Kenny Whitmire Is Billboard’s Up-and-Coming Country Artist of the Month for May 2026
Categoria: Musica
Whitmire is already collecting famous fans, including Charlie Puth.
Por Billboard | 08/05/2026
One of country music’s most compelling, neo-traditional new vocalists grew up 45 minutes north of hip-hop hotbed Atlanta. Woodstock, Georgia-born Kenny Whitmire grew up hearing the rock and country sounds his pastor and musician father would play around the house, while also soaking in the rap music flowing through his school’s football locker room. By high school, Whitmire was lured by the sounds of some of country music’s most revered artists. “I was just so blown away by the vocal,” Whitmire says. “What draws me in first is someone’s voice. In my opinion, you can’t beat Vince Gill, Keith Whitley and Merle Haggard singing. I was pretty much caught from the get-go on that stuff.” Whitmire is signed to label MCA, home to artists including Gill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood. Like his influences, Whitmire brings his own warm, burnished voice to his breakthrough hit “I Gave Her The Moon,” which he wrote with Lynn Hutton and Cam Newby. The tender song about giving a lover all he had only to find it was not enough has impacted fans and artists including pop singer-songwriter Charlie Puth, who covered the song on social media. Whitmire has followed with “Thought Twice About Loving You,” “Me Being Me” and “You’re Getting Colder.” As a songwriter, Whitmire has also penned cuts for artists including Austin Snell (“Some Things Just Stick”) and Colin Stough (“White Trash”). This year, he’s spending time on the road, opening for artists including Tracy Lawrence, Billy Currington and Ian Munsick. On June 12, fans will hear a deeper well of his musical offerings with the EP Fool in a King Size Bed , including the title track he wrote with Kat Higgins and Rhett Akins. “Rhett is a huge inspiration for me, and it’s been cool to continue working with him,” Whitmire says. “I actually just left the room from writing with him again today. I’m excited about that song and I’m hopeful that it will touch a lot of people. But I’ve also got some up-tempo stuff finally coming out. I’ve been putting out a bunch of ballads, so I’m excited to show off another side to my artistry.” Kenny Whitmire signs with MCA. Pictured (L-R): Damon Moberly (MCA), Stephanie Wright (MCA), Rob Femia (MCA), Mike Harris (MCA), Kenny Whitmire, Zac Brooks (River House Artists), Zebb Luster (Riverhouse Artists), Katie McCartney (MCA). Photo: Evan Harney / Courtesy MCA Billboard spoke with Whitmire about his growing career, his songwriting dream collabs and more. You played the Ryman Auditorium for the first time earlier this year when you performed as part of the MCA luncheon during Country Radio Seminar. What was the vibe like backstage? It was cool. It was crowded back there. I did get to meet Vince Gill briefly, and that was a dream in and of itself. He’s one of my biggest heroes in the world, so that was cool to meet him and watch him play. Who are your dream songwriting collaborators? Vince is obviously a dream. A lot of my songwriting heroes have unfortunately passed. Don