Under the radar country artists you see becoming mega stars

[vamp111]

I think of "Under the radar" country artists as those who aren't considered as stars yet- not winning all the "big" awards, their singles not moving at mega speed on the radio, not consistently selling out large venues, going double platinum, etc. but still active in the country scene and doing respectable. For example, I remember just a few years ago Luke Bryan wasn't a "country superstar." He was doing good, but was one of the "under the radar" country singers, and now he is arguably the hottest country act today.

So who do you see joining the ranks of Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift(even though she isn't really country anymore), Florida-Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, etc. in the next few years?

[ryanroberts]

Lee Brice, Jake Owen, Chris Young, Randy Houser, and possibly Jerrod Niemann are all on the verge it seems like as next big crop of Headliners. From there its kind of a waiting and see game. Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, Dustin Lynch & Thomas Rhett I think still have a couple more years before being considered. If Kip Moore, Jon Pardi, and Craig Campbell can gain some momentum that would help with there stars being on the rise. Also think a David Nail and Eric Paslay could surprise some folks. I think guys like Billy Currington, Joe Nichols, Easton Corbin and Josh Turner while still having success and being fan favorite hit makers , but unless something major happens I don't see them moving up any higher.


Even though he is a star I'll throw this one out as a bonus. Dierks Bentley will rise up a couple of rankings with the Riser Era.

[Kat5Kind]

If Hunter's label can get his singles into the top 5 again I can see him staying big and getting bigger with each era.

Dierks, Jake, and Brantley should be next in line. Kip Moore has a lot of star potential as well.

[jesster]

I think this is a combination of ability, success/popularity, and also motivation to reach this level and what it involves. Some of the names above, I'm not sure that is really something they truly crave - David Nail, for example.

Of the solo male acts, Jake Owen seems to be getting there. And I'd agree on Hunter Hayes in a period of time has potential if he doesn't go off track. Among other acts I've seen performing live, Kip Moore showed some signs of that potential. I don't know about Chris Young, he'll be in my area in the next few weeks - I will be interested to see him headlining a (mid-sized) event. Before I've only seen him as an opener; while he was good, he didn't hold the stage in the same way that the Big Superstar Acts tend to do. Randy Hauser was very good at a recent event, but I have trouble visualizing him headlining at an arena scale.

In the group division, FGL is the obvious one

Females, can't think of any off hand unfortunately.

[Markus Meyer]

Near future I see Dierks, Jake and Brantley doing it, and perhaps Lee Brice, Kip Moore, Hunter Hayes and Chris Young.

Further down the line I see Brett Eldredge, Thomas Rhett, Scotty McCreery (good gut feeling about him), Dan+Shay and Kacey Musgraves. Maybe throw in Cassadee Pope and Parmalee to.

[dm2081]

Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett are the two obvious choices to me. Both have already had some very popular radio and digital songs. They both are great performers (I've seen both live, and they're a lot of fun) and have a lot of charisma. They also seem to connect with the younger crowd that is listening to country these days. Jake has started touring on his own now, and it seems to be going pretty well for him. Brantley Gilbert is another that seems destined to be a huge star, but he will need better single choices IMO to do so. I also think Brett Eldredge will be a big time star, he's got the voice, the looks, and personality. He's just waiting on that one "huge career" type of song, like "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" and "It Goes Like This".

[Kat5Kind]

Sept 5, 2014 8:34:21 GMT -5 jesster said:

In the group division, FGL is the obvious one

They're already there. By next year they're going to be headlining big arenas and amphitheaters which I can't wait for.

[Deleted]

Mega star huh? Hmm this is tough... I would have to say Jake Owen, Lee Brice, i know some people said Kip Moore but idk hes not doing great right now... I also think Brett Eldrege could and im sure by next album he could find that career song.

[Markus Meyer]

"One Mississippi" could have been that career song for Eldredge IMO.

[McCreerian (Harris 2024!)]

Scotty McCreery. He is young and has a lot of time to grow and evolve. He is already drawing anywhere from 2000-10000 depending on where he plays. Once he gets to the "sweet spot" in the kind of music he wants to make that radio really wants to play, then I can see him moving up fast. He has a solid, strong voice, is becoming a better songwriter, and has an commanding stage presence that draws the whole crowd to him. I think we have only begun to see the things this guy can do.

[trebor]

Chris Young and Lee Brice.
Both have solid material and see consistent growth. The productions are no-frills (positive) and fit to arenas.
Jake Owen & Brantley Gilbert: As much as I would like see them both elevated to the next level, they both lack the right male/female and cross-generational ratio to be big arena leads.
All the rest is in the waiting line. Too early in their careers or uneven sales/albums/radio/streaming ratios. With two or three radio hits under the belt you cannot be proclaimed a superstar.
Also, no females came to mind; and I really tried. Sad really, when you think about it thoroughly.
IMO as always

[Markus Meyer]

So I've started a list that shows which artists are A-list, who's on the verge of being mega stars, up and comers, B-listers, etc. and just wanted your guys' feedback on two artists:

Brantley Gilbert - his sales could argue that he's already an A-lister but he may be to new.
George Strait - his concert was huge, is he still A-list?

