2024 saw a lot of great releases from female country music artists. While it was hard to narrow down my favorites, I’ve picked 25 female artists I will continue to watch in 2025, plus their recent releases I love. Their music touches on female empowerment, heartbreak, remaining true to oneself, and embracing who they are meant to be. Here is part one with five talented women who have risen in 2024 and have a promising year ahead.
JENNA PAULETTE
With her new album release – Horseback, clothing line – Cowboygirl, and the birth of her daughter – Jenna Paulette had a successful 2024. In an Instagram reel after her album’s release and her daughter’s birth, Jenna says, “My sweet girl, I didn’t know it when we started, but this record is for you. I imagine the pictures and stories that you will hear throughout your life listening to me talk about carrying you while making this album. The songs that I think were meant for you I sang to myself in a cook house bunk room on a ranch I was cooking for on the day that we found out that you were a girl. I sobbed singing ‘Horseback’ thinking about your precious soul and all the ways that you will get to grow up out here. I know God is knitting you together in my womb, but I can’t help but think that his hand had something to do with the songs I picked for this record and the lessons they will teach you. I pray that they help you love who you were made to be and that they help you understand your mother. I know God made you wild, and he knows that’s my favorite color. Love, Mom.” Every song on the album captures Jenna’s life and commitment to her faith, family, and ranching. One of my favorites from the album she mentions in this video is “Wild Is Her Favorite Color”.
GEORGIA WEBSTER
There is something so captivating about Georgia Webster’s voice. Her sound is so simple, honest, vulnerable, and raw. When I press play to “Wedding Song,” my mind is carried away to imagining my young self in a past relationship. Where I would have sacrificed, given everything, and changed myself to make it work – even dance to a wedding song I didn’t like. “I would’ve married you, I would’ve said, ‘I do’, I would’ve danced to a song I didn’t like. I would’ve put you first, I would’ve learned the words, we’d call it ours but it wouldn’t be mine. Holdin’ you in my arms would’ve made it fine, it’d be worth every sacrifice. ‘Cause I would’ve married you, I would’ve spent my life with a wedding song I didn’t like,” sings Georgia. Now at 35, I’m so glad I didn’t and held out for the right person. With the release of her EP, SIGNS, Georgia saw a great 2024. “I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am for this EP to finally be out in the world- these songs truly healed my soul after a heartbreak that I went through and brought me back to the root of why I love music so much… huge thank you to everyone who helped me write these songs and just everyone involved,” says Georgia. Her relatability, creativity, and authenticity set her apart, such as in her music videos for “Attention” and “Delusional.” I’m sitting in anticipation of what she has in store for us in the year ahead.
SHAYLEN
Every time I press play to Shaylen, I’m instantly at ease and in a good mood. I think every one of her songs could be my comfort song no matter what’s going on in my life. The lyrics in her songs just slide off the tongue and tell a genuine story a girl can relate to. Her singles “What If I Don’t,” “Let Me Let You,” “To Tell You The Truth,” and “Been There Before” have all been on repeat when I need an escape. With her Opry debut and signing a record deal in 2024, Shaylen had a great year.
In an Instagram post about “What If I Don’t” Shaylen said, “When we wrote this song, I was the most broken I’ve ever felt, and was truly convinced it would take two years to finally sleep through the night without crying into my dang pillow. Little did I know that two years almost to the day I released it, I wouldn’t be losing sleep from a broken heart, but the jitters keeping me up knowing I had my opry debut the next day… When I put it out, I was a product of two failed record deals and life-breaking my heart more times than I could count. I wrote it on my first day and first time in Nashville, I was told my career was pretty much done so go on this trip only as a writer and pitched the songs for other artists to have, and I was gonna walk away from music after 15 years when I got back. I left the session that day and cried hearing the demo cause it was the first time I got to sing and say something exactly how I wanted to. And then I swear I heard God whisper, give this one last fight I promise it’s worth it. I went back to LA and packed my bags after 10 years, moved to Nash with about $75 to my name. Decided to put it out independent and told him, alright if this song was just meant for me to put out something one last time and then walk away and let it go, I will… first 6 months it did okay, and then I woke up one morning to it taking off. All because of y’all and however it resonated with you. Fast forward a year later, and I stepped into the circle and made my official debut into country music at the Grand Ole Opry, where I wanted to be all along. So I’m here to remind you… if you’re chasing a dream and at the point of hearing the last “no” you can take… then you’re about to get the ‘yes’ you’ve been holding out for…Your dream is waiting for you. And I’m rooting for you all the way… Do not let anyone tell you, ‘you can’t.’ Sometimes you have to remove yourself from the surroundings that can’t see your value. Cause YOU are magical and valuable. It’s just the wrong people and place who can’t see it. All I have is my journal pages and the stories in them that I try to make a three-minute song out of and pray they find a home when I put them out. And I’m forever grateful that you guys are the home they found.” I’m so happy for Shaylen and I can’t wait for her new music in 2025.
ELLA LANGLEY
Alabama girl Ella Langley made huge strides in 2024. She released her debut album, Hungover, followed by a deluxe album, Still Hungover, and her hit duet with Riley Green, “You Look Like You Love Me,” earned her #1 on country radio and a CMA Award. I loved reading this article from Country Now about Ella’s musical journey: Ella Langley Shares Her Journey From Alabama To Nashville: ‘This Has Been The Plan For Me My Whole Life.’ When “You Look Like You Love Me” hit number one Ella said, “Been dreaming this dream for as long as I can remember. I’ve talked about wanting to do this for as long as I can remember. I haven’t lived a single day where this wasn’t the plan. The thing about a dream is it’s just a dream. Today, it feels real. This past year, it’s felt real. Thank you for listening and sharing and believing.” Ella has clearly put in the hard work to gain success, and her music is undeniably authentic with a true country sound and story-telling lyrics that fans have been craving. Her deep southern voice sounds like a breath of fresh air that I can’t wait to keep taking in 2025. One of my favorites from the album to put on repeat is “Love You Tonight,” and I hope to see her play it live someday, but I’m still hoping to get a ticket to her sold-out tour.
JULIA COLE
There isn’t a song I don’t like by Julia Cole and she is the queen of breakup anthems. I love how empowering her voice sounds when she sings of being better off without the man who treated her wrong. Earlier this year, Julia showed her vulnerable side by releasing the Life After You EP, a collection of songs about how she felt when her engagement broke off. A year ago Julia shared on Instagram, “This was terrifying for me…letting the world see these journals. Anyone who knows me knows I’ve always been taught to ‘never let ‘em see you sweat,’ so I feel naked putting this out there. I recorded the journals months ago and just now worked up the courage. It’s been unreal reading the comments and dms y’all have flooded me with. I had no idea so many others have been through the exact same thing… and I just want to say THANK YOU for making me feel so understood & loved. Y’all are family.” While this was a difficult time in Julia’s life, she didn’t stay down for long and is always there to encourage women to rise up. Some of my favorite singles are “Thank God We Broke Up,” “Better Liar,” “Bulletproof,” “He Was You,” and “Lose You Again.” I’m also excited for her next single release, “Day Late & A Buck Short“ plus a new album coming soon. So here’s to all the female empowerment and knowing it’s his loss in 2025!
This was just a glimpse into all Jenna, Georgia, Shaylen, Ella, and Julia have done in 2024. I hope you enjoy their music as much as I do and stay tuned for part two of 25 Female Artists I’m Watching In 2025. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a post, and follow me on Instagram and YouTube @farmgirlwithcurls. Comment with your favorite artists I should review in 2025!
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