers, Kelsey Waldon, S.G. Goodman, Nat Myers and Sam Bush had personal artifacts included in the latest iteration of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s “American Currents” exhibit in Nashville (it’s available to view until February 2025).
Also in Music City, several Kentuckians made their debut in the circle at the Grand Ole Opry such as Lost Dog Street Band, Abby Hamilton and Leah Blevins.
And perhaps the most well received of all, longtime renegade Sturgill Simpson released new music under the name Johnny Blue Skies and returned to touring with a sold-out run that included an October return to Rupp Arena — a venue he last performed a co-headlining bill with Tyler Childers at in February 2020. And most importantly, he was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame just a few weeks later during a ceremony he attended in person in Mount Vernon.
Looking to ride that wave of momentum are another class of talented and hungry musicians wanting to stake their claim among the Commonwealth’s most captivating acts. From Melanie A. Davis to Joshua Slone, here are five Kentucky musicians you should keep on your radar in 2025 and beyond.
Melanie A. Davis
Ever since stumbling upon the jazz and pop-tinged hooks from Murray’s Melanie A. Davis at Monticello’s Sleeping In The Woods Festival last May I’ve been under the singer’s spell.
That notion was only strengthened with the November release of the classically trained vocalist and self-taught guitar player’s third album “Noctalgia.” In the new year she plans to return to the studio to record a new project that, in her words, “combines classic Americana imagery with touches of tech-inspired dystopia and political commentary.”
The result looks to be a musical cross between George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and the works of Kurt Vonnegut set to a retro and folk-rock soundtrack with rootsy, honky tonk vibes mixed in similar to previous songs like “Ursa Major” and “Tinseltown,” two tunes that perfectly show off her magical madness.
Candi Jenkins
Newly formed country trio Candi Jenkins, comprised of RIAA platinum certified songwriter Katie Toupin and Estill County’s The Jenkins Twins, has already made waves in their first handful of shows, which included a Hurricane Helene flood benefit at The Burl and an ongoing winter residency at The Green Lantern.
Songs like “Cheap Entertainment” and “Candi Land” conjure up whimsical worlds where classic country tropes come to life (and occasionally get turned upside down), making the band an act you’ve really got to see to believe.
The group — which also occasionally includes Texas songwriter Parker Twomey, among others — recently finished recording their debut album that’s expected out in 2025 alongside a slew of new tour dates and other surprises.
Dalton Mills
2024 was a busy year of releasing music for Middlesboro raised, Chattanooga, Tn. based country crooner Dalton Mills, who dropped his solo album “Good Place To Hide” in March. That was followed by a trio of duets with his Letcher County raised colleague Tiffany Williams — “Worst Of Both Worlds,” “I Remember You,” and “Gold Watch And Chain” — in August.
However, he was also busy on the road with a barrage of shows that included his first ever international tour, going to The Netherlands in the Fall. In 2025 Mills will look to continue that trend by breaking into new territory like Texas and Oklahoma while also eyeing a return to the studio in Lexington with J. Tom Hnatow to record yet another batch of new songs.
Charlie Overman
If you’re a fan of timeless songwriting ripe with wisdom and tongue in cheek humor look no further than Lexingtonian Charlie Overman. First bursting onto the local music scene in the late 2010’s with the high school pop-punk band People Planet, Overman has since transformed into a rugged country singer with lyrics that can stand up against anyone in the state.
Following the success of 2024’s self-titled debut record, Overman is already hard at work on its follow up that aims to cement his songwriting chops in addition to a place among our artists to watch.
Joshua Slone
Another songwriter that jumped onto my radar at Sleeping In The Woods was Paintsville born, Floyd County based teenager Joshua Slone, who’s crisp vocals and poignant lyrics on songs like “What’s Left Of Her” and “I Said I’m Right Here” have helped to rack up more than 30,000 followers on both Instagram and TikTok.
Both songs are likely to be among the 20 slated to make it onto his forthcoming debut album expected in 2025 that he’s been traveling to Los Angeles and back to record, with a big run of shows to follow.
Five Other Kentucky Artists To Follow
▪ Lexington and Morehead-based modern power rock trio Bedford Band
▪ Henry County’s “Long Haired Southern Hippie” Joe Clark
▪ Laurel and Leslie County based bluegrass band The Creekers
▪ Magoffin County rocker Zoe Howard & Yellow Line
▪ Bell County hollerin’ storyteller Bill Taylor & The Appalachian Heatherns
Past “Kentucky Artists To Watch For” Round-Ups
2024: Hunter Flynn, Hannah Howard, Emily Jamerson, Laurel Lewis, Jordan Lee King, Ruen Brothers, Scott T. Smith, Jayce Turley
2023: Girl Tones, Branden Martin, Cody Lee Meece, Nat Myers, Phoebe White
2022: Maria Carrelli, Cole Chaney, Abby Hamilton, Joslyn & The Sweet Compression, Short & Company
2021: Brit Taylor, Hancock & Shouse, Jordan Allen & The Bellwethers, Senora May, Sydney Adams
2020: Home Grown Head Band, Mojo Thunder, Nicholas Jamerson
2019: Dark Moon Hollow, Lylak, Massive Cult, Chelsea Nolan, Wayne Graham