Their lyrics may croon of more ‘rustic’ pleasures such as boozing, trucks and cowgirl boots.
But, even in the rural world of country music, scandal’s never far from the surface.
While Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan will always be Nashville royalty, a host of up-and-comers are coming for their crowns.
Megan Moroney, Shaboozey and Morgan Wallen are among those bringing a new generation of fans to the genre – and, with it, a new generation of controversies.
From MAGA anthems to downtown brawls, marital breakdowns to onstage feuds, which stars are riding high on their antics? And which have been banished to the Z-list?
The Daily Mail’s MARGARET ABRAMS gets the inside scoop from our country music scene snitch…
While Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw will always be Nashville royalty, a host of up-and-comers are coming for their crowns.
THE A-LIST
Nigerian-American sensation SHABOOZEY, 29, is by no means new to the scene. He released his debut album Lady Wrangler back in 2018 – but only hit the charts with his single A Bar Song (Tipsy) last year.
Now the Virginia native, who has reportedly been dating model Emily Ratajkowski for the past two years, is leading the pack.
Tipsy now holds the record for longest-running number one song of all time by a solo artist (tied with Lil Nas X’s 2019 hit Old Town Road). And he even got the Beyoncé seal of approval, collaborating with the pop superstar on her country album last year.
But that’s not to say it’s been easy for the star. Last year Shaboozey – whose real name is Collins Obinna Chibueze – was snubbed at the Country Music Awards, losing out to musician Cody Johnson for album of the year. Johnson’s producer joked onstage that the singer had been ‘kicking Shaboozey for a lot of years’ – which furious fans claim was a microaggression.
While Shaboozey’s song might be the ultimate earworm, MEGAN MORONEY, 27, took the CMA trophy for best artist last year. The self-proclaimed ‘emo cowgirl,’ who has two million TikTok followers for her cheeky videos, graduated from the University of Georgia where she was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority.
Although she’s been linked to fellow country stars Morgan Wallen and Riley Green, Megan insists that she’d single. And, while she often covers Taylor Swift songs, she seems to be branching out into pop music. Last month she teamed up with British singer Ed Sheeran on her new song Beautiful Things.
Top of the A-List is Nigerian-American sensation Shaboozey who hit the chart with his single A Bar Song (Tipsy) last year
Megan Moroney, is the self-proclaimed ’emo cowgirl’ who took the CMA trophy for best artist last year
However Megan’s following is nothing compared to social media sensation ZACH BRYAN, 28. The Navy veteran has a wildly impressive five million Instagram followers who have followed his journey from YouTuber to award-winning artist.
But the Japanese-born singer is no stranger to controversy. Bryan, who is now dating n marketing grad Hannah Duncan, previously dated Brianna LaPaglia. Their messy break-up last year after 12 months together was heavily publicized with the Barstool Sports podcast host accusing him of emotional abuse. He has not publicly responded to the allegations.
He was also forced to apologize to Swifties in September after drunkenly tweeting that rapper Kanye West was greater than Taylor Swift.
Still, Bryan is riding high – recently winning a Grammy for his duet I Remember Everything with Kacey Musgraves.
Another rising star is Taylor Swift’s pal KELSEA BALLERINI who’s following in her famous friend’s footsteps. The 31-year-old is known for her energetic live shows and vulnerable lyrics – including about her divorce from n country musician Morgan Evans in 2022.
In her EP Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, the Nashville singer called out her ex-husband of five years for never being there for her. In the process she attracted a legion of Gen Z fans – and a new relationship with Outer Banks actor Chase Stokes.
Zach Bryan, pictured with his ex-girlfriend Brianna LaPaglia, has gone from being a YouTuber to Grammy-winning artist
Kelsea Ballerini, 31, is a friend of Taylor Swift’s – and seems to be following in her famous friend’s footsteps
THE B-LIST
There’s no better way to to fame than by having Beyoncé on your side. Just ask TANNER ADELL, 24, who featured on Queen Bey’s country track Blackbiird. Not bad for a first collab from the Kentucky-born singer-songwriter…
When it comes to female empowerment, no one knows better than KASSI ASHTON, 31. The Harley Davidson biker has been compared to country icons Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood for her angry hooks, catchy choruses and eye-catching hand-sewn outfits.
Kassi’s debut deluxe album, Made From The Dirt, will be released later this month – and she’s already being singled out as the next country superstar.
Tanner Adell, 24, had her first collab with Beyonce on her country track Blackbiird
Kassi Ashton, 31, is already being singled out as the next country superstar
RUSTON KELLY, 36, has worked with country megastars such as Tim McGraw. Now, the former figure skater is making his own name, for his angst-ridden songs he has dubbed ‘dirt emo’.
