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This week, Megan Moroney offers up valuable wisdom enveloped in a lilting ballad, while Maddie Lenhart sings of longing for a carefree night of throwing romantic caution to the wind. Storied songwriter Kent Blazy, bluegrass ensemble Steep Canyon Rangers and Koe Wetzel also offer up new tracks.
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Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of some of the best country, bluegrass and/or Americana songs of the week below.
Megan Moroney, “Beautiful Things”
Megan Moroney turns her potent pen to crafting a song of encouragement and wisdom for her younger niece on this insightful, gentle ballad. Sketching scenes of a girl who’s been left off a party invite, or who is learning to survive through heartbreak, Moroney relates how “Lies can break a fragile heart/ And doubt can crush your dreams,” before reminding that “The world is hard on beautiful things.” This song has the makings of an essential track for young women facing harsh headwinds, feeling like wise perspectives and a warm hug wrapped together. The song is set to be included on Moroney’s upcoming third studio album.
Maddie Lenhart, “Drive Me Crazy”
With her latest song, Virginia native Maddie Lenhart emerges as a singer-songwriter with a gift for distilling life’s messy moments into songs of emotional acuity. On “Drive Me Crazy,” she’s ready to jettison caution in favor of a carefree night spent on a romance that has equal chances of flourishing or fizzling. The song follows previous releases including “Shooting Stars” and “A Rock,” and marks her current status as a rising artist with artistic depth and a nuanced approach to her work.
Koe Wetzel, “Werewolf”
Just in time for Halloween, Wetzel releases this musical warning shot filled with unbridled energy and a nod to expecting the unexpected. “I don’t need a full moon/ To be howling like a d–n fool/ Tearing up everything I see,” he sings, fully embracing the havoc that can come with being a rebel soul. Urgent percussion, brash guitars and Wetzel’s commanding vocal meld mightily on this new track.
Kent Blazy, “American Dreamers”
Storied songwriter Kent Blazy understands better than most the well-traveled road of those who dare to build a life in music. As a songwriter behind hits such as Garth Brooks’ “If Tomorrow Never Comes” and “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up),” as well as Chris Young’s “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” Blazy has seen firsthand how the right song can skyrocket a career. On this heartland rock-style track, he nods to artists including the Eagles, the Byrds and Bob Dylan, as he turns his attention and gritty vocal tones to the scores of dreamers who wrestle melodies and ideas into songs, then take those songs out into the world to create a spark of connection between artist and listener. “American Dreamers,” written solely by Blazy, appears on his new album, Where I Am Now.
Steep Canyon Rangers, “Circling the Drain”
Steep Canyon Rangers lend their musical mastery to this bluegrass jamband vibe, filled with blistering fiddle and expert picking, as they sing from the perspective of someone who has survived the devastation that remains in rural communities following the loss of “big coal” and influx of “big pharmacy” that “came to ease that pain like a buzzard to the bleaching bones.” Together, the group’s Graham Sharp (banjo), Aaron Burdett (guitar), Barrett Smith (bass), Mike Guggino (mandolin), Mike Ashworth (drums) and Nicky Sanders (fiddle), turn in a sharply clear-eyed observation, wrapped in a party-ready musical foil.
Trending on Billboard On Saturday (Oct. 25), ESPN’s College GameDay will take place in Nashville, being held at Vanderbilt University’s FirstBank Stadium for the first time since 2008, and there will be a strong country presence when College GameDay visits Music City. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Country artists Kenny Chesney and Dierks […]
Trending on Billboard Luke Combs earns his 19th No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Back in the Saddle” gallops three spots on the ranking dated Nov. 1, up 23% to 30.8 million audience impressions Oct. 17-23, according to Luminate. The single is expected to appear on Combs’ sixth studio album, due in early […]
Trending on Billboard Country music has a rich history of incorporating themes of rowdy Saturday nights, evenings spent drinking in bars, heartbreak anthems, cheatin’ songs and romantic odes, but the genre’s artists have also also woven in storytelling that intertwines words of faith and deep-rooted spirituality. Country artists have long sung of their spiritual faith […]
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Bryan Andrews’ vitriol is going viral. The up-and-coming country artist’s song, “The Older I Get,” contains lyrics in its verses that take on big pharma, corporate greed and un-Christ-like Christians. But it’s the bridge that has drawn the most attention, as he makes references to the Jeffrey Epstein files (“Raise your right hand / plead the Fifth / Tryna cover up names on a list / lie and say that it doesn’t exist”), ICE (“Heaven help you if you’ve got brown skin”) and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (“Watch ‘em starve on Gaza Strip”).
