Stapleton to Judd: Kentucky musicians won 2022. These acts will break-out in 2023.
Across all genres and geographic locales, Kentucky musicians had another banner year in 2022. Louisville’s Jack Harlow received critical acclaim for his album “Come Home the Kids Miss You,” which culminated in him appearing as host and musical guest on “Saturday Night Live,” multiple MTV Video Music Awards, 2023 Grammy nominations and a combo meal at KFC named after him. Taylor Mill’s Carly Pearce was arguably the Queen of country music in 2022, garnering multiple Academy of Country Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards including “Female Artist of the Year” and “Event of the Year” (for her performance of “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” with Ashley MyBryde) along with an induction into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in October. Lexington born Chris Stapleton won three more Grammys (and multiple other awards) in 2022 while continuing to tour (and sell out) arenas nationwide. This included two hometown shows, the first taking place in April at Kroger Field with Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow and Madeline Edwards and the other at Rupp Arena with Tyler Childers, Dwight Yoakam and surprise guests Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless and S.G. Goodman that raised over $3 million for Eastern Kentucky flood relief.
Despite the untimely passing of Naomi Judd, her daughter Wynonna continued with a star-studded Judds tour with special guests Brandi Carlile, Faith Hill, Martina McBride and others in her honor that included a sold out stop in Lexington that ended up with a banner for The Judds going up and enshrining their names in the Rupp Arena rafters for eternity. Hindman born country artist Brit Taylor, profiled as an up-and-comer in 2021, is getting set to release a new album in February co-produced by another Kentuckian and revered artist in his own right, Sturgill Simpson. And Ashland born Cole Chaney and Lexington’s Abby Hamilton, both about to breakout in 2022, each released new music that received widespread praise and played on new stages from Nashville’s iconic (and now shuttered) Exit/In to the Luck Reunion on Willie Nelson’s Texas ranch. Continuing to ride that wave of momentum and opportunity in the spotlight, look for these Kentucky born and bred bands and artists to shine in 2023.
Led by Kenzie and Laila Crowe, Bowling Green based sisterly duo Girl Tones are out to prove that the Western Kentucky enclave’s edgy rock and punk scene is still alive and well. The two share an impeccable chemistry on stage similar to fellow sister-led duo Larkin Poe, but with even more grunge thrown into the mix. They’ll look to tap further into that sound when they release their debut album in 2023 that they’ve already been hard at work making at Battle Tapes Recording in Nashville with Brad Shultz, a Bowling Green native himself best known for his guitar work with one of the most revered bands to come out of the town in Cage The Elephant.
BRANDEN MARTIN
Branden Martin appeared on season 12 of NBC’s “The Voice.” Provided
Many folks joke that there’s gotta be something in the water in Eastern Kentucky for the region to produce as many country music artists as it has. One musician filling his cup is Bath County’s Branden Martin. A self taught guitarist who appeared on season 12 of NBC’s “The Voice,” Martin’s soulful country vocals paired with rock’n instrumentals evokes the spirits of Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson. This intoxicating sound led to his 2022 album “001” receiving praise from as far away as Germany as the artist continues to grow his brand and reach.
CODY LEE MEECE
Cody Lee Meece of Somerset is a rising Kentucky musician who recently played The Burl in Lexington. Tom Wickstrom Cody Lee Meece, Somerset’s Sultan of country-fried southern rock, has a lot to be excited about in the new year. Described by many as someone who “makes music that doesn’t make Waylon Jennings roll over in his grave,” Meece plans to release two new albums in 2023. His first album being the solo acoustic “No Excuses” in February that will include a batch of songs that includes originals he holds off on playing with his full band. Then in August he’s expected to release a rock’n full band album as well. Both records will be released on the newly formed and Irvine-based Hollerbilly Records, with February’s project being the label’s inaugural project.
NAT MYERS
Nat Myers will spend much of 2023 on the road touring. Mark Laubenheimer Kenton County native Nat Myers’ music is truly a blast from the past that sonically sounds more like 1923 than 2023 with its rich blend of old school country and blues. After a busy 2022 that saw him perform everywhere from Merlefest in North Carolina to Americanafest in Nashville and Bristol Rhythm & Roots on the Tennessee-Virginia border, the artist expects to hit the road even harder in the new year beginning with a run of dates through mid-February in support of G. Love & Special Sauce. His music has also garnered the attention of The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, who will be helping Myers release new music under his Easy Eye Sound label later in the year.
PHOEBE WHITE
Phoebe White, 13, has sang with the western swing group Riders In The Sky. Provided A performer since she was 8, the now 13 year old yodeling Queen Phoebe White has a bright future ahead of her. After being featured several times on Woodsongs, including an appearance alongside western swing group Riders In The Sky, White later teamed up with the band and had them produce her 2022 album “UnXpected.” Still riding high from the project’s success, she’s now eyeing a return to the studio in 2023 to record yet again. This story was originally published January 13, 2023, 6:00 AM.