The Nashville-based musician has overcome addiction and a highly-publicized divorce from Grammy-winning country star Kacey Musgraves. He most recently released a string of covers, including of Avril Lavigne’s 2002 single Complicated with his friend and indie pop star Annie DiRusso.
MAREN MORRIS, 35, shot to fame with her 2018 single The Middle, and has alternated between country and pop.
However, she decided to leave the genre altogether after an online feud with Brittany Kerr, the wife of country musician Jason Aldean, over transgender rights. When Brittany posted criticism of ‘the genital mutilation of children’ in 2022, Maren retorted that she was ‘a scumbag human’.
A year later, Maren opened up about her decision to leave country music, saying: ‘I couldn’t do this circus any more… [I had to] absorb and explain people’s bad behaviors and laugh it off.’
Around the same time, the Texan singer, who is openly bisexual, divorced her husband country singer Ryan Hurd, with whom she has a son Hayes.
Now, however, insiders say she is starting a new chapter in pop music, adding: ‘Now that she has revealed and celebrated that she is not only an ally in the LGBTQ+ community but also bisexual herself, she has gotten to a place where she is her best self.’
Ruston Kelly has overcome addiction and a highly-publicized divorce from Grammy-winning country star Kacey Musgraves
Maren Morris turned her back on country music in 2023, saying she ‘couldn’t do the circus any more’. She is now starting a new chapter in pop music
THE C-LIST
EMILY ANN ROBERTS was only 16 when she appeared on The Voice in 2015, wowing the public with her vocals.
But, after coming second on the talent show, she went back to school, married her high school boyfriend and struggled to make the charts with her following singles.
However, the now 26-year-old could be on the verge of a renaissance. Earlier this year, she was back on the road with her Voice coach Blake Shelton to open for his Friends And Heroes tour.
A source close to the show told the Daily Mail that ‘being connected with Blake was the best thing Emily could have ever done for her career’.
They added: ‘Blake has consistently been the coach that actually cared about his contestants and wanted to see them thrive and succeed. He took her under her arms and has guided her and been a blessing for everything she has been doing the last couple of years.’
Emily Ann Roberts was only 16 when she appeared on The Voice ten years ago – but she could be due a renaissance
THE D-LIST
MORGAN WALLEN, 31, might be one of the most successful country artists around with a net worth of $12million and three number one hits.
But the Tennessee native, who took part in The Voice in 2014, is also one of the most controversial.
Last week he made headlines after walking off of Saturday Night Live before the end credits, with viewers calling his behavior ‘cringe’ and ‘rude’. He then posted a bizarre Instagram story of his private jet with the caption: ‘Get me to God’s Country.’
And that’s not been his only public faux pas to date. The father of one was kicked out of a bar in Nashville and arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct in 2020. In December last year, he also pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment for throwing a chair from the rooftop of a six-story bar in the city.
He has also previously been criticized for flouting Covid restrictions and shouting the N-word at friends.
It begs the question: Will fans fall out of love with this country ‘bad boy’?
Former football player SAM HUNT, 40, has also had a few recent brushes with the law. The Georgia singer shot to fame in 2014 with his Grammy-nominated debut EP Montevallo.
However his reputation has since been tarnished after he was arrested for driving under the influence in 2019 and again for speeding in January.
He has also been accused of cheating on his wife Hannah Lee Fowler, who filed for divorce in 2022. However, they have since reconciled and are expecting their third child next month.
Country ‘bad boy’ Morgan Wallen made headlines after walking off of Saturday Night Live last week
Former football player SAM HUNT , 40, has also had a few recent brushes with the law
THE Z-LIST
It’s been a whirlwind five years for HARDY, 34, since the release of his debut album.
The Mississippi-born rocker has since won two CMAs, five American Music Awards and opened for stars such as Lainey Wilson and Dierks Bentley.
However Hardy, whose real name is Michael Wilson Hardy, has faced criticism after he launched an expletive-filled rant while opening for Morgan Wallen in September.
‘With all the crazy s**t going on, I see a lot of people posting and talking s*** about living in the United States of America and being a United States citizen,’ he said. ‘To that I say, f**k you!’
While the cheering crowd praised his passionate speech, a source tells me that his ‘redneck’ reputation could be seen as a hindrance by those who want to ‘modernize’ the genre.
The same can’t be said of KYLE COULAHAN, 37, who went viral on TikTok for his MAGA anthem Still Proud To Be American.
His lyrics took aim at pronouns, inflation and ‘those who wanna take Jesus out of our schools’.
Prior to this, Coulahan was a virtual unknown who has now been embraced by Donald Trump supporters and invited to perform on Fox News.
It’s unknown what’s next in the pipeline. But that one hit’s enough to earn him a place on the Z-list.