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20 New Black Country Singers Who Are The Changing the Face of the Genre

A new generation of Black country artists has emerged in the country music genre to reshaping its landscape and break down barriers that existed in the industry. The country music genre is often associated with rural landscapes and cowboy hats, and the inclusion of these artists into the genre is giving it a whole other new perspective.

This article delves into some of the remarkable Black country artists who are at the forefront of this country music revolution. Through their music, they are reshaping the industry, defying stereotypes, and paving the way for future generations of artists who will venture into the same genre of music.

1.Yola

Yola whose full name is Yolanda Quartey, is highly known for versatility in her choice of music. Her captivating voice, rich songwriting, and her unique fusion of country, soul, and Americana puts her on the map as one of the top country music artists.

Her exposed to a diverse range of music including gospel, country, and soul, greatly influenced her choice of music and whole style. Yola’s solo career began with her debut album, Walk Through Fire showcased her ability to fuse elements of country, soul, and Americana. The success of this album earned her a Grammy nomination in 2020 for Best New Artist.

2.Jimmie Allen

Jimmie Allen began his musical journey at quite a young age by writing and performing songs as a teenager. His first ever breakthrough in the country music industry was with his single, Best Shot which became a top hit and was even reached a No. 1 country song. This achievement came years after several rejections and financial instabilities.

The success of this single marked a major historic event for other black country music singers. Jimmie Allen’s music is rooted in modern country with his music solely focusing on themes of love, relationships, and personal experiences.

3.Allison Russell

Allison Russell began building her career in country music with making collaborations with other already established artists before she embarked on a solo journey. Her first ever album, Outside Child, mainly focused on trauma she experienced while growing up in Canada.

The album walks a fine line of soul grooves, jazz temperament and country-folk world-building. Other than music, Allison also focuses on activism and advocacy work, which essentially addresses issues of racial and social justice.

4. Amythyst Kiah

Amythyst Kiah is a talented singer-songwriter and musician whose work cuts across different genres, including folk, blues, country, and Americana. Kiah’s upbringing in the South and her immense appreciation for diverse cultural and musical traditions is what profoundly impacted on her musical style and journey.

Kiah’s breakthrough as artist was back in 2021 after the release of her single, Wary + Strange which was received quite well by country music lovers. Kiah’s success in the industry was quite significant segregation and separation of people of color in the industry was quite common.

5.Britney Spencer

Britney Spencer began her musical path pursuing country music. Britney’s love for music and dedication to the specific genre is what promoted her to explore possibilities within the industry. She gained notable attention from country music livers after she made a cover of a song by The Highwoman.

Damn Right, You’re Wrong and My Perfect Life are some of the tracks contained in Spencer’s debut album, Compassion was released back in 2020. She later in 2021 released a new single titled Sober & Skinny which was received quite well by country music lovers.

6.Shy Carter

Shy Carter’s multi diversity in music has made him a prominent figure in various genres including country, pop, and hip-hop. Shy’s early exposure to diverse musical influences played a significant role in shaping his artistic direction and journey.

 His first ever breakthrough in industry was as a songwriter and producer where he made collaborations with a number of artists spread across different genres. He later on ventured into a solo escapade where he released several hits. One of his latest singles, Beer With My Friends, was received quite well by music lovers.

7.Breland

The contemporary country music artist, Breland is known for his out of the ox innovation that blends country with hip-hop to create a whole other experience for listeners. Breland, whose full name is Daniel Breland developed his love for music at quite a young age.

His style and choice of music draws inspiration from a wide range of genres, including country, hip-hop, R&B, and gospel. Breland’s first ever steps into the music industry was as a song writer. His debut single, My Truck which was a fusion of both country and hip-hop gained viral attention on social media platforms including TikTok.

8.Rissi Palmer

The contemporary country music artist, Rissi Palmer is majorly known for her soulful vocals and her immense contributions to the genre. Her cultural heritage greatly influenced the choice of music. Palmer’s musical career was initially limited to performing at her local church before she embarked on her country music journey.

Palmer’s breakthrough in this genre was with her debut single, Country Girl which made her the first Black woman to chart a country song in over 20 years. Other than music, Rissi Palmer has also been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusivity in country music.

9.Willie Jones

The contemporary country music singer, Willie Jones is known for his soulful vocals and a unique blend of country, R&B, and hip-hop influences. His exposure of a variety of music genres from quite a young age greatly influenced his choice and style of music.

His debut single, Runs in Our Blood showcased his ability to fuse the three genres to create a masterpiece. The track’s authenticity and his rich, soulful voice resonated with country music lovers. His debut album, Right Now was met with critical acclaim and solidified his position as a rising star in the country music scene.

10.Kane Brown

The 27-year-old singer has become one of country music’s biggest stars with his unique blend of country, pop, and R&B which has mostly resonated with a wide variety of audiences all over the world. His first ever two albums in the industry were certified double platinum and platinum.

Kane Brown first gained widespread recognition after posting cover songs on his social media platforms. His unique style which is often a mix of country, pop and R&B caught the attention of both the audience and music industry professionals. His debut single, Used to Love You Sober reach number one on the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart.