“The Older I Get” originally came out in June. But in mid-October, a tirade Andrews delivered on social media propelled the song into virality: this week, it debuts at No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales and No. 8 on the overall Digital Song Sales chart while Andrews debuts at No. 16 on the Emerging Artists chart.
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His outburst, which he titled “Crash Out,” features a camo-wearing Andrews seated in his truck, ranting about ICE agents “carting them off in the back of U-Hauls…and the worst part is I have to watch some of you cheering it on like you’re watching a f-cking football game,” saving his ire for people who call themselves Christians who applaud these actions. “I started writing songs about this sh-t because I’m not oblivious to the platform I have,” the Carrollton, Missouri native continues, adding he knows it’s risky for his career to be so outspoken, especially in the often conservative country community, but he feels he has no choice but show “what side of history he’s on.” The reel has garnered more than 7.5 million views on Instagram alone, and proved an effective — if unintended — marketing tactic for the song. And that success earns Andrews’ manager, 10 and 8 Management owner Nicholas Mishko, the title of Billboard’s Executive of the Week.
Here, Mishko, who began managing Andrews almost two years ago after one of the former pipe welder’s songs popped up in his TikTok feed, discusses the song’s success, and gives some context to Andrews’ rise and his signing with Disruptor/Sony five months ago. “Bryan has been creating music for about five years,” Mishko says. “TikTok proved to be a pivotal moment in his career, allowing his music to reach a national audience, open new doors and pursue music full time.” A number of high-profile music executives liked Andrews’ post, which Mishko says, “has opened doors for conversations and opportunities that weren’t possible before.”
The song originally came out in June, but exploded around two weeks ago after Andrews’ “Crash Out” social media post. How were you building the song the past four months until then?
We were building the song through TikTok and Instagram, steadily gaining momentum with each viral moment. We also shared the track with key influencers early on, which helped generate press and expand its reach.
How has it helped spread the word given the celebrities like Mark Ruffalo have liked and commented on Andrews’ post? How are you tying that back to the music?
The attention from high-profile celebrities has helped bring Bryan’s music to audiences who might not have discovered it otherwise. Each repost, share, like or comment generates conversation and drives new listeners to the song and his other work.
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It’s not until two-thirds through “The Older I Get” that Andrews gets overtly political with the bridge that alludes to the Epstein list, “brown skin” and Gaza. Was there any thought to making a version without those references?
The song was largely complete before Bryan wrote that bridge. He added those verses after seeing current events unfold. Those experiences inspired him to address issues and bring awareness.
Andrews posted that people were upset by “Crash Out,” “especially in the country music space.” Was it mainly country music fans or did you hear from people in the country music industry?
The backlash mostly came from fans who felt the song challenged their expectations of country music. We also heard from a few people within the industry, though it was never overwhelming. Overall, the reaction showed that the song was sparking conversation and engaging people with the issues Bryan wanted to highlight.
Andrews signed with Disruptor/Sony in April and you led with “Blue,” which was a much more traditional, though biting, country song about a broken heart, as opposed to something political. Why?
The song highlights Bryan’s songwriting and storytelling, making it a strong introduction for a wider audience. Disruptor’s team, especially Adam Alpert and Julie Leff, has been fantastic to work with, emphasizing from day one that their artists should feel in control of their art. They were fully on board with this first release.
