Country Up-and-Comer Greylan James Talks Viral Hit ‘Water at a Wedding,’ His New Album, And the Kenny Chesney Advice That Sparked His Career
Categoria: Musica
Greylan James, who just scored his first Billboard Hot 100 hit, is Billboard’s Country Up-and-Comer Artist of the Month for November.
Por Billboard | 06/11/2026
East Tennessee native Greylan James grew up immersed in country music, watching as another East Tennessee native, Kenny Chesney, amassed scores of hit songs and headlined Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium. “I met him briefly when I was in a bluegrass band when I was 11,” James recalls. “He showed up where we were playing at and I talked with him for a couple of seconds. I told him, ‘Hey, I want to drop out of school and move to Nashville. How do I do it?’ He was like, ‘Well, hold on, stay in school. But learn how to write songs. A lot of country singers don’t write songs.’ And that always stuck with me. From that moment on, I started writing.” That advice is paying off in more ways than one. James just earned his Billboard Hot 100 chart debut with his viral hit “Water at a Wedding,” which he wrote with Matt Dragstrem and Chase McGill. View this post on Instagram The song’s ripped-from-real-life vibe and roller-coaster storyline about a guy attending his ex’s wedding, and noticing that she’s drinking water rather than wine, got the internet buzzing — and is now inside the top 20 on Billboard ’s Country Airplay chart as well. And James keeps piling up new accolades seemingly every month; he made his Grand Ole Opry debut in October and on Nov. 13, will release his self-titled debut album. He’s set to hit the road as an opener on Chesney’s Original Vibe Room Stadium Tour next year. He’s also launching his own headlining trek, Wedding Season: The Tour, on Nov. 6. “I’m just trying to hold onto my seat,” James says. “It feels like this year has kind of flown by with so many milestones that I’ve worked years and years for, to almost fit into one year…I’m really grateful that it’s all coming together the way it has. I feel like my whole dream is coming true all at once.” He points to his Opry debut as another unbelievable watershed career moment. “The Opry is one of those stages I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid,” James told Billboard shortly before his Opry debut. “My papa always told me that if I got into music, you’ll know you made it when you play the Grand Ole Opry. And to know that I”m finally doing that, just thinking about my boots stepping into the circle, it’s a surreal feeling.” He may be just now coming into prominence as an artist, but he’s been building a reputation as a solid songwriter for the past several years in Nashville’s songwriting community. James is a co-writer on Jordan Davis’s ACM song of the year-winning “Next Thing You Know,” as well as songs recorded by Chesney (“Born,” “Come Here, Go Away”), Morgan Wallen (“Nothing Left”) and BRELAND (“For What It’s Worth”), among others. Now, with a debut album filled with songs he contributed to — and a tribute song to another East Tennessee-born country music icon — James aims to continue putting his own stamp on the genre. James, Billboard’s Country Up-and-Comer artist of the month for November, joins previously highlighted artists including Colton Dawson , Mack Geiger and