Get to Know: Nashville’s Emerging Artists

Curated for The Barns at Wolf Trap, Nashville Emerging Artists Night highlights seven rising country artists from those with boots planted in traditional sounds to others who push the genre’s limits. This intimate evening is set up like a writers’ round in Music City, where you’ll immerse yourself in the songs and stories of these singer/songwriters. Take a deeper dive into these artists’ backgrounds before the show.

Brooks Huntley

Budding country star Brooks Huntley started playing in downtown Austin bars at 12 years old. Taking the chance at 19 to make a career out of music, the musician and producer landed in Nashville and has called it home for over eight years. A pivotal moment came in late 2025 when a single he produced—“Highs & Lows” by Matt Cooper—hit country radio. Huntley blends classic storytelling with guitar sensibilities that highlight his soulful tenor voice. He credits his musical genes to his grandfather, who was a professional blues musician.

Redwood Twins

Comprised of Chris and Johnny Horwood, the Redwood Twins blend a variety of genres into their sound, from folk and country to R&B and Hip Hop to contemporary Christian music. Originally from the west coast of Canada, the brothers moved to the US to study music. The duo recently released their debut single, “Vancouver Shores,” and were cast in American Idol season 24, which premieres in January 2026. Get a taste of these twins from up north writing music down south.

Carlyle Griffin

Adorned with a powerful voice, Carlyle Griffin points to a diverse range of musical influences—Joni Mitchell, Susan Tedeschi, Aretha Franklin, and more—who molded her into the singer/songwriter she is today. Griffin began performing in church at five years old, received her first guitar at 10, and ended up moving to Nashville after college to pursue music full-time. Riding off her acoustic EP, Letters from Buckingham Palace, she continues to write and perform in Music City. She’ll fill the room with her soulful sound, described as living “somewhere between Stevie Nicks and Nora Jones” (Raised Rowdy).

Kyleigh

Kyleigh’s music combines elements of R&B and alternative pop, emphasizing a desire to try “to make Nashville more than just the Music City [that people know]”. She recently dropped her high school nickname, Ca$hk, in an effort to reinvent her artistic identity. As part of this newfound journey, Kyleigh released her debut project, Almost Everything, which she characterizes as more of an acoustic sound. Listen to her NPR Tiny Desk submission.

Donny Van Slee

From playing in local restaurants and breweries to making it to Team Reba on season 25 of The Voice, Donny Van Slee always believed a musical career was in the cards. This passion ignited at a young age when his father gave him a guitar in sixth grade. He balanced a full-time job as a practicing chiropractor in addition to pursing music, and continues to release new songs, including his most recent single, “The Next Sea Over”. Check out his audition for The Voice.

Billy Dutch

A self-described wanderer, Billy Dutch ran away from his home in Washington after high school, working as a wrangler for different ranches across a few western states. After longing for more structure, he ended up as a combat medic in the US Army for five years. Music remained a constant in his life, but something he never thought of making a career out of. Now pursuing music full-time, his style is a nod to old country and Americana tunes. His stage name is derived from his two grandfathers, “Billy” and “Dutch,” both of whom were musicians he was heavily inspired by.

Throughout the night, each of these rising musicians will be instrumentally supported by percussionist Jack Dratch, adding acoustic depth to an already stacked lineup. Catch country music's next stars at The Barns at Wolf Trap on February 5-7.