Carrying the torch both in Appalachia and abroad. It’s hard to truly overstate just how important Tyler Childers is to today’s country landscape. Though Zach Bryan undoubtedly launched the low-fi, folk-inspired country sound that many know and love into new heights over the past four or so years, Childers laid the blueprint for Bryan and many others. As we all know, Childers’ rise to fame was far from an overnight endeavor. Though he broke out more commercially over the past five or so years with the likes of hits such as “Feathered Indians,” “Lady May,” “In Your Love,” “Nose On The Grindstone” and his latest viral hit, “Bitin’ List,”  the Kentucky native has been cuttin’ teeth (pun intended) for nearly two decades at this point, with his debut album, Bottles and Bottles, coming out all the way back in 2011. With seven studio albums filled with nothing but gold, six certified platinum singles and a whole bunch of underrated deep cuts, Childers has risen to God-like status in today’s independent country scene. This, of course, is for good reason. In a time (especially during Purgatory’s release in 2017) where mainstream country music has become so homogenized, safe and, quite frankly, bad, Childers breathed life into the genre with world-class storytelling, classic instrumentation and a tangible edge to his style. Along the way, he’s inspired a whole lot of some of today’s most talented and underrated musicians in the alternative and indie scene today. So for fans of Tyler, who are looking for more artists to listen to, I put together a short list of names you need to know. Whether its fellow Appalachians such as Charles Wesley Godwin and Sierra Ferrell, or some of Oklahoma’s finest like Wyatt Flores, here are 1o stellar artists you need to listen to if you’re a fan of the legendary Tyler Childers. 1. Charles Wesley Godwin If you love the way Childers tangibly brings his Appalachian roots to each and every one of his projects, look no further than Charles Wesley Godwin. Hailing from Morgantown, West Virginia, Godwin’s vocals sound like they were born to be echoed in the beautiful mountains of Appalachia. Though it’s hard to ignore his wholly unique vocals, it’s his writing ability, similar to Childers’, that is one of Godwin’s defining characteristics. From murder ballads such as “Cranes Of Potter” and “Blood Feud” to gorgeous tributes to his family on “Gabriel,” “Dance in the Rain” and “It’s The Little Things,” there’s truly not a song the West Virginian can’t write. Of course, these stellar songs are all backed by some killer production that draw upon traditional country, Appalachian folk and Americana stylings. Key Tracks: “Hardwood Floors,” “Strawberry Queen,” “Cranes Of Potter” 2. Wyatt Flores As one of the best and brightest stars flying out of Oklahoma in the red dirt scene, it’s hard to point to a more important artist in the genre right now than Wyatt Flores. His continued emphasis on mental health, both in his songwriting and outside of the studio, ultimately makes him one of the most impactful artists in the genre today. After breaking out back in 2023 thanks to the continued success of his 2022 platinum single, “Please Don’t Go,” and other viral hits such as “Losing Sleep” and “Break My Bones,” the 24-year-old singer/songwriter stunned everyone upon the release of his debut album, Welcome To The Plains, in 2024. Much like Tyler Childers, Flores has shown the ability to pen some incredibly diverse songs in his short career, ranging from heartbreakers such as “3/13” and “Oh Susannah” to subtly hilarious ones like “Wildcat” and “When I Die.” Key Tracks: “Please Don’t Go,” “Oh Susannah,” “Sober Sundays” (feat. The Castellows) 3. Sierra Ferrell Despite sweeping all her categories at the 2025 Grammy Awards, taking home four trophies for the likes of Trail of Flowers, “American Dreaming” and “Lighthouse,” it still feels like the fellow Appalachian flies under the radar of many these days. Thanks to her success at both the Grammys and the Americana Awards, the West Virginia native has become a torchbearer for Americana over the past few years. Beyond her incredible music output that flawlessly blends elements of country, folk, bluegrass, Americana and even jazz, her crossover into the mainstream has pushed both her and the genre into the public eye. Notably, she’s appeared on a plethora of different mainstream artist’s albums, including Zach Bryan’s 2023 self-titled album on “Holy Roller,” Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion on “Never Love You Again” and even on Shaboozey’s Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going on “Hail Mary.” There was even a rumor that Childers’ “Charleston Girl” was written about her, but I’m pretty skeptical about that  theory. Key Tracks: “Lighthouse,” “In Dreams,” “Fox Hunt” 4. Nicolas Jamerson From his run alongside Kristofer Lee Bentley in the trailblazing Kentucky duo, Sundy Best, to his incredible solo work that seems to get even better with age, Nicholas Jamerson’s influence runs deep in every young artist coming out of the Bluegrass State these days, and plenty of others from elsewhere that take a similar approach to the craft of songwriting. Not unlike Tyler Childers, Jamerson’s music is steeped in the Appalachian songwriting tradition. He approaches the craft with reverence, and it’s present in spades on his most recent album, The Narrow Way. Weaving seamlessly through songs that contemplate love, faith, self-discovery, and Appalachian life, Jamerson delivers a captivating picture of his journey thus far as a musician, and more importantly, a human trying to better himself in a world that doesn’t always make it easy. Key tracks: “Running Out Of Daylight,” “Hindman,” “Linda James” 5. Drayton Farley Similarly to Childers, Farley is an artist who isn’t afraid to catch some flack from your standard country crowd. This is best highlighted best on the biting critique of the state of our nation, “American Dream,” which currently has over 19 million streams on