Waylon Wyatt
Waylon Wyatt | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | Waylon Wyatt Potter 16 October 2006 Hackett, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2024–present |
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| Website | www |
Waylon Wyatt Potter (born October 16, 2006) is an American country music singer-songwriter, musician, and producer from Hackett, Arkansas. He garnered popularity when his first song "Everything Under the Sun" became viral on TikTok. He is signed to Darkroom Records and has released two extended plays with the label. His debut album, Dustpiles, was released in July 2026.
Early life
[edit]Wyatt was born and raised in Hackett, Arkansas, and wrote his first song, titled "How to Be a Man", at age six. Despite an initial interest in rap music, he discovered country music on YouTube when he was fifteen.[1] Of his upbringing, Wyatt stated, “we didn’t grow up rich, but I wouldn’t say we grew up in a cardboard box or anything like that. We grew up in a pretty nice house; I have hard-workin’ parents, you know? We had some good money comin’ in, but we just really didn’t have the time and we couldn’t really plan to [see live music]”. His first concert was Wyatt Flores at Cain's Ballroom. His brother Dylan, also a musician, took his own life when Wyatt was eight years old, and Wyatt cites him as the primary reason he learned to play guitar, feeling that he honors his brother's memory each time he plays. Dylan's loss inspired the song "Phoning Heaven", which appears on Wyatt's debut EP Til the Sun Goes Down.[2]
Career
[edit]Wyatt was working for his father Charley's construction company when a video of him performing his original song "Everything Under the Sun" gained over 100,000 views on TikTok overnight. Despite being sceptical, having only posted covers on his social media accounts prior due to fear of negative comments, he had been convinced to post it by a friend, and then began receiving calls from record labels a week later, ultimately signing with Music Soup and Darkroom Records.[1] He released his debut extended play, Til the Sun Goes Down, which includes "Everything Under the Sun", "Phoning Heaven", and "Arkansas Diamond", a track that has tallied over 50 million streams, in July 2024. He subsequently released an expanded version of the EP featuring eight tracks on November 14, 2024.[3][4][5]
Wyatt befriended Bayker Blankenship after seeing him perform a cover of his song "Arkansas Diamond" on social media. The two began writing songs together and released "Jailbreak" and "Sunday Supper" on January 17, 2025.[6] They performed the song live together on CBS Saturday Morning.[7] "Smoke & Embers", a duet with Willow Avalon, was released on April 2, 2025.[8] On May 12, 2025, Wyatt released "Sincerely, Your Son", a tribute to his parents.[9] Out of the Blue, his second EP, was released on June 6, 2025. Wyatt described it as a reflection of his first two years on tour while balancing life as a full-time student during the week. It was the first project Wyatt had recorded in a studio with a band.[10] Around this time, "Arkansas Diamond" became his first to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.[11] "Jailbreak" became Wyatt's second single to be certified gold. Wyatt released his next single "Wishbone" on September 5, 2025, the same day that he began his 35 date Out of the Blue Tour, beginning in Fayetteville and extending until November with various shows across the US and Canada.[12] His final single of 2025, "Frostbite", was released on November 14.[13]
In January 2026, Wyatt announced his Everything Under the Sun headlining tour, in addition to dates throughout the year supporting Sam Barber, and international appearances at the C2C: Country to Country festival in Europe.[14] Wyatt released "In Loving Melody", an ode to a failed relationship, on February 6, 2026. Country Central gave the song a 9.8 out of 10, writing, "the power and intimacy of this love story are deepened by [Wyatt's] subtle dips into his lower register and the tasteful whine that curbs his enunciation. On this single, Wyatt crafts a song as intricate as it is devastatingly beautiful".[15] On February 20, 2025, Wyatt released "Didn't Forget", which features Wyatt Flores to positive critical reception, with Billboard declaring it one of the six best new country songs that week and calling it "a compelling collaboration from two emerging talents with rising momentum".[16]
On May 14, 2026, Wyatt announced his debut album, Dustpiles, would be released on July 17.[17] He made his Grand Ole Opry debut a few days later on July 22.[18]
Sound and influences
[edit]Wyatt describes his major influences as Tyler Childers, Hank Williams, Turnpike Troubadors, Wyatt Flores, Johnny Cash, and Eminem.[2] Of his music, which blends elements of country, red dirt, folk, and americana, Wyatt stated, “I don't really want to put myself into one genre, because I figure if I do and then I start doing something different, I might surprise people a little too much, and they might not like it”. He notes that his music is primarily lyric-driven, taking inspiration from poetry and from what feels good in his heart.[19] In terms of his sound, Wyatt states, “I’m very stern about, like, I don’t want a lot of production in my music. That’s not what I’m looking for. I love the raw sound – the raw vocals, raw guitar, raw acoustic. Nothing overlaid on it”. His music has drawn comparisons to Childers, Flores, Sam Barber, and Zach Bryan.[20]
Personal life
[edit]Wyatt is a Christian, and describes his faith as very important to him, stating “I’m a God-fearing man, you know? I’m a believer in Christ, and a verse that has always stuck with me is Colossians 3:23; it reads, “Whatever you do, do with all your heart, working for the Lord and not human masters.”[5]
On July 16, 2026, the day before the release of his debut album, Wyatt was hospitalised with sepsis, which led to his postponing several live shows, including his Grand Ole Opry debut.[21]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Dustpiles |
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Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Til the Sun Goes Down |
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| Out of the Blue |
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Singles
[edit]| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | "Jailbreak"/"Sunday Supper" with Bayker Blankenship | Non-album single |
| "I'd Be Delighted" | Out of the Blue | |
| "Smoke & Embers" with Willow Avalon | ||
| "Sincerely, Your Son" | ||
| "Wishbone" | Non-album singles | |
| "Pretty Little Liar" | ||
| "Frostbite" | ||
| 2026 | "In Loving Melody" | Dustpiles |
| "Didn't Forget" with Wyatt Flores | Non-album single | |
| "Dead Man Walkin'" | Dustpiles | |
| "But There Was a Time" | ||
| "Leave It Alone" | ||
| "Box of Bones" |
Tours
[edit]- Dustpiles World Tour (2026-27)[22]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Arkansas Country Music Awards | Americana Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [23] |
| Acoustic Act of the Year | Won | ||||
| Young Artist of the Year | Won | ||||
| Musical Collaboration of the Year | "Jailbreak" | Nominated | |||
| 2026 | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [24][25] | |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Americana Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Young Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Album of the Year | Til' the Sun Goes Down | Won | |||
| Musical Collaboration of the Year | "Sunday Supper" | Won | |||
| Billboard | 21 Under 21 | Himself | Won | [26] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Goos, Aileen (June 6, 2025). "Interview: From Small Town to Spotlight, Waylon Wyatt's Unlikely Rise to Country Music Fame". Atwood Magazine.
