Look what I found! Every week, as I dig through the names and numbers on this EXCLUSIVE list (you won’t find it anywhere else!), I get a genuine rush of excitement. Of course, I love seeing who made the Country Buzz Top 10, but I’m also looking for the "sleepers"—the artists currently outside the top ranks who are making massive moves upward (usually thanks to TikTok or other social platforms).

This week, my deep dive led me to a country crooner from Woodstock, Georgia: Mr. Kenny Whitmire. With a style reminiscent of Keith Whitley, he has "next big thing" written all over him. If he keeps up this momentum, expect to see him on the main list very soon. Remember where you heard about him first! This is where you find pure COUNTRY GOLD.

As for the heavy hitters, scroll down to see this week’s COUNTRY BUZZ TOP 10.

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⬆️ ELLA LANGLEY (Up 1, #2 → #1): Historic Hot 100 #1; first woman to top the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay simultaneously.
⬆️ POST MALONE (NEW at #10): Massive buzz following the "BIG ASS Stadium Tour Part 2" announcement with Jelly Roll.
⬆️ CODY JOHNSON (NEW at #6): Announced a UK/Ireland tour, including Parker McCollum’s first international dates.
⬆️ HUDSON WESTBROOK (NEW at #7): Scored his first #1 hit, "House Again," on the Mediabase Country chart.
⬆️ MORGAN WALLEN (Up 4, #8 → #4): Still performing well on the charts, BIG on radio.
⬇️ JELLY ROLL (Down 2, #1 → #3): Grammy buzz is naturally cooling, though the tour announcement kept him high on the list.
⬇️ RASCAL FLATTS (OUT): Dropped off the list from #9 after their "Life Is a Highway Tour" wrapped up.
⬇️ TYLER CHILDERS (OUT): Exited the list from #10 as his Grammy momentum faded.
⬇️ SHABOOZEY (OUT): Fell from #5 as post-Grammy excitement tapered off.

Making History: Ella Langley’s "Choosin' Texas" made an unprecedented run, becoming the first woman in country music to simultaneously top three major charts—a massive milestone for women in the genre.

Tour Announcement Blitz: Major tours dominated the headlines. Post Malone & Jelly Roll’s "BIG ASS Stadium Tour Part 2" and Cody Johnson’s expansion into the UK and Ireland highlight the massive global appetite for country music.

Post-Grammy Cooldown: We’re seeing a natural dip in buzz for Grammy winners (Jelly Roll, Stapleton, Top, Childers) as the industry moves past the February 1st awards night, though their momentum remains steady.

Radio Breakthroughs: Hudson Westbrook’s first #1 hit proved that country radio is still vital for breaking new artists, while Morgan Wallen’s "20 Cigarettes" continues its dominant run.

Global Expansion: Cody Johnson’s UK/Ireland announcement signals country music’s growing international footprint, with European markets increasingly embracing American stars.

Traditional Country Surge: Ella Langley’s success with a traditional-leaning single, paired with Zach Top’s Grammy win, suggests the neo-traditional movement has real mainstream staying power for 2026.

He only has a few songs out so far, but give Kenny Whitmire a listen here:

Generated: February 11, 2026 (capturing the buzz for the period February 5 - February 11)

Buzz Score: 98/100
Why She’s Hot: Ella Langley made history on February 9 when "Choosin' Texas" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. She is the first woman in country music history to simultaneously hold the top spot on the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay charts. The Alabama native thanked fans on social media during a tight race with Olivia Dean. The track pulled in 22.1 million U.S. streams and 34.4 million radio impressions this week alone.

Buzz Score: 96/100
Why He’s Hot: Posty and Jelly Roll officially announced "The BIG ASS Stadium Tour Part 2" on February 2. Following their $170 million-grossing 2025 run, this sequel includes 18 stadium dates at iconic venues like LSU’s Tiger Stadium. With two new albums teased for 2026, the hype is at an all-time high.

Buzz Score: 94/100
Why He’s Hot: Fresh off a three-Grammy sweep, Jelly Roll is parlaying that momentum into a stadium tour announcement. His emotional journey from incarceration to Grammy winner continues to captivate the national spotlight.

Buzz Score: 88/100
Why He’s Hot: I’m the Problem jumped back to #2 on the Billboard 200 in its 37th wee - absurd longevity. His single "20 Cigarettes" held #1 at country radio for a second week, proving his total dominance of the airwaves.

Buzz Score: 85/100
Why He’s Hot: With Heaven On Top remains a streaming powerhouse, holding #4 on the Billboard 200. While Bryan stays low-key on social media, his upcoming tour in March is already generating massive stadium-level anticipation.

Buzz Score: 82/100
Why He’s Hot: CoJo is taking his "Live '26 Tour" to the UK and Ireland this October. This marks a major international push for him and tour mate Parker McCollum, with stops at arenas like London's O2 and Dublin’s 3 Arena.

Buzz Score: 79/100
Why He’s Hot: Westbrook hit a career milestone on February 9 with his first-ever #1 single, "House Again." His authentic, traditional sound is clearly striking a chord with both radio programmers and fans.

Buzz Score: 77/100
Why He’s Hot: Stapleton is riding high after his Grammy win for "Bad As I Used To Be." Between adding 24 more tour dates and "Tennessee Whiskey" becoming the first country song to go Double Diamond, his legacy is only growing.

Buzz Score: 74/100
Why He’s Hot: The "Pawn Shop Guitar Tour" announcement has kept McGraw in the conversation. The 33-date run includes stadium shows with The Chicks and Lady A, proving he’s still one of the biggest draws in the business.

Buzz Score: 71/100
Why He’s Hot: Zach Top’s historic Grammy win for Best Traditional Country Album has solidified him as the leader of the neo-traditional movement. His win is being hailed as a watershed moment for the genre.

Methodology Note: Rankings based on aggregated signals from 10+ country news sources (MusicRow, Saving Country Music, Taste of Country, Holler, Country Standard Time, and more) plus streaming charts (Spotify/Apple Music), TikTok trends, radio airplay (Mediabase/MusicRow CountryBreakout), social media engagement, and Billboard chart data over February 5-11,
Buzz scores are calculated using: News volume (40%), News quality/prominence (15%), Streaming chart position (20%), Social media engagement (15%), Recency factor (10%)

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