[rsmatto]

Sept 5, 2014 14:29:10 GMT -5 Markus Meyer said:

So I've started a list that shows which artists are A-list, who's on the verge of being mega stars, up and comers, B-listers, etc. and just wanted your guys' feedback on two artists:

Brantley Gilbert - his sales could argue that he's already an A-lister but he may be to new.
George Strait - his concert was huge, is he still A-list?

Strait will be A-list in name alone.
Gilbert is A-list. His tours do massively well.

Hunter Hayes can get there but he'll have to create music that appeals to all generations (like Scotty McCreery is doing).
Jake Owen's close and a career 'impactful' (IE award potential) song like "What We Ain't Got" will help.
Lee Brice has potential. He has the Garth-like way with his song selection/writing (not saying he'll be Garth).
The Band Perry - Close and almost there.
Chris Young. Definitely great live. He's 'b list' right now (the three above are too).
Brett Eldredge - "One Mississippi" could've been his "What We Ain't Got."
Randy Houser - Great but I don't know if he'll reach stadium/arena level.

There's plenty of room for headliner tours but very few will reach the A-list headline stadium/major arena stuff. Artists do NEED charisma to be there and all the acts above have it. The rare ones like George Strait (stand and sing) will not be able to ever get major tours, so that leaves out Craig Campbell, Josh Turner, etc. In other words, most Traditional-leaning guys. Sad to say but it's true. Now 3-6000 seat places, they can ALL headline that stuff now (like Cole Swindell is going to do).

[HeyHeyHey]

Hopefully Kacey Musgraves will be huge soon and I think she will be. I really want her to do well. I think Chris Young will also be a mega star soon I think

[jesster]

Sept 5, 2014 9:16:33 GMT -5 Kat5Kind said:

Sept 5, 2014 8:34:21 GMT -5 jesster said:

In the group division, FGL is the obvious one

They're already there. By next year they're going to be headlining big arenas and amphitheaters which I can't wait for.

I can wait Although, really, even if they are not my thing more power to them and their fans if they can fill arenas with those who do like them.

I just don't consider them mega stars until they are actually filling good-sized arenas and show that they can sustain it for some years' time based on tickets sales and body of work to fill a headline-scale performance slot.

Jake Owen strikes me as closest who is just entering that phase to prove he can do it.
.

The Band Perry - Close and almost there

I was considering them to be pretty much in the mega or near-mega level.
.

Female-wise, I considered Kacey but after seeing her recently live I just don't see it for the near future. She and her band sounded great and people certainly enjoyed it and were very appreciative but I did not see the stage presence to get an arena-scale crowd excited and hold them there for 90 minutes or so -- even if you assume that many people who buy tickets.

She may well prove me wrong over time, with more albums of material & perhaps if she gets a wind machine and takes some hair tossin' lessons ha. But on first sight I found her to have a controlled, almost cool on-stage persona that worked well as an opener, or for a more intimate type of show than a Big Megastar Stage show.
.

Don't follow Brantley, would not have guessed Brantley as a headliner though I see he does have some arena-type shows in mid-sized cities.

I've been enjoying Lee Brice's more recent radio singles. As a live performer I can't get past memory from seeing him a couple of years ago where his vocal delivery seemed to consist of singing absolutely as loud as possible until it seemed he was trying to burst his lungs :O

[vamp111]

Fun to see this thread three years later and how accurate we were. Out of the people listed, I would say Thomas Rhett has come closest so far.

I think in the short term, Kelsea Ballerini and Dustin Lynch seem like they could be "next in line." The long term possibilities are endless.

[.indulgecountry]

^ Agreed that Kelsea Ballerini is definitely shaping up to be quite the star. I could see Maren Morris continuing to get bigger as well. The industry seems to be getting behind both of them, which is good to see since I'm tired of seeing all these new females be restricted to one hit and then more or less disappearing.

I think on the male side Brett Young, Luke Combs, Jon Pardi and Dustin Lynch are some of the names that seem like they'll have staying power.

[someguy]

Walker Hayes - this guy is so talented, I see him going on to great things.

[recordyear]

Brothers Osborne has a cult following and they often get big boosts from awards show performances. Their southern-rock/country-rock stands out from most peers.

[phil1996]

Crazy how things change. Randy Houser, Lee Brice, Jake Owen were the 3 names everyone predicted in 2014, and they totally screwed up, whether it was the musical output or the record label. For Houser it was the music, as his last album sucked. Jake was a mix between bad single choices and label issues, Lee Brice for some reason took 3 years to get new music out, so his label seems to be at blame there.

Brett Eldredge, Kip Moore, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Luke Combs I feel are all on the right path to mega stardom, especially the latter 2.

Drake White could definitely get there with that voice of his, but needs a few hits first.