Some people politely wait for their turn, ask for permission, and take a shot at their dreams when the opportunity allows. Charley Crockett isn’t one of those people. He’s never just waited around, asked for permission, or let opportunity find him. Instead, the GRAMMY® Award-nominated Texas-born maverick defied the odds at every turn, tapping into a rebellious strain of country, releasing 14 albums independently, and grinding from obscurity to selling out some of the world’s most renowned venues. As Pitchfork points out, “in the decade it took Crockett to brush country stardom, the bygone era of music he loves and embodies arrived in the modern age. He is a key player in deciding where it will go next.” He has continuously pushed forward too. Since 2015, he has paved a singular path out of Texas. Beyond garnering hundreds of millions of streams, he picked up his first GRAMMY® nod for 2024’s $10 Cowboy. In the last year alone, he notably sold-out Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO, the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA and two nights at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Crockett and his music have also received praise from The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Variety. Speaking to his impact, CBS Mornings chronicled his journey, and he sat down for an interview on The Daily Show. Plus, he’s graced the stage for performances on Austin City Limits, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and CBS “Saturday Sessions” in addition to playing behind NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk.” With multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning Shooter Jennings as co-producer, the same unapologetic spirit, diehard work ethic, and no-nonsense honesty drive Crockett’s Island Records debut LP, Lonesome Drifter.
Jake Penrod is not one for chasing the limelight, nor is he interested in being anything other than himself. A multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, and entertainer, he is widely regarded by his peers as one of the preeminent artists of his era. To those who don’t already know him, Jake Penrod might seem like a hard man to figure out. Quiet around strangers and allergic to small talk, he’s often mistaken for aloof or standoffish. In truth, he’s simply more comfortable with music than with conversation. To Jake Penrod, traditional country music is not just entertainment; it is a fine art, worthy of the same reverence given to ballet, jazz, and symphonic works. He presents it as such, with a deep respect for its history and craft. Unlike many artists, he has no interest in cultivating a manufactured public image or basking in the glow of celebrity. While he values his fans, he would rather they care about the music itself than about him as a personality. Beyond his own recordings and performances, Penrod’s songwriting has left its mark on the genre, with his songs recorded by artists like Joey Allcorn, Lonnie Spiker, and The Country Side of Harmonica Sam. He also champions his generation’s contributions to country music, believing that today’s artists have more to offer than they are often credited for. He points to artists such as Charley Crockett and Sierra Ferrell as proof that traditional roots still resonate, and that millennials (artists and listeners alike) know what’s real and what isn’t. For Jake Penrod, music has always been the point—not fame, not image, not accolades. And in staying true to that principle, he has become one of the most respected and authentic voices in traditional country music today.
