2025 MusicRow Awards Nominees For Breakthrough Artist Of The Year

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Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 37th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Breakthrough Artist of the Year category.

This category honors a Nashville artist who achieved significant career progress for the first time.

This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 15 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.

Fresh off the release of her sophomore album Let Go Letters, Avery Anna has been connecting with fans in a unique way. The project is tailored around real situations Anna’s fans have shared with her during her “Let Go Letters” series on tour. The sophomore project came less than a year after her 17-track debut album Breakup Over Breakfast, which earned critical acclaim across multiple outlets. Both projects are completely co-written by Anna, showcasing her success as an artist and writer. Anna has been named an Artist to Watch by Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube, MusicRow and CMT. Anna’s first breakthrough moment was her 2022 viral hit “Narcissist,” leading her to her 2023 CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Artist of the Year nomination. Anna is currently climbing up the streaming and radio charts with the Sam Barber duet “Indigo.” The viral hit has amassed more than 450 million global streams. Anna is spending the summer opening for Luke Bryan and Brad Paisley, and will embark on her headline “Let Go Letters Tour” this fall.

Before moving to Nashville in 2019, Ella Langley cut her teeth gigging around bars and festivals in her home state of Alabama. After a few years in Music City, her 2023 debut EP Excuse The Mess introduced fan-favorite singles and set the stage for her breakout. In August 2024, she released her debut album Hungover, co-writing all 14 tracks and giving fans a raw look into her story. The project earned praise from The New York Times and Rolling Stone, landing on both outlets’ “Best of 2024” lists. Its standout track, “You Look Like You Love Me” featuring Riley Green, marked Langley’s Billboard Hot 100 debut and her first No. 1 on country radio, making her the first and one of only two women to top the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2024. The Platinum-certified hit also earned CMA and ACM honors, including Musical Event and Single of the Year. After opening for acts like Morgan Wallen and Luke Bryan, Langley sold out her first headline tour in 2024 and is currently back on the road, supporting Wallen and Green this summer.

The Red Clay Strays, comprised of Brandon Coleman (lead vocals, guitar), Drew Nix (electric guitar, vocals, harmonica), Zach Rishel (electric guitar), Andrew Bishop (bass) and John Hall (drums), were formed in 2016 in Mobile, Alabama. Their breakthrough single “Wondering Why” has amassed more than 75 million streams, and hit No. 1 on Spotify’s Viral 50 USA Playlist. The tune also spent six weeks atop the Americana Singles chart, and made appearances on Billboard’s Hot 100, Hot Rock Songs, AAA chart and Hot Country Songs charts. Their Moment of Truth album hit No. 2 on the Americana Albums Chart and received critical acclaim. As fans flock to their electric live shows, the band wrapped up their headline tour last fall, which included a three night sold-out run at the Ryman Auditorium. Alongside making their Opry debut last year, they have also opened for Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Elle King and Old Crow Medicine Show. Their 2024 album Made By These Moments include hit tracks such as “Wanna Be Loved,” “I’m Still Fine” and “Drowning.”

Following the release of his debut project Cold Beer & Country Music last year, Zach Top has been non stop proving himself. The album was named on several best of year-end lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard and The New York Times. The project included his first No. 1 hit at country radio, “I Never Lie,” as well as fan-favorites “Bad Luck” and “Sounds Like The Radio.” Top spent the summer/fall of last year supporting Lainey Wilson, and kicked off 2025 on his headlining “Cold Beer & Country Music Tour.” The tour sold out within hours of tickets going on sale. Alongside Wilson, he has also opened up for Alan Jackson, Dwight Yoakam and Billy Strings Top was also crowned ACM New Male Artist of the Year in April. He will release his next album, Ain’t In It For My Health, in August, continuing to build his fast-growing fan base.

Tucker Wetmore has been spotted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart throughout the year with his breakthrough singles “Wine Into Whiskey” and “Wind Up Missin’ You,” both now RIAA Platinum certified. The two tracks also had a hand in helping Wetmore amass 1 billion streams in just over a year. He released his debut EP Waves On A Sunset last year and also made two appearances on the Twisters soundtrack with “Already Had It” and “Steal My Thunder.” Making his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2024, Wetmore also spent time on the road supporting Kameron Marlowe and Luke Bryan, before embarking on his sold-out debut headline tour. To kick off 2025, Wetmore notched more headline shows across the UK, U.S. and Europe. He is currently on Thomas Rhett’s “Better In Boots Tour” as direct support. Wetmore was also nominated for ACM New Male Artist of the Year this year, and released his debut album What Not To. He has earned nods on Artists To Watch lists from Billboard, MusicRow, Vevo, Spotify, the Grand Ole Opry and more.

Since making his mark on Music City, Warren Zeiders has garnered 3.6 billion career streams, 2 billion TikTok views, and averages 7.9 million monthly Spotify listeners. Last year, Zeiders took home the Breakthrough Male Music Video of the Year at the CMT awards and was nominated for two People’s Choice Country Awards. Zeiders was also featured on the blockbuster Twisters soundtrack with “The Cards I’ve Been Dealt,” and notched his first No. 1 country radio single with the RIAA 2x Platinum “Pretty Little Poison.” The hit was also the second most played song on country radio in 2024. Zeiders kicked off 2025 with the release of his 21-track Relapse, Lies, & Betrayal. The project was featured on NPR, GQ, Cowboys & Indians, Forbes and more. He has also made the rounds on network television, with performances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and The Kelly Clarkson Show. He recently wrapped his first ever European tour before headlining Houston Rodeo, and is currently on his 30-date “Relapse Tour.” He will stay busy through the end of the year with his “Relapse, Lies, & Betrayal Tour” kicking off in the fall.

Madison Hahnen
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