In this week's issue: The new country music list YOU NEED TO HAVE, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, Zack Bryan, Luke Combs, Ella Langley et all, memories from honky tonkin’ with the BBC at Robert’s and The Station Inn appreciation post (The Kody Norris Show included).

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The losses we have seen so far during 2025 are beyond devastating. We will always remember Raul Malo of The Mavericks fame, Todd Snider and the Texas troubadour Joe Ely. Hear Joe Ely (and Bruce Springsteen singing chorus) here: (Listen!)

Welcome to the BRAND NEW country music list! This is what I have been looking for a long while now; a list that aggregates signals from a broad variety of reliable sources. This list is for you who want know WHO IS HOT, AND WHO IS NOT? We rank ‘em for y’all!

Rankings are based on aggregated signals from country-music news sources, combined with YouTube trending data, TikTok viral moments, Reddit discussions, Spotify and Apple Music streaming charts, and Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.

Disclaimer: This list is partly generated by AI and curated and supervised by me. Machine meets human, you wonderful new world!

Generated: December 17, 2025 Please quote, but always mention www.honkytonkhansson.com

NOTE: See and read this list in a FULL TOP 5 together with “notable mentions” (scroll to end of letter).

Here are five standout songs from this week’s top five country artists. Set on repeat and enjoy!

We met up with BBC World Service reporter and producer Ellie House and introduced her to Robert’s Western World on Broadway in Nashville the morning of this year's CMA Awards show in Music City. The reason for this is that she is putting together a piece on the global country music boom. Honky Tonk Hansson took the opportunity to introduce Ellie to the best little honky tonk in Nashville and the full interview was conducted on-site in the early morning hours before Robert’s, as always, gets crowded. The result will be aired on the BBC World Service in January 2026.

Note: Listen to this year’s best song ABOUT Robert’s Western World, by Jason Isbell, here: (Listen!)

Any time I’m in Nashville, I know that a visit to The Station Inn is something I will never regret. Always great pickers there. And the genuine old-timey atmosphere is built into the walls.

I saw The Kody Norris Show there just recently and the air was ELECTRIC (even though very ACOUSTIC too). You better put the Station Inn on your bucket list now. In their own words:

“The Station Inn is a live music venue in the heart of Nashville, TN, an area referred to as the Gulch. For more than 40 years, The Station Inn has brought great bluegrass, roots and Americana music to millions of fans across the globe. Many of the world’s most successful musicians have played at The Station Inn, including Bill Monroe, JT Gray, Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and John Prine.” Read more here!

Week of December 11-17, 2025 Generated: December 17, 2025

Buzz Score: 98/100
Why They're Hot: Just became RIAA's highest certified country artist of all time with 265.5M units (December 16), surpassing Luke Combs and placing third all-genre behind only Drake and Taylor Swift. Album "I'm The Problem" went 4x Platinum seven months after release with every track across all three albums now certified.
Top Signals: News mentions: 47 | Chart position: Spotify #3 US artist, Billboard's #1 Artist of 2025 | Social buzz: Very High

Buzz Score: 96/100
Why They're Hot: Historic double Entertainer of the Year winner (CMA + ACM) wrapped massive Whirlwind World Tour with December 7 Vegas performance during NFR. Only third woman ever to win CMA Entertainer twice, first woman to win ACM Entertainer consecutively since Taylor Swift. New single "Somewhere Over Laredo" breaking her own streaming records.
Top Signals: News mentions: 38 | Chart position: "Somewhere Over Laredo" #1 Country Airplay (Dec 6) | Social buzz: Very High

Buzz Score: 94/100
Why They're Hot: Made country radio history December 16 as "Don't Mind If I Do" hit #1 on Country Airplay, making them only the second duo since 1990 to earn multiple collaborative #1s (joining Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani). Separately, Ella's "Choosin' Texas" topped Hot Country Songs (Dec 13) and "Texas" climbs to #10 with 31% surge. Top Signals: News mentions: 42 | Chart position: #1 Country Airplay, #1 Hot Country Songs (Ella solo) | Social buzz: Very High

Buzz Score: 92/100
Why They're Hot: Announces massive 40+ date "With Heaven On Tour" for 2026 launching March 7, with album "With Heaven on Top" dropping January 9. His September Michigan Stadium concert set U.S. record for largest single ticketed concert. Added Tulsa, Eugene, Toronto dates based on fan demand. Spotify Wrapped ranks him #8 most-streamed U.S. artist.
Top Signals: News mentions: 35 | Chart position: Spotify #8 US | Social buzz: High

Buzz Score: 89/100
Why They're Hot: Released emotional wedding ballad "Giving Her Away" December 5, written from groom to father-in-law perspective. Named RIAA's best-selling country artist of all time (separate from Wallen's certification record). Announces 2026 "My Kinda Saturday Night Tour" starting March in Vegas spanning through Europe. Album expected early 2026 with 30+ songs recorded.
Top Signals: News mentions: 28 | Chart position: "Back in the Saddle" recent #1, "Days Like These" climbing | Social buzz: High

Shaboozey – "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" completed historic 33-week run at #1 on Hot Country Songs (longest by single artist), performed at both Coachella and Stagecoach 2025, Spotify #7 country artist globally.
Jelly Roll – Received Grand Ole Opry invitation from Craig Morgan on Joe Rogan's podcast (viral December moment), Spotify #6 country artist globally, weight loss journey generating major social engagement.
Post Malone – Country album "F-1 Trillion" earned CMA Album of Year nomination, Spotify #5 country artist globally, headlined Coachella 2025 after Stagecoach 2024 country set.
Bailey Zimmerman – Spotify #9 country artist globally, "All the Way" with BigXthaPlug hit #1 on Hot Country Songs, raw emotional delivery resonates with younger country fans.
Megan Moroney – "Am I Okay?" album earned CMA Album nomination, announced massive 2026 "Cloud 9 Tour," multiple tracks in airplay top 10, Columbia Records success story.
Gavin Adcock – MusicRow's 2026 Next Big Thing cover star (Dec 9), ACM New Artist nominee with 102 shows in 2025, "Winner at Losing" featured on Paramount+ series Landman (Dec 12), direct support for Morgan Wallen's 2026 tour.
Zach Top – CMA New Artist of the Year winner (Nov 19), three Grammy nominations, "Good Times & Tan Lines" reaches #10 Mediabase, launched Kimes Ranch jean collaboration at NFR.
Tucker Wetmore – "3,2,1" hits #1 on Mediabase Country (Dec 10) as second career chart-topper, debut album "What Not To" was biggest country album debut from new artist in 2025.
Cody Johnson – Won CMA Male Vocalist of the Year ending Stapleton's dominance, headlining Stagecoach 2026, canceled remaining 2025 shows due to ruptured eardrum surgery.

Methodology Note: Rankings based on aggregated signals from MusicRow, Saving Country Music, Taste of Country, Billboard charts, Spotify Wrapped 2025 data, YouTube trending, TikTok mentions, Reddit discussions, and social media engagement over December 11-17, 2025. Buzz scores calculated from: News article volume (40%), Chart position/streaming (20%), Social media engagement (15%), News quality/prominence (15%), Recency factor (10%).

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