What are your radio plans for “The Older I Get?”
Right now, our focus is on building strong momentum online, letting Bryan’s songs gain traction with fans and influencers. From there, we’ll evaluate whether and how to approach radio, using the buzz as a foundation for any future push.
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On YouTube, so many of the comments are from people who say they hate country music, but they love this song. How are you capitalizing on those new fans?
One of the top comments we’ve seen across platforms is, “I don’t listen to country, but I do now because of you.” We are engaging those new fans by highlighting the song across social platforms and encouraging them to explore more of Bryan’s music. By sharing behind-the-scenes content, stories about the songs and interactive posts, we’re turning casual listeners into loyal fans. It’s exciting to see new fans coming into country music and discovering a side of the genre they haven’t experienced before.
Does he follow “The Older I Get” with another political song or something more traditional?
Bryan has been country his entire life. I have been to his hometown and seen the small-town, blue-collar farming community he grew up in. He is living that life, and with this next song, he is showing listeners that he truly is a country artist and that his authenticity is undeniable.
Are you waiting for the White House to take notice and comment, as they have on Zach Bryan’s song, “Bad News?”
I’m always curious to see who is commenting and what they’re saying, and it’s clear the song has sparked meaningful conversation across a wide audience.
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The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) held its largest celebration for country songwriters of the year on Thursday night (Oct. 23) during the NMPA Gold & Platinum Gala, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
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The event honored more than 150 songwriters whose country songs have reached Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum status, as certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) from the July 2024-June 2025 eligibility period, including more than 70 multi-platinum songwriters who were honored onstage that evening.
Ashley Gorley was named top male songwriter of the year for a third consecutive year, as the non-performing male songwriter with the most certifications over the past year. Among his songs that earned certifications were “I Had Some Help,” “Rumor” and “You Should Probably Leave.”
“He is the Michael Jordan, the Patrick Mahomes of songwriting,” NMPA president/CEO David Israelite said of Gorley. In taking the stage to accept the honor, Gorley praised all of the songs that had been honored during the evening, particularly older compositions that have endured through the years.
“This is such a fun night, and such a variety of songs [being honored],” Gorley said. “I’m reminded, ‘Where the Green Grass Grows’ and ‘In Color,’ these are some of the best songs ever and I was very reminded of how great country music is and challenged on the bar of how great these songs have to be, and how they do live on….thank you for this award. I don’t take this lightly, I don’t take this for granted.”
Amy Allen at the NMPA Gold and Platinum Gala on October 23, 2025.
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Amy Allen was named top female songwriter of the year, for earning more certifications over the past year than any other non-performing female songwriter in the country genre. Allen was honored for her work on songs including the Koe Wetzel and Jessie Murph collaboration “High Road.”
“Thank you for inspiring me,” Allen said from the stage. “My heart has always led me toward country music because of my love for storytelling. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be half the songwriter or person I am today without my founding fathers, Dolly Parton and John Prine, and my real Holy Trinity, which is Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey. I cannot express how much I have learned from these three women about songwriting, but most importantly, about what it looks like to lift one another up in the industry and to write from a place of honesty.
Nashville has been a place of endless inspiration and a school of songcraft and genuine lyricism and the home of so many of my favorite collaborators,” she continued. “Thank you Nashville for taking me in with open arms. I cannot express how really grateful I am for that. Koe and Jessie, I love your hearts and I love your brains and I’m so honored to get to be a part of the songs we did together this year. I love them and I don’t take them for granted.”
Country Music Hall of Famer Dean Dillon accepted the platinum anthem award as a co-writer on the highest-certified song of the year, the RIAA 17x platinum-certified “Tennessee Whiskey,” which was first released in 1981 by David Allan Coe, though Chris Stapleton’s bluesy rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey” brought the song to a new generation of listeners.
In accepting the honor, Dillon thanked his co-writer on the song, Linda Hargrove. He also praised Music City’s songwriting community, saying, “Nashville songwriters, in my humble opinion, are the best in the world.”
