15 country artists to watch in 2023

In December 2022, Adeem The Artist made many country fans upend their "best of the year" lists with their stunning album "White Trash Revelry," which earned almost universally positive reviews. With an eye toward justice and a straightforward, evocative writing style, the future looks exceptionally bright for Adeem The Artist. 

TikTok is increasingly becoming a place for new artists to find an audience, and Megan Moroney is proof. Her song "Tennessee Orange," about a Georgia girl who finds her football loyalties tested after finding a man who roots for the Volunteers, was a huge success on the platform. It also made its way onto the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at #95. 

This Nashville singer-songwriter's shared the stage with major acts like Kane Brown and the Brothers Osborne, and he's poised to become a headliner in his own right in 2023. In early January, he sent his stirring new single "Fearless" to country radio, and it's already resonating with audiences. 

This promising newcomer dropped an EP titled "Mood Swings" in October 2022, and it's already racked up millions of streams on platforms like Spotify. That's thanks in large part to her hit song "Narcissist," a viral smash in 2021. 

Yet another promising newcomer who first charmed fans on TikTok, Nate Smith boasts more than a million followers on the platform and has racked up more than 16 million views. In February, he'll release his self-titled debut albums, which includes the smash single "Whiskey On You." 

If you didn't listen to Gabe Lee's "The Hometown Kid," released in October 2022, it's definitely one to add to your playlist thanks to its strong songwriting sonic diversity. Keep an eye on Lee's website for upcoming tour dates — this is an album you're going to want to hear live. 

A Georgia native who's opened up for Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum, Mackenzie Carpenter is hard at work on her debut album. No release date has been set yet, but in the meantime, check out her single "Can't Nobody" on streaming services like Spotify. 

Thanks to her role on the smash-hit TV show "Yellowstone," a viral TikTok trend, and her hit song "Heart Like A Truck," 2022 was a huge year for Lainey Wilson. Expect even more from the artist in 2023, including a headlining tour supporting her 2022 album "Bell Bottom Country." 

This Texas-born band is also riding the "Yellowstone" wave right now, having made multiple appearances on the show and earning new fans from across the globe. And on the heels of a new single called "Hummingbird" in the summer 2022, fans are keeping their fingers crossed for the band's first full-length album since 2019. 

On both TikTok and the Billboard charts, Bailey Zimmerman saw a lot of success in 2022. His debut album "Leave The Light On" spawned two radio hits, including a #1 that's since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. 

Signed to Warner Music Nashville, Ian Munsick's star will continue to rise in 2023. He's currently working on a second full-length album, the follow-up to 2021's "Coyote Cry," and is set to play some big stages in 2023, including Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California and iconic Texas honky-tonk Billy Bob's. 

You might have seen this Mississippi-born trio on "America's Got Talent," or maybe even on TikTok, but once you've heard those honeyed harmonies, pretty much everyone becomes an instant fan of Chapel Hart. In addition to a recent appearance on Darius Rucker's "Ol' Church Hymn," the group is headed out on its first headlining tour in 2023, kicking off on January 21 at Nashville's legendary Ryman Auditorium. 

With four albums under their belt, 49 Winchester is firing on all cylinders. Their 2022 album "Fortune Favors The Bold" was one of the year's best, and they're headed out on tour this spring for a big push onto the national scene. 

After an extended hiatus, this Oklahoma band reunited in 2022 for a slew of new shows, and tickets for pretty much all of them sold out instantly. 2023 is poised to be an even bigger year as the Turnpike Troubadours embark on an arena tour. Considering that they've continually teased fans with news of "big things" coming, plenty of Turnpike fans are really hoping that means new music in the coming months. 

With influences that range from southern rock to contemporary Christian tunes, Warren Zeiders went from playing songs in his bedroom to racking up nearly 20 million views on TikTok. Listen to his 2022 debut album, "717 Tapes," and plan to catch Zeiders out on tour this year.