- 1 2 Bassett, Jordan (July 14, 2025). "From Hackett to Hyde Park, country heartbreaker Waylon Wyatt is going places". NME.
- ↑ Tew, Mariah (October 2, 2024). "Exclusive Q&A: 17-Year-Old Waylon Wyatt on Balancing School and a Blossoming Music Career". Country Now.
- ↑ Lorge, Melinda (December 18, 2024). "Waylon Wyatt Talks His Musical Journey, Paying Tribute To His Late Brother And What's Next". Music Mayhem.
- 1 2 Pauley, Joel (May 31, 2025). "Waylon Wyatt: In His Own Words". Country Central.
- ↑ Mower, Maxim (March 7, 2025). ""He's a Good Buddy, For Sure": Bayker Blankenship Discusses Friendship with Waylon Wyatt at C2C Berlin 2025". Holler.
- ↑ "Saturday Sessions: Waylon Wyatt and Bayker Blankenship perform "Jailbreak"". CBS News. August 30, 2025.
- ↑ Humphrey, Jack (March 25, 2025). "Waylon Wyatt & Willow Avalon To Release New Song "Smoke & Embers"". Country Central.
- ↑ Daykin, James (May 12, 2025). "Waylon Wyatt honours his roots with heartfelt new single 'Sincerely, Your Son'". Entertainment Focus.
- ↑ Daykin, James (June 9, 2025). "Waylon Wyatt releases new EP 'Out Of The Blue' & announces 35+ date tour". Entertainment Focus.
- ↑ Sink, Lauryn (June 6, 2025). "Waylon Wyatt Releases Second EP, Receives First Gold Certification". MusicRow.
- ↑ Humphrey, Jack (August 29, 2025). "Waylon Wyatt Announces New Single "Wishbone"". Country Central.
- ↑ Daykin, James (November 14, 2025). "Waylon Wyatt releases soul-stirring new single 'Frostbite'". Entertainment Focus.
- ↑ Chapman, Will (January 12, 2026). "Waylon Wyatt Announces "Everywhere Under the Sun"". Country Central.
- ↑ Rajan, Aishwarya (February 9, 2026). "Megan Moroney, Waylon Wyatt, & More – Single Reviews". Country Central.
- ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (February 23, 2026). "6 Must-Hear New Country Songs: Ashley McBryde, Waylon Wyatt, Wyatt Flores & More". Billboard.
- ↑ Humphrey, Jack (14 May 2026). "Waylon Wyatt Announces Debut Album "Dustpiles"". Country Central.
- ↑ "Waylon Wyatt To Step Into The Circle For The First Time". Country Insider. 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Hopkins, Megan (June 30, 2025). "Waylon Wyatt Is Just Getting Started, And Australia's Next On His List". Country Town.
- ↑ Burgess, Billy (October 22, 2024). "Waylon Wyatt: 'I Don't Want A Lot Of Production In My Music. I Love The Raw Sound'". Country Town.
- ↑ Vavaris, Mary (July 18, 2026). "Waylon Wyatt Hospitalised With Sepsis While Celebrating The Release Of New Album". Country Town.
- ↑ name="Amniplify" "Waylon Wyatt (USA)". Amniplify. May 20, 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Arkansas Country Music Awards: The Winners". About You. June 3, 2025.
- ↑ "Arkansas Country Music Awards Reveals 2026 Nominees". About You. February 3, 2026.
- ↑ Clancy, Sean (June 2, 2026). "Cliff & Susan named Entertainer of the Year at Arkansas Country Music Awards". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
- ↑ Havens, Lyndsey (July 31, 2026). "Billboard's 21 Under 21: See Who Made the 2026 List". Billboard.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Waylon Wyatt discography at Discogs