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The Best Debut Country Albums Of 2025
Another round-up of the music from 2025.
Country music in 2025 was a continuation of what we saw in 2024… better quality from the mainstream, artists like Zach Top, Parker McCollum, Chase Rice, Jake Owen, and Hailey Whitters. We also saw more success emerging from the independent/non-mainstream scene. Bands like Treaty Oak Revival had a breakout year, and Red Clay Strays have finally unseated Old Dominion from the awards shows. And once niche country names like Charley Crockett, Tyler Childers, and the Turnpike Troubadours have become household names.
All in all, it’s great to see where the genre is headed. Still, perhaps more importantly, the streaming era has proven that a LOT can be accomplished these days without any love from country radio or any support from a major label in Nashville. You can become a legitimate country music superstar these days, selling out BIG arenas, streaming among the giants, and being completely independent of the country music scene. It’s a new era, and an excellent development for country music as a whole.
While we’ve already named the Top 40 Albums of 2025, which was a list stacked to the brim with stellar projects, I also want to take the time to shine light on the best debut albums of the year—many of which appeared on the Top 40 list.
A debut album is something that is very special for an artist. Their first full-length project tells a story from start to finish, which often takes years to complete. While some artists will share EPs and other short-form projects with their growing fan bases to give them a taste of what a full-length project will have in store, there is nothing like the pride that comes with a musician sharing their first LP with the world.
With many newcomers stepping onto the scene this year and making waves, there are also many debut LPs being released. In no particular order, here were my top picks for best debut albums of 2025.
Joshua Slone – Thinking Too Much
After appearing on a handful of collaborations with Zach Bryan, Joshua Slone rapidly gained a following on TikTok and other social media platforms, with fans falling in love with his contemporary folk/country sound. After releasing Thinking Too Much, it shot to the top of the iTunes chart, falling just behind Morgan Wallen and settling in at #2.
Slone is undoubtedly a newcomer to watch, with many other artists, like Noah Kahan, signing off on his romantic yet vulnerable, acoustic-focused sound.
Hudson Westbrook – Texas Forever
The young up and comer, who has unavoidably been compared to Parker McCollum in his Limestone Kid glory days, has proven to be a clever songwriter, capitalizing on catchy wordplay to deliver relatable messages to young listeners in a light hearted way. With a can’t-help-but-hum-along sound that draws on influences from all kinds of different genres, the Texas country sound that has become so prominent in today’s country music landscape is undeniable in Westbrook’s music, and his personality and social media presence make it hard not to root for him.
With the release of Texas Forever, I think it’s obvious that Westbrook has what it takes to become a big player in the scene, and maybe even follow in the footsteps of some of the Texas artists that have experienced success in the mainstream like Randy Rogers, Josh Abbott, and of course, Parker McCollum.
Ole 60 – Smokestack Town
Self-described as “not your father’s country band,” Ole 60 has been making waves in the alt. country scene since their debut in 2023. Since bursting onto the scene with the viral, now certified gold track, “Smoke & A Light,” the Kentucky band has continually released stellar track after stellar track, highlighted best by their sophomore 2024 EP, Songs About You.
After dropping both Three Twenty Four in 2023 and the aforementioned Songs About You last fall, Ole 60 finally pulled the trigger on their debut album last month, Smokestack Town, an 11-track record that transported you directly into the band’s hometown of Hawesville, Kentucky. The record ultimately showcased exactly why so many fans have gravitated to Ole 60’s sound over the past two years.
Sam Stoane – Tales Of The Dark West
Sam Stoane is arguably the most compelling of the bunch with a debut project that beautifully and poetically captures the essence of western life. The California native cites modern day influences like Colter Wall and Tyler Childers, and you can immediately feel that appreciation for genuine storytelling with Tales Of The Dark West. Whether it’s the the expansive landscapes of the American West, or simply her point of view from up in the saddle, Stoane takes you along for the ride with vivid storytelling and captivating imagery.
Willow Avalon – Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell
A southern belle raisin’ hell… our kind of girl. As soon as Willow Avalon released this project, I knew that it would end up near the top of my Spotify Wrapped, and it ended up being my number one record of the year. It’s witty, raw, charming, and addictive. To read a full review of this record, click HERE.
Dylan Gossett – Westward
With the release of his debut record Westward, Gossett proves that he is one of the premiere up and coming talents in country music. With a cohesive track list that features 17 originals, Westward finds Gossett shedding perspective and reflecting on the relationships, experiences, and circumstances that have led him to where he is today, expressing optimism for the future all while conjuring an undeniable sense of nostalgia through his every day observations.
Lance Roark – Bad Reputation
Roark’s debut record dropped a few weeks ago, and it is an absolute force to be reckoned with. Featuring 11 original tracks written or co-written by Roark, Bad Reputation extends the classic hard-driving red dirt sound of his prior catalog to showcase some of his strongest songwriting and storytelling to date.
It makes sense that the Turnpike Troubadours have taken such a liking to Roark because he has proved in this record that he is capable of doing something that Turnpike and Muscadine Bloodline have mastered, and few other artists have managed to achieve.
To read a full album review, click HERE.
Carter Faith – Cherry Valley
Carter Faith is a petite blonde firecracker with booming vocals you would not expect to come out of her petite frame. Faith describes herself as “a cowgirl hippie and sometimes kind of trippy,” and I think that hits the nail on the head. Her vocals embrace the roots of classic country, with some songs carrying a whimsical’ 70s-inspired groove. Her lyrics detail life events through a comedic lens, and others strike a deep chord.
Ella Langley named Carter Faith as the next “it” female country artist earlier this year at the ACM Awards, and Cherry Valley proved that Langley’s words rang true. Cherry Valley transports fans to a fictional place in Faith’s mind, filled with wild nights, heartbreak, growth, and lyrics that cut like a knife.
Cherry Valley is one of the most impressive projects of 2025 in my book.
The post The Best Debut Country Albums Of 2025 first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
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