When I tell people I listen to country music, most people react with “ew” or “why?” but they don’t realize how good it actually is. Country music is a very underrated music genre, especially today where a lot of people listen to pop or rap music. Many never give it a chance because they think it is all about women and drinking alcohol. Which… sometimes it can be, but there are many other songs that tell incredible stories through their lyrics! For example, “Where the Wild Things Are” by Luke Combs tells an incredibly sad story about his brother. But it’s not always sad, there are also upbeat songs that get everyone in the party mood. Here is a list of the best contemporary country artists.
Bailey Zimmerman
Bailey Zimmerman is a 25 year old country singer and my personal favorite artist. He grew up in Louisville, Illinois, and shot to fame in 2020. He started off uploading his original songs on social media platforms which gained him a following. His debut song “Fall in Love” quickly became very popular. Zimmerman released his first album Religiously in 2023 which is my personal favorite album of his.
His songs are all very catchy and relatable. He writes a lot about breakup songs, which most people have gone through, especially “Fall in Love” and “Rock and a Hard Place,” which you may have heard on the radio. He has been nominated for many awards. His newest album released in August of 2025 called Different Night Same Rodeo includes collaborations with other talented artists including The Kid Laroi and Luke Combs, who we will talk about next.
His new song “Before You” is another relatable and hard hitting song, which I personally relate to with my boyfriend because of some of the lyrics including “I don’t have to say I’m not perfect babe, You already know and you love me just the same.” In addition, I listen to his song “Waiting” on repeat because it reminds me of my relationship as well as many other long distance couples who are waiting to see each other again. Overall, Bailey Zimmerman is a gifted young singer/songwriter who deserves more recognition for his catchy, original songs.
Luke Combs
Another very talented country singer and another one of my favorites is Luke Combs. Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, he studied criminal justice intending to be a homicide detective. He worked as a bar bouncer before performing on the stage and singing country songs. After five years of college, right before graduation he dropped out to pursue a music career and moved to Nashville.
What makes him stand out to me is his honesty and relatability because his songs feel like real stories from real life. I like him because his songs are so honest and easy to relate to, and he sings about situations and emotions that most people can connect with. What You See is What You Get, released in 2019 was his first album to top the charts and is one of my favorite albums. He was nominated and won many awards especially for his cover of “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman.
One of my favorites by him and one of his most underrated ones called “Love You Anyway” is about being so in love with someone, that even if they break your heart, you don’t regret the memories you made with them. During the Pandemic in 2020, he wrote a song called “Six Feet Apart” which was a story we can all relate to because we lived through it. It was one of the songs I listened to over and over and it gave me hope for the future. Luke Combs is an incredible songwriter and passionate singer who makes all of his shows worthwhile, and I highly recommend you give him a chance.
Morgan Wallen
If you were to recognize any country singer, it would be Morgan Wallen. The “Last Night” singer was born in Sneedville, Tennessee and competed in the 2014 season of The Voice. He released his first album, If I Know Me, in 2016 which included one of his first popular songs, “Whiskey Glasses.” That is the song when I first realized that I really liked him as an artist and wanted to listen to more of his music. “Thought You Should Know” and “Thinkin’ Bout Me” were two of the songs on his third album, One Thing At A Time where all 36 songs made it on to the Billboard Top 100, breaking a record set by Drake.
One of his newer songs “What I Want” features a growing artist many may recognize: Tate McRae. I really like Tate McRae too so the both of them in a song together makes the song incredible. He has received many awards such as Entertainer of the Year and a few CMA awards. One of my personal favorite songs called “‘98 Braves” is a clever comparison of the concept of love to the game of baseball.
“He’s a good artist and makes good country music,” East Islip student Lynne Banks said. Though she doesn’t listen to country music often, she appreciates Wallen’s songs.
Some of his songs don’t give off the ideal “country” vibes and are usually faster and more upbeat, which is why he is one of the most popular and well known country singers.
Luke Bryan
Among these talented artists is Luke Bryan. He is one of the best music artists in the world, selling over 75 million albums and winning many awards. He has also been a judge on American Idol since 2018. Luke writes his own songs along with a partner and has over 30 #1 hit songs. During his early life, he grew up on his dad’s peanut farm in Leesburg, Georgia. In high school he was a well rounded kid who played sports and was involved in theater, which is where his musical talents and stage presence were discovered. He started his musical career in 2004 where he was later signed to a recording contract.
My dad is a big Luke Bryan fan, and my parents went to see his concert at Jones Beach twice, which I heard was an amazing concert. He is known as having one of the best voices in the country, which I agree with. I grew up listening to his song called “Most People Are Good.” This song has an amazing message that I still live by today, saying that everyone has good in them, and live life the way you want to.
Cody Johnson
Last but certainly not least is Cody Johnson, a rising country singer from a small town in Texas. He self-released six albums before releasing his first major label album Ain’t Nothin’ To It. Cody has won many awards and has starred in many tv shows, being named “the future of country music.” One of his most popular albums, Human, includes incredible songs such as “The Painter” and “I’m Gonna Love You” with Carrie Underwood.
His song “Dirt Cheap” is a deep and hard-hitting song that touches the hearts of many listeners. At first I didn’t understand the lyrics or the meaning behind it, only listening to the slow, sweet song. But once I comprehended the lyrics, it truly made me feel strong emotions. Knowing he wrote that beautiful song makes me note how talented of a songwriter he is. Another song he has called “‘Til you Can’t” is an motivational as well as uplifting song, telling listeners to do all the things you want to do because one day you won’t be able to do them. His newer song “The Fall” is rising in popularity and I think is another excellently written song. His songs have helped me through hard times and have reminded me to keep going.
Country music is so much more than drinking, partying, and women. There are many sentimental and heartfelt songs, as well as upbeat catchy songs that everyone enjoys. So before you judge someone for saying they listen to this country, maybe listen to a few Luke Combs or Bailey Zimmerman songs. You never know, maybe you will enjoy it too and start to appreciate this underrated music genre.
