Every year, MusicRow drops their list of artists they believe are about to blow up and the Class of 2026 is officially here. And honestly? We’re feeling pretty good about it because several of the artists on their list are already big deals here at KOKE.
Let’s talk about the four names on their list that really stood out to us: Kaitlyn Butts, Braxton Keith, Ty Myers, and Hudson Westbrook.
If you’ve been listening to KOKE for any amount of time… none of these names should surprise you.
Kaitlyn Butts
Theatrical, Fearless, and Impossible to Ignore
Kaitlyn Butts has never played it safe and that’s exactly why people can’t stop paying attention. Her album Roadrunner! turned heads in a big way with its dramatic, almost theatrical country sound that still hits straight in the gut.
Then came “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me)” and boom…viral. Millions of streams. Millions of views. And suddenly, a whole new audience discovered what we already knew.
Kaitlyn is bold, emotional, creative, and completely herself and that’s what makes her special. She’s not chasing trends. She’s building her own lane.
Braxton Keith
Old-School Country with New Heat
If you love real-deal honky tonk country, Braxton Keith is your guy.
Texas born and built for the stage, Braxton has been delivering straight-up traditional country with zero apologies. His song “Cozy” took off in a huge way, and his debut EP Blue proved he’s serious about keeping that classic country sound alive.
Boots. Bars. Neon lights. Heartbreak. Two-stepping. That’s Braxton Keith and country fans are eating it up.
Ty Myers
Young, Talented, and Already a Monster on the Charts
Ty Myers is barely old enough to vote and already putting up insane numbers. The kid grew up on a ranch outside of Austin and somehow turned that into a streaming empire.
His song “Ends of the Earth” went Platinum. His album The Select is everywhere. And his fanbase? Hardcore and growing by the day.
Ty is proof that Gen Z country is very real and it still loves guitars, heartbreak, and good songwriting.
Hudson Westbrook
Texas Roots with National Momentum
Hudson Westbrook feels like one of those “overnight success after years of grinding” stories. From small-town Texas to national radio in a blink and he’s just getting started.
His album Texas Forever lives up to the name, and songs like “House Again” are climbing fast. What makes Hudson stand out is that his music feels timeless ` like it could’ve come out 20 years ago or yesterday and still hit the same.
He’s got that classic country heart with modern momentum behind it.
Seeing all four of these artists make MusicRow’s “Next Big Thing” list feels less like a surprise and more like confirmation.
These are the voices shaping the future of country music — and you’re already hearing them right here on KOKE.
So if you’re just now discovering Kaitlyn Butts, Braxton Keith, Ty Myers, or Hudson Westbrook… welcome to the party. We saved you a seat.
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