11.Miko Marks

The contemporary country music artist, Miko Marks is famously known for her authentic and soulful sound. Her musical career began with her performing at her local church before she began her solo career.

Her debut album, Freeway Bound was released during a period where Black female country artists were relatively rare. However, the Mama and Just the Thought of You tracks from the album were quite successful.  Overall, her work in the highly completive industry has played a part in increasing representation for Black artists in the genre.

12.Cowboy Troy

Cowboy Troy, whose real name is Troy Lee Coleman III, is known for blending country and hip-hop influences in his music. His upbringing in Texas greatly influenced his rich country music heritage. He initially performed as a DJ before embarking on a solo journey into country music.

His debut album, Loco Motive featured hits like I Play Chicken with the Train and My Last Yee Haw, which ended up gaining so much attention in the industry. Like all other black country artists, Troy made significant contributions to expand the boundaries of country music, making it more inclusive.

13.Lathan Moore

Unlike all other country music artists, Lathan Moore mainly focuses on storytelling through his songs. Lathan Moore was a member of the boyband Brother Beyond before he embarked on a solo journey.

Moore’s debut single, If There Was Love was a duet with English popstar Kim Wilde. Other than music, Moore starred as a reality television participant on Hit Me Baby One More Time and as Lisa Scott-Lee’s manager on MTV Europe’s Totally Scott-Lee.

14.Keb’ Mo’

The Grammy Award winner, Keb’ Mo’ is renowned for his contribution to the blues and country music genre in the United States. His music which is usually a fusion of traditional blues with elements of folks, rock and pop was influenced heavily by artists like Robert Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy.

His 1994 self titled album introduced the whole world to his modern blues sound that was received quite well. The same album earned a Grammy Award for the Best Contemporary Blues Album category. Keb’ has always been true to his roots of the blues while still incorporating his own contemporary fusion to tap into the market.

15.Rachel Crow

After Rachel’s participation at The X Factor, she embarked on a music career. She released her debut self-titled, which included tracks like Mean Girls and Rock with You. Rachel has also been featured on Big Time Rush’s summer tour and Fred: The Show.

Later on in 2017, she was picked as Elvis Duran’s Artists of the Month and featured on NBC’s Today show. Rachel Crow has also been involved in various philanthropic works addressing child adoption and foster care. Overall, Rachel’s diverse talents and youthful energy have positioned her as a multifaceted entertainer in the music and acting industry.

16.Joanna Cotten

Joanna Cotten is known for her notable contributions to the country music genre with her exceptional voice and storytelling abilities. The American singer’s heritage greatly influenced her choice of music and whole genre.

Her early exposure to in gospel music and other musical genres played a significant role in shaping her singing style. Joanna’s breakthrough in the industry was through her collaboration with the country superstar Eric Church. The release of her solo debut album, The Price of Sugar was also quite successful in the industry.

17.Keshia Chante

Keshia Chanté is a singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality known for her contributions to the entertainment industry. Her debut album, Keshia Chanté contained hit singles like Shook and Unpredictable which were received quite well in the music world.

Overall, her versatility and dedication to various forms of media have allowed her to reach a diverse audience. Other than music Keshia Chanté also emersed herself into various philanthropic and advocacy initiatives, including work related to mental health awareness and youth empowerment.

18.Tiera Kennedy

The contemporary country artist, Tiera Kennedy is known for her unique sounds that are both natural and nourishing to the listeners. Tiera’s debut single, Found It in You explores themes of anticipation, happiness, and pleasure.

One of her latest single, Jesus, My Mama, My Therapist gives tribute to some of the people who were instrumental in her music journey and personal life. This year, she was added to the lineups of several country music festivals because of her growing popularity and organic success in the highly competitive industry.

Other than music, Tiera has had her own radio show on Apple Music Country, called the Tiera Show.

19.Dom Flemons

Dom who is often referred to as the American songwriter is known for his contributions to folk, blues , and country music. The creation of the Carolina Chocolate group by Dom was quite crucial to the revitalization of interest in traditional African-American string band music.

Dom’s music drew inspiration from historical music styles which was a fusion of country blues, ragtime, and even early jazz. Dom has been quite successful in both his solo journey and his band. One of his latest album, Black Cowboys was nominated for the Grammy Awards for the Best Folk Album position at the Annual Grammy Awards and the Blue Music Awards.

20.Rhiannon Giddens

Giddens career in country music has been quite successful with her five solo albums, Tomorrow Is My Turn, Freedom Highway, There Is No Other and They’re Calling Me Home, and You’re the One. Giddens’s musical family and upbringing exposed her to a wide range of musical traditions, including bluegrass, folk, and gospel that influence her type and style of music.

Her songwriting career often addressed social and cultural issues in the industry. Rhiannon’s advocacy strives for inclusion, and racial justice in the highly competitive music industry.

As the music industry continues to evolve, black talented artists have continued to emersed themselves into the country music genre making it more inclusive and diverse. Black country artists are reshaping the genre’s landscape and breaking down barriers that existed in the industry.