Spotify alone. With that being said, Farley isn’t an overtly-political artist, and has quickly become one of the premier songwriters in the alt. country scene with the likes of his vulnerable ballad, “Pitchin’ Fits,” the absolutely soul-crushing reflection of death on “Carving of a Dove” and the introspective, “Dreamer.” Recently, he’s teamed up with Sadler Vaden, a member of Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit band, for his upcoming album, A Heavy Duty Heart, which looks to be another stunning effort from the Alabama native. Key Tracks: “Pitchin’ Fits,” “Carving Of A Dove,” “American Dream” 6. Ian Noe There was a time when it felt like Ian Noe was going to be the next big thing flying out of the alternative country scene. This was thanks to his phenomenal debut album, Between the Country, back in 2019. Since then, however, he’s only released one album, River Fools & Mountain Saints. With that being said, despite the lack of consistent releases over the years, Noe has remained one of the premier storytellers in the genre. If you’re a fan of narrative songs, the Kentucky native is absolutely the artist for you. Beyond his signature track, “Letter to Madeline,” which deserves all the flowers it has gained in the alt. country community over the years, he has a plethora of other tracks such as “Burning Down the Prarie,” “Dead on the River (Rolling Down)” and “Meth Head,” all of which showcase his knack for narrative storytelling. If you’re a fan of Childers’ gritty storytelling on the likes of “Banded Clovis,” “Nose On The Grindstone” and “Bottles and Bibles,” Noe is an artist that has to be on your radar. Key Tracks: “Letter to Madeline,” “Meth Head,” “Burning Down the Prairie” 7. Kaitlin Butts If you were a fan of the bombastic stylings of Childers’ most recent endeavor, the Grammy-nominated Snipe Hunter, Kaitlin Butts will be right up your alley. Simply put, Butts is one of those artists who don’t really care about the conventions of the genre while still making undoubtedly country-sounding music. This is best highlighted on her most recent album, 2024’s Roadrunner! Here, she’s playing with an almost musical-esque style highlighted by the use of the overture to kick off the record, the interlude, “Soliloquy: Out Of My Dreams,” that transitions beautifully from the bouncy “Wild Juanita’s Cactus Juice” to the melancholy “Come Rest Your Head (On My Pillow).” Additionally, with the inclusion of “People Will Say We’re In Love” from Oklahoma!, it’s clear that Butts wanted to craft a theatrical album experience, much like Snipe Hunter, on the record. Outside of Roadrunner!, she has delivered some killer (no pun intended) tracks such as “White River,” a timeless murder ballad, as well as “Blood” and the ode to Johnny and June Carter, “Jackson.” Key Tracks: “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” “White River,” “Elsa” 8. Colby Acuff Undoubtedly one of the most underrated artists in the genre today, Colby Acuff has been nothing short of a musical powerhouse since his debut in 2020. Releasing an album each and every year since then, the “If I Were the Devil” singer has somehow just gotten better with time. After releasing the beautiful ode to his home state of Idaho in 2023 on Western White Pines, Acuff followed it up in 2024 with arguably his best work to date on American Son, a record chalked full of important tracks touching on everything from anxiety, depression and, as the title suggests, the fear of war in the current state of our country. When you look at Acuff”s discography from a broad perspective, it’s hard not to see the similarities with Childers. From his topical songs on the state of the country such as “If I Were the Devil,” “American Son” and “Average American” to his fantastic storytelling on tracks like “Cherokee Rose,” “Plastic Horses” and “Two to Tango,” the Idaho native is one of the most well-rounded artists in the genre today. Key Tracks: “Cherokee Rose,” “If I Were the Devil,” “Plastic Horses” 9. Dylan Gossett Existing in a similar space as Zach Bryan and Sam Barber, the Austin native has worn his influences on his sleeve. Being inspired by a wide range of artists, ranging from Turnpike Troubadours and Flatland Cavalry to The Eagles and Ed Sheeran, they all come through in subtle ways through his mix of country, folk and Americana stylings. Though Gossett definitely takes a more stripped back approach to production like the aforementioned Bryan and Barber, his songwriting and storytelling ability takes some clear inspiration from Childers. Like the “Lady May” singer, the Austin native has a knack for placing you as a listener into a specific moment and time This is best displayed on his stellar debut album from last year, Westward, which showcases all of his strengths beautifully. If you’re a fan of Childers at his most stripped-back, Gossett is absolutely an artist that should be on your radar. Key Tracks: “Coal,” “Lone Old Cowboy,” “Sweet Lady” 10. Evan Honer Given the fact that one of his top tracks on streaming is a cover of “Jersey Giant,” it only felt right to finish this list with Evan Honer. Though you can argue that a bulk of the Arizona native’s discography exists somewhere between alternative and folk, he has delivered some jaw-dropping songwriting moments that adhere fairly close to country over the years. In particular, tracks from his 2024 sophomore album, Fighting For, such as “Mr. Meyers,” “Take Me As I Come” (featuring Wyatt Flores), “Greetings from Tulsa, Oklahoma” and “I Hope That’s All You Need” are some stripped-back tracks that let his ability to deliver some absolute gut-punches lyrically shine through. If you were a fan of the edge Childers brought on Snipe Hunter, I’d recommend checking out Honer, starting with the aforementioned Fighting For. Key Tracks: “Mr. Myers,” “Idk Sh*t About Cars,” “Greetings from Tulsa, Oklahoma” The post If You Like Tyler Childers, Here’s 10 Other Artists You’ll Love… That You Won’t Find On Country Radio first appeared on Whiskey Riff.