Five New Country Albums You Need To Hear Right Now

Fans on the hunt for new country music to listen to – look no further. 

This past month has been an exciting time for country music fans with artists dropping new projects left and right. While there are more than enough new albums and EPs to choose from, we’ve put together a list of ones that just can’t be missed.

Here are five new country albums you need to hear right now.

History Of Breaking Up (Part One) – Alana Springsteen

Alana Springsteen gets raw and real with fans in her new EP, History of Breaking Up (Part One), as she dives into the depths of everything to do with love and heartbreak. Written with Walker Hayes, Jerry Flowers, Jared Ray Keim, Tyler Filmore and Andrew DeRoberts, the project is packed with talent.

“Writing these songs helped me discover and understand pieces of myself in a way that I wasn’t prepared for, and I’m so grateful for the songwriters, producers, and creatives who helped me bring these moments of my story to life. This EP is ‘part one’ of my journey and I can only hope there are others out there, whichever stage of self-discovery they’re in, who find a bit of themselves in these songs as well” Springsteen shared.

Stream the EP here.

Travelin’ Kind – Ashland Craft

Big Loud Records’ firecracker Ashland Craft takes listeners on an adventure as her debut album follows her journey to Nashville and all of the tour stops, truck stops and heart break that has followed.

“TRAVELIN’ KIND feels like the start of a whole new adventure. It’s a heartfelt, wide open track list (written with some of my very best friends), that takes you through all the ups and downs that come along with life’s journey,” Craft explained. “I wanted it to be rooted but carefree, and a little imperfect – which I feel like Jonathan Singleton captured perfectly while producing my debut record. My dreams are becoming a reality and I can’t wait to hear what songs fans resonate with!”  

Stream the album here.

Here’s To Anyone – Laine Hardy

Rising country artist and American Idol winner Laine Hardy released his debut album just last week, with songs that work to relate to not just one audience, but all listeners.

The 11-track project includes tracks co-written by Hardy as well as some of the biggest songwriters in Nashville, including Josh Miller, Matt Jenkins, Tim Nichols and more.

“This album is for the lineworker who stops to ‘grab some night crawlers and a cold drink’ to cast a line off the bank before heading home. This album is for the plumber who is always up to talk ‘college football or white tails or bird dogs’ to any stranger who lends an ear. It’s for the blue collar, George Jones lovin’, clock out and head to the river, peanuts in a coke people or ‘anyone who knows about that,” Hardy explained. 

 Stream the album here.

Slot Machine Syndrome – Caleb Lee Hutchinson

Nashville based singer/songwriter Caleb Lee Hutchinson kicks off a new chapter of his career with a bang with the release of his second EP, Slot Machine Syndrome.

The EP shows listeners a different side of Hutchinson- one that is grittier, more Southern and the truest to himself the singer has ever felt in his music.

“A lot of people know me as this kid from when I was graduating high school and just trying to figure out what to do with my life,” Hutchinson said in an interview with Wide Open Country. “I think what’s most important to me is just that I make music that I believe in and that keeps me living in this world [of country music]. The most important thing for me is to be known for that.”

Stream the EP here.

Sitting Pretty On Top Of The World – Lauren Alaina 

Multi-Platinum country artist Lauren Alaina released her third full-length album that shares the singer’s vulnerable struggle with mental health and self-love.

“I had some pretty big life altering events … and I was the girl with the biggest personality, but I’ve also really struggled with depression,” she says. “The last few years have been a time of discussing mental health more so that’s why I named the project that — so I could share that story and then also the title ‘Sitting Pretty on Top of the World’ is just a really empowering title.”

The album was co-written with award-winning songwriters such as Liz Rose, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, Emily Weisband, David Garcia, Ben Johnson and many more.

Stream the album here.