The Boot's 2021 artists to watch vary in genre, style, influence and background, but these country, Americana, folk and bluegrass newcomers are all poised to have breakout years. Their names are ones to keep your eyes (and ears) on: artists you'll want to hear early, so you can brag that you knew about them first.
The singer-songwriter shares the story of how his uncle sexually abused him as a child, and rather than confront that truth, his family disowned Payne at just 18 years old.
Songwriter Waylon Payne, nominated for his first Grammy for Lee Ann Womack's hit single, 'Solitary Thinkin,' admits the song started out in an unlikely place.
"I was out taking a walk and the song was weighing heavy on me," he says. "So I ducked into this bar called Numbers and wrote the song...