ERNEST then paid tribute to the song with a faithful rendering of “Tennessee Whiskey.”
“It is an honor to get to honor you. As a kid who grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, I’m living my dream every day by getting to write country songs,” Ernest said to Dillon, adding, “Getting to sing a song for you and because of you has me rattled.”
Other performers during the evening were Brothers Osborne and Maddie & Tae. Maddie & Tae performed their 4x platinum-certified hit, “Die From a Broken Heart,” and told the crowd they “learned everything we know about songwriting from this beautiful community.”
In perhaps the evening’s most delightfully unexpected moment, a dog made its way onto the stage and joined them as they finished the song. Maddie & Tae then performed a newer song called “Somebody Will,” which they called “one of our favorite songs we’ve ever written.”
Brothers Osborne performed their 3x platinum-certified 2015 hit “Stay a Little Longer,” recalling how the brother duo used to work as servers at the Country Music Hall of Fame before finding success as songwriters and artists. “It’s an honor to be here,” they said, before performing an acoustic rendition of “Stay a Little Longer” and turning it into a righteous guitar jam spectacle.
Allen perhaps summed up the evening best, saying simply, “Long live songwriters.”
Dean Dillon at the NMPA Gold and Platinum Gala on October 23, 2025.
Kenzie Boyd/Morgan Visual Productions
See the list of songwriters who were in attendance and honored for their songwriting works below:
2x Platinum:
Thomas Archer and Chris LaCorte, “Wind Up Missin’ You”
Jess Leary, “Where the Green Grass Grows”
Josh Hoge and Matthew McVaney, “Used to Love You Sober”
Erik Dylan, “There Was This Girl”
Josh Turner, “Long Black Train”
Jason Gantt, “Take it From Me”
Doug Johnson, “She Won’t Be Lonely Long”
Austin Nivarel, Joe Ragosta, and Robert Ragosta, “Need A Favor”
Bill Luther, “My Best Friend”
David Lee and Wynn Varble, “Me And My Kind”
Russell Dickerson and Parker Welling, “Love You Like I Used To”
Connie Harrington and Jordan Schmidt, “Caught Up In The Country”
3x Platinum:
Kelly Archer and Brett Tyler, “Wild As Her”
Paul Jenkins and Ben Williams, “Tennessee Orange”
John Osborne and TJ Osborne, “Stay A Little Longer”
Keith Follese, “Something Like That”
Greylan James, “Next Thing You Know”
Thomas Archer and James McNair, “Lovin’ On You”
Scotty Emerick and the late Toby Keith, “I Love This Bar”
Steve Dorff, “I Cross My Heart”
Cary Barlowe, “Famous Friends”
Tyler Reeve, “Does To Me”
Renee Blair and Jordan Schmidt, “Wait in the Truck”
4x Platinum:
Zach Kale, Emily Landis and Jim McCormick, “The Good Ones”
Josh Hoge, Jared Mullins and Christian Stalnecker, “Thank God”
Justin Ebach, “Singles You Up”
Marty James, Alexander Palmer, Frank Romano and Austin Shawn, “Religiously”
Brock Berryhill, Taylor Phillips and Will Weatherly, “Good As You”
Danny Wells, “Check Yes or No”
Maddie Font, Taylor Kerr, and Deric Ruttan, “Die From A Broken Heart”
5x Platinum:
Chris DuBois and Ashley Gorley, “You Should Probably Leave”
Ben Stennis, “‘Til You Can’t”
Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, and Ben Johnson, “One of Them Girls”
Stephony Smith, “It’s Your Love”
James Otto and Lee Thomas Miller, “In Color”
Ashley Gorley and Ernest Keith Smith, “I Had Some Help”
Brandon Lancaster, “Greatest Love Story”
Chris DuBois and Chris Janson, “Buy Me A Boat”
Sean Cook and Jerrell J-Kwon Jones, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
6x Platinum:
Ashley Gorley and the late Kyle Jacobs, “Rumor”
Jacob Hackworth, Jet Harvey and Heath Warren, “Rock and a Hard Place”
Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip, “I Don’t Want This Night to End”
Jerry Flowers, “House Party”
7x Platinum:
Dallas Davidson, Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley, “That’s My Kind Of Night”
Hillary Lindsey and Liz Rose, “Girl Crush”
8x Platinum:
Zach Kale and Jon Nite, “I Hope”
Diamond/10x Platinum:
Matt McGinn and Jordan Schmidt, “What Ifs”
Rob Snyder and Channing Wilson, “She Got The Best of Me”
11x Platinum:
Thomas Archer and Taylor Phillips for 11x Platinum, “Hurricane”
Matt McGinn for 11x Platinum, “Heaven”
17x Platinum:
Dean Dillon, “Tennessee Whiskey”
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Bunnie XO is standing by Jelly Roll. Shortly after the country star publicly revealed that he previously had an affair, the podcaster took to social media to explain why she thinks she and her husband are stronger for the experience.
