Who Is Country Music’s Toughest Act to Follow?

The world of country music is filled with talented artists and with everyone seemingly operating at the top of their game, it begs the question: Who would you not want to follow at a show?

That’s the exact question we asked earlier this year at the ACM Awards. In addition to naming an artist — or a few — whom they believe would be impossible to follow, several artists believe country music is firing on all cylinders in 2024.

Country Music Is Loaded with “Stone Cold Killers”

Multiple singers gave the genre a tip of the hat. Now, there’s always been a high level of respect among artists in country music, but this year feels extra special.

“I feel like everybody is just stone-cold killers,” Chayce Beckham explains. “I mean, you’ve got people that are just crushing the game, you know?”

This crop of talent is also extremely supportive of one another. And while some may joke about wanting to beat another artist out for an award, it comes from a place of healthy competition. After all, a rising tide lifts all ships, right?

“Country music is such a great place right now,” Matt Stell shares. “I’m a fan of so many people doing so much stuff.”

“It’s one plus one, instead of one v one,” he adds.

Chris Stapleton Is Country Music’s Toughest Act to Follow?

Just about every artist has someone they wouldn’t dare try to follow at a show. It could be because of their energy, the type of show they put on, or the relationship they cultivate with the audience. Most of the people we chatted with named Chris Stapleton as the artist who should forever remain a headliner. There’s just no way to perform after that guy.

Take it from someone who’s had to do it.

“Chris Stapleton,” Thomas Rhett shares. “I’ve done that before. That’s not a fun gig.”

“Back in the day before Chris was Chris… Chris opened for us for like six months on the road. I’ll never forget this. It must have been like 2013, 2014, we were doing a club run and Chris was just like opening for us acoustic,” he recounts.

“Me and the band would go out front of house and watch him just wail. And our jaws are just dropping and we’re like, ‘We don’t want to play anymore.’”

Keep scrolling to see which other country artists are tough to follow, according to their peers.