20 country albums to look forward to in 2021

Released on January 8, this much-anticipated album from Aaron Watson marks the Texas Country artist’s 13th full-length release. Exploring themes of nostalgia, love, and loss via tracks like “Best Friend” and “Out of My Misery,” Watson proves that he just keeps on getting better on American Soul. 

With an indie ethos and authentically gritty vibe, Nashville singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan is the definition of a rising star. His latest effort, “Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan,” was released on February 5 and is described as an “antidote for these anxious times” by his record label, New West Records. Americana fans will definitely want to add this record to their playlists, especially the dreamy “Don’t Overthink It” and folk-influenced “Computer of Love.” 

Released on January 21, Devin Dawson’s The Pink Slip was the definition of much-anticipated. His first release since 2018, this six-song EP features Dawson experimenting with his pop-country sound a little bit with elements of trap-country and cheeky songwriting. You’ll hear that on tracks like “I Got A Truck,” the EP’s lead single. 

Alt-country legends Lucero dropped their much-anticipated album “When You Found Me” on January 29, to both critical acclaim and a seriously warm reception from the band’s devoted fans. The sound is a little more experimental than previous Lucero records, with a little bit of synth and a vintage vibe, but the stellar songwriting that has made this band an Americana staple still shines through. 

Back in November, Kip Moore announced that he’d been spending his time stuck in quarantine working on a brand new album, right on the heels of his 2020 release “Wild World.” No release timeline has been announced just yet, but Moore said in an interview last year that he hopes to get the record out sometime this summer. 

One of the most exciting new voices in country music, Carly Pearce is already gearing up to release her second album in the past year! Called 29, Pearce’s newest album is set for release on February 19 and will include the track “Show Me Around,” written for her former producer and songwriter Busbee, who died in 2019. It’s also likely that Pearce will explore her recent divorce from fellow country artist Michael Ray, with whom she split last year after about a year of marriage, on the record. 

Even though it’s technically a re-release of a 2020 album, the brand new deluxe edition of Hailey Whitters’s “The Dream” is a must for any country fan. Set for release on February 26 the deluxe edition is aptly titled Livin’ The Dream Deluxe and includes Whitters’s most recent new singles, including “Fillin’ My Cup,” her collaboration with country supergroup Little Big Town. 

Fans of this ridiculously talented Americana artist have been waiting since 2017 for a new album from Valerie June, and their wish will finally be granted on March 12. Called “The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers,” the album features June’s dreamy vocals and sharp lyricism alongside a stunning vocal cameo from Memphis legend Carla Thomas on “Call Me a Fool.” 

Up-and-comer Morgan Wade is set to release her debut album Reckless on March 19, and don’t be surprised if it earns some early critical buzz. Produced by Jason Isbell guitarist Sadler Vaden, the 10-track album will feature the rock-inflected, and ridiculously catchy, single “Wilder Days.” 

The endlessly prolific Loretta Lynn will debut her latest album, Still Woman Enough, on March 19. The album, which takes its name from Lynn’s iconic song “You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take My Man,” was a total family affair, with Lynn’s daughter Patsy Lynn Russell serving as producer alongside John Carter Cash. Expect covers of country and bluegrass classics like “Keep On The Sunny Side” and a brand new version of Lynn’s first-ever single, “I’m A Honky Tonk Girl.” 

That’s Life, the second installment in country legend Willie Nelson’s tribute to crooner Frank Sinatra is set for release on February 26 via Legacy Recordings. It marks a whopping 71 full-length albums for Nelson, and will include his countrified takes of Sinatra classics like “Luck Be A Lady” and, of course, “That’s Life.” 

Country superstar Carrie Underwood’s going gospel with her latest release. Titled My Savior, the inspirational album will feature the reigning Academy of Country Music Awards’ Entertainer of the Year covering the Christian hymns and worship songs that she grew up singing in church in Oklahoma. The album hits shelves on March 26. 

Parker Millsap fans have been waiting since 2018 for new music from this Oklahoma-born troubadour, and 2021 is officially the year. In January, Millsap announced the impending release of Be Here Instead, a 12-track album that will include the single “The Real Thing.” He’ll release the album on April 9 via his own label, Okrahoma Records. 

Get ready for a slew of new Eric Church tunes. In April, the 2020 CMA Entertainer of the Year will release not one but three brand new albums over the course of a week. The first, Heart, is set to debut on April 16, while the second, simply called “&” will only be available on vinyl to members of his Church Choir fan club. The third, “Soul,” will debut on April 23. Fun fact: The entire epic 24-song collection was written and recorded in less than a month. 

In his first solo release since the death of his wife and former bandmate Joey Feek, Rory Feek will officially return to the airwaves on June 18. Called “Gentle Man,” the deeply personal record will dig into themes of love, loss, and small-town life, and will feature cameos from Nashville heavy-hitters like Vince Gill. 

Even though he’s been a little bit cryptic on when it will arrive, Chris Young has told fans that he’s completed work on a double album. In an interview, Young said that he had “a lot of work ahead” in 2021, but it’s anyone’s guess as to when his first full-length release since 2017’s “Losing Sleep.” 

Even though both Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley are planning to pursue solo projects, there’s still a new Florida Georgia Line album set for release in 2021. Called “Life Rolls On,” the duo’s fifth studio album is set to hit shelves on February 12. Expect a celebratory vibe on the 16-track record as the band looks back at nearly a decade of helping “bro-country” dominate the airwaves. 

It’s pretty much still a rumor at this point, but Dan + Shay’s Shay Mooney strongly hinted in a recent interview that fans should expect new music from the scorching-hot duo in 2021. He’s been holed up in quarantine alongside bandmate Dan Smyers during the pandemic, which likely means that they’ve been working up a slew of new tunes while stuck inside. 

Fans are eagerly anticipating new music from Thomas Rhett. Speculation is high, but the artist hasn’t confirmed plans to release a new album in 2021 — yet. Perhaps his latest single “What’s Your Country Song,” co-written by Rhett, his father Rhett Akins, and Ashley Gorley, is a peek at what’s to come. 

In a late-October interview, superstar Jason Aldean told Nashville DJ Bobby Bones that he expected to finish work on his 10th full-length album sometime in March 2021. No word yet on when it will be released, though. It’ll be the follow-up to 2019’s aptly-titled “9.”