In a Thursday (Oct. 23) post on her Instagram Story, Bunnie shared a screenshot of a comment she’d received in the wake of Jelly opening up about his past affair on a recent episode of the Human School podcast. “You took him back and have sung perfection since,” the person wrote in part. “We can’t look up to you now … how can anyone support this?”
In response, the influencer wrote, “It actually takes a stronger woman to face pain head-on, do the work, and rebuild with the man she loves — instead of running or gossiping.”
“Growth isn’t weakness, it’s grace,” she continued. “But not everyone’s built for that kind of strength. I pray you never have to feel that pain bc you’re judging another woman’s life.”
The post comes one day after Jelly’s confession came to light, with the singer sharing on the podcast that “one of the worst moments” of his adulthood thus far had been when he’d “had an affair on my wife.” And, like Bunnie, he also emphasized the importance of doing “the work” to rebuild their relationship.
“The repair has been special,” he said at the time. “And we’re stronger than we could have ever been. I wish our story would have went in a way that it never had an affair, but — and I’m in no way glad it happened — but man, I’m proud of who we are today.”
From Jelly’s past issues with substance abuse to Bunnie’s ongoing IVF fertility journey, the couple has long been open about their personal struggles. They’ve previously shared that they briefly broke up in 2018, but as of this past September, their marriage is nine years strong.
“9 years of us,” the pair wrote on Instagram in celebration of their wedding anniversary, with Jelly adding of Bunnie, “I love more and more every single day.”
Plus, fans will also get to hear Bunnie’s side of the cheating story soon. “I just opened my eyes TMZ jeez,” wrote the influencer, who’s gearing up to publish a memoir titled Strip Down in February. “Anyways, whole story is in the book.”
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Singer-songwriter Dalton Davis has signed a label deal with MCA/Republic Records. The North Carolina native, who is managed by Alex Lunt at Type A/The Familie, just released his new song, “Cows in the Front Yard.”
“The word that is often used to describe Dalton is ‘unique.’ He has a rare ability to blend timeless country storytelling with a modern edge that feels completely his own,” MCA president/CEO Mike Harris tells Billboard in a statement. “His songs are rooted in authenticity, and you can hear both the grit of his experiences and the heart behind his perspective. At MCA, we’ve always prided ourselves on championing artists who define eras and set the standard for what’s next. Dalton has that same kind of undeniable voice and vision — he’s not chasing a trend, he’s carving out a lane that feels fresh but also true to the heritage of our roster.”
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Of “Cows in the Front Yard,” Davis said the inspiration came from “a life of having less and wishing for more. I remember being in middle school when Rich Boy released the song ‘Throw some D’s’ and thinking to myself, ‘One day, I’ll be rich enough to put some fresh rims on a box Chevy.’ Now at 30 years old ‘Cows In The Front Yard’ is my ‘Throw Some D’s,’ my redneck dreams coming to fruition while still hoping and dreaming for more.”
