Kane Brown is sharing his thoughts on who’s currently shaping the sound — and momentum — of country music right now.
And according to the country star, a few names stand out above the rest.
When asked which artists are the most influential in country music at the moment, Brown didn’t hesitate to point to two of the genre’s biggest modern hitmakers.
Best of the Best
“Definitely Morgan and Ella,” he said, referring to Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley. “Everybody’s going after them right now. I’m gonna put myself in there, too.”
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The comment comes as both Wallen and Langley continue to dominate charts, awards conversations, and streaming numbers across the genre.
Country Music’s Mount Rushmore
Brown’s latest picks follow his picks for country music’s “Mount Rushmore,” where he was asked to name the artists he believes define the genre across all eras.
Scott Olson / Jason Kempin, Getty Images
At the time, he named George Strait as an essential foundation of country music, while also highlighting Morgan Wallen as a current-era standout. He also pointed to Shania Twain as one of the genre’s defining crossover forces.
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But when it came to newer names, Brown specifically singled out Ella Langley as someone rapidly rising through the ranks.
“See, I would put Ella up there right now because she’s killing it, but it’s too early,” he told Hard Rock Bet.
Ella Langley’s Record-Breaking Moment
Langley’s momentum has only grown since then.
At the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, she made history by winning seven awards in a single night, breaking the previous record of six held by Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, and Chris Stapleton.
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Her wins included Female Artist of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas,” and Single of the Year for the same track — with recognition split between songwriting and performance categories.
A Changing of the Guard
Between record-breaking award nights and streaming dominance, both Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley continue to define the current moment in country music — exactly the space Brown says is driving the genre forward right now.
And if his comments are any indication, he sees himself right in the middle of that conversation, too
Ella Langley Was Ethereal on the 2026 ACM Awards Red Carpet — See Photos!
2026 is the year of Ella Langley, and she looked every bit the country music superstar as she strolled the ACM Awards red carpet in a ravishing white gown and a statement necklace that paid homage to her ‘Dandelion’ album. Keep scrolling to see all the best photos!
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
