We last saw Bayker Blankenship in November 2024 at a small festival in Arizona. We were both hundreds of miles from home and unsure of how to adjust to the simmering Southwest heat. He was performing solo at the time, and truth be told, he was one of the first people kind enough to give us time on camera.

Fast forward 50 weeks and we reconnected with Bayker Blankenship after our friends at Peanut Patch Boiled Peanuts invited us to the Greenville Country Music Festival. Bayker and his band had just completed a 19-hour drive from Texas, but that didn't stop him from taking a few minutes to discuss his the past year and how he feels about the future.

In this brief conversation, Bayker and I dig into what it means to be a young artist today. Bayker now has a band, and together they've traveled the world honing a sound that still feels very raw in the best possible way. He spoke of collaborations, like the one he has with Zach John King earlier in 2025, as well as the inspiration he finds in his current relationship.

If you ask me, Bayker Blankenship is the future of country music. He's a true storyteller putting in the work needed to build a strong, lasting career in music. This conversation may be short, but it inspired me to work a little harder. Maybe it'll do the same for you.

Lauren Watkins is redefining what it means to be an artist in country music today. Her new album, In A Perfect World, captures the kind of honesty and confidence that make listeners feel like they’ve known her for years.

In this episode of the Country Minute Podcast, we sit down with Watkins to talk about the record and what it’s like growing up inside the genre she loves. Country music has always been full of characters and familiar stories, but Watkins is carving her own lane by writing about real life.

Whether it’s buying a mailbox at Home Depot with your spouse or realizing that nobody is coming to save you, she finds meaning in the moments most people overlook. With a group of incredible songwriters helping lift her already powerful voice, In A Perfect World feels like one of the most important albums of 2025. It’s the kind of record that will stick with you long after the last note fades.

Zach John King is our Rookie Of The Year for 2025. Hailing from small town Georgia, ZJK kicked off the year with his infectious single "Slow Down" and proceeded to do the exact opposite. In the last ten months he's released a string of viral singles, as well as a successful EP. He also supported Morgan Wallen, Luke Bryan, Dylan Scott, and Gavin Adcock on various tours, not to mention appearing at many of the genre's biggest festivals. We have not met a single person that isn't rooting for this guy to hit it big, and with songs like "Space" that spotlight doesn't seem too far away.

We sat down with Zach John King in Kalamazoo, Michigan in early October while he was on the 'Easy Does It' tour with Dylan Scott. Zach told us about his wild year, from finally getting noticed to trying to keep his head above water, and we end with a brief discussion about what the new year might hold.

Zach John King will be supporting Morgan Wallen on his 2026 'Still The Problem' tour. Follow Country Minute across social media for all things country music.