Davis’s journey has taken him from being adopted by touring Gospel artists, to working with hip-hop engineers and producers. He’s opened concerts for artists including Midland, Ashley McBryde and Dwight Yoakam, and recently relocated to Nashville, following years spent refining his sound in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Gospel music and Hip-Hop have played a major role alongside country music in the shaping of my artistry and I will forever be thankful for that,” Davis says. “From Gospel music I learned to write congregational music where a listener can find inspiration and sing along with you by the second chorus. From Hip-Hop, I learned to write conversational music that could be sung or read aloud in a conversation with a friend and fit fine in either setting. ‘Cows In The Front Yard’ is the perfect example of me bringing those together through the country lens that I sing and see life through.”
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His new song builds upon previously released tracks including “Sit Crooked,” “Blue Ridge Sky” and “So Far So Good,” which were released independently.
“The end goal is to make records that people from two different walks of life can pull up to a stop light jamming out to my music and neither party feels like they have to turn down the record,” Davis says.
Dalton Davis
Matthew Simmons
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On June 28, Mexican-American country singer MŌRIAH and artist Ana Bárbara turned a room filled with apprehension into a powerful moment of unity, prior to a boxing matchup between American boxer Jake Paul and Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. in Anaheim, California.
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“The tension in the room was palpable,” MŌRIAH recalls, as the matchup came amidst heightened political strife. MŌRIAH and Bárbara met in Bárbara’s green room and felt “an instant connection and an immediate understanding of what we had the opportunity to do in that moment.” Bárbara took the stage first to perform the Mexican anthem.
“Almost every person in the arena sang every word,” MŌRIAH remembers, who then followed Bárbara onstage, to perform the American national anthem accompanied by a guitarist fusing the song with mariachi sounds. By the song’s end, Bárbara had joined MŌRIAH as they held hands and sang the final line together.
“It felt like the room just exploded with people applauding and screaming,” MŌRIAH says. “For that brief moment, it was like, ‘This is what it looks like if we set those differences aside and we band together, we own both parts of who we are.’ That unity was so powerful, that we were like, ‘This is the beginning of something.’”
On her two new EPs, MŌRIAH also celebrates her full heritage and family. She will release the six-song English-language version, Nice Life, on Friday (Oct. 24) on F2 Entertainment, followed by its Spanish-language counterpart, Buena Vida, on Oct. 31.
The cover art for MŌRIAH’s EP ‘Nice Life’
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She and acclaimed producer Paul Mabury (Lauren Daigle, MercyMe) began working on the songs nearly three years ago, shortly after Mabury attended MŌRIAH’s 30th birthday celebration—a joint party also honoring her grandmother, who was battling health challenges at the time.
“I brought in mariachis, and my friends learned a traditional dance,” MŌRIAH recalls. “The next time we were in the studio, my producer showed me a photo from that night and said, ‘This is beautiful. This is what we need to write about.’”
MŌRIAH was no stranger to releasing music, but those songs would mark a turning point in her artistry. She was raised in California, in a home where mariachi music was played at family gatherings and quinceañeras were celebrated. Summers were spent with family in El Paso, Texas. In 2014, her CCM album Brave reached No. 9 of Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart. She also released the 2022 EP Curtain Call.
Her producer’s encouragement dovetailed with the music and journal entries MŌRIAH had been quietly creating backstage while touring churches across the country.
“I would sing songs that had been written for me, then go backstage and write about my family,” she says. “It’s funny to me now how I kept those two worlds so separate.”
Last year, she released the breezy and dreamy “Hasta Mañana,” a song recorded at Texas’ famed Sonic Ranch studio.
“That song was an exciting peek into where we could go,” MŌRIAH says. The EPs build upon that song, fully celebrating themes of family, love and emotional struggle, wrapping it in sounds intersecting modern country and Latin music. The title track delves into finding happiness and contentment in simplicity, while “Sombrero” lends itself to a Western-flaired romance.
On “Supermujeres,” which serves as a centerpiece on MŌRIAH’s new project, she teamed again with Bárbara. Bárbara sang her own version of the Spanish lyrics, but also backed MŌRIAH on the chorus, singing the harmony line in English.
“She was like, ‘I’m making this the Mexican version,’” MŌRIAH says. “We tracked together in the studio, and I never asked her to sing the English chorus because it’s a lot to ask someone to do that and sing in their second language. But a week later, she heard the demo and was like, ‘When you’re singing the chorus in English, it sounds lonely. I want to support your voice in English, too.’ She worked so hard and her articulation was so beautiful.”
The artwork for the EPs features images in tin nichos, Mexican folk art shadow boxes used to honor loved ones. The Spanish-language EP features a tin nicho with a photo of MŌRIAH wearing a sombrero de charros, while the English-language version features a similar photo, but with the sombrero placed on a table in front of MŌRIAH.
“I wanted to have the sombrero in the image, because that’s what I’m honoring, the culture,” she says. “I’m honoring where I come from, so the cover of the Spanish EP is with the sombrero on and then for the English one I have the sombrero on the table, because I’m honoring the fact that my family learned English, a whole new language.”
The cover art for MŌRIAH’s EP ‘Buena Vida’
Courtesy
So far, the year has brimmed with new milestones. MŌRIAH was named to CMT’s Next Women of Country class of 2025. Last month, she made her Grand Ole Opry debut, which followed her debut at CMA Fest in June, where she performed the national anthem and featured mariachi dancers onstage with her.
“My dad played bass onstage with me, which was such a special moment,” she recalls of performing at CMA Fest. “I think sometimes you can’t be what you can’t see, so just to be able to show up onstage and represent something that feels different gives people a sense of celebration.”
MŌRIAH, who is working with Nashville industry vet Fletcher Foster, now finds herself connected with a lineage of artists weaving together Latin and country sounds, from Freddy Fender, Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Rodriguez to newer artists including Angie K, Frank Ray and Sammy Arriaga. Meanwhile, Carin Leon made his Grand Ole Opry debut earlier this year, and Grupo Frontera is set to play the Opry in November.
“I’ve been looking for a female Latin country artist for years since the CMA Research study came out and just have found the right one for me. MŌRIAH has it all,” Foster tells Billboard in a statement. “Beyond a ‘triple threat’ the talent from songwriter to performing, acting, to speaking [MŌRIAH recently took part in a TedX talk in Nashville] is at another level. I’m looking forward to her bringing these two worlds together not just creatively but culturally.”
“I think that most people who are shaping culture don’t look at themselves as shaping culture—they’re just doing the work that’s in front of them and working hard. It’s not until you look back a bit and realize all that time invested, it did something that was bigger than me,” MŌRIAH says.
She will play her first show in Mexico later this month and is planning a full-length album for 2026, accompanied by more live shows. The multi-faceted creator is also an actress, film and music producer, who has acted in films and television shows including The Chosen, Reagan and Because of Gracia, and co-produced the 2024 film Unsung Hero, which chronicles the journey of her husband Joel Smallbone (of For King & Country)’s family from Australia to America. She’s already working on more upcoming film projects.
As she’s approaching the work’s long hours and creative output, she’s aware of the legacy building inherent in her rise.
“It’s what feels like pressure, but I count it a privilege to carry that pressure. It’s only two generations back that my grandparents were working in tomato fields and in factories,” she says. “They paved the way. They’ve sacrificed so much for me to be able to be able to work this hard and to be able to point back to their story and their narrative. It’s beautiful how in a family, one generation’s ceiling becomes the next generation’s floor and it just keeps building. That’s what I’m hoping to do with this music, too, is create a new threshold for the next generation to springboard off of.”
Trending on Billboard Reba McEntire is set to usher in the holidays as host of this year’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center special, which will air Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. on NBC and simulcast on Peacock. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The two-hour special, held at Rockefeller Center in New York City, will […]
