CRE Rising 25 – Week 4: September 1, 2026
The Hottest Emerging Artists in Country
The CRE Rising 25 tracks independent and emerging artists building genuine momentum through new releases, audience growth, streaming activity, live performances and fan engagement.
This week, Zach John King rises to No. 1, Jacob Hackworth makes the chart’s biggest move and Brandon Wisham earns the week’s highest debut.
CRE Rising 25 — Week 4
Julia Golden Debuts at No. 25
Julia Golden enters the CRE Rising 25 for the first time at No. 25. Her growing live-performance résumé, expanding audience and recent national attention make her an emerging artist to watch.
Graduated: The Castellows
The Castellows have graduated from the CRE Rising 25. Graduation recognizes artists whose career momentum and national visibility have moved them beyond the chart’s emerging-artist criteria.
About the CRE Rising 25
The CRE Rising 25 is a nationwide editorial ranking of emerging country artists showing measurable momentum. CRE considers Music and streaming performance, audience growth, social activity, fan engagement, live performances, touring activity, industry recognition and overall career development.
Music and streaming account for 40% of the evaluation, social growth and audience engagement account for 25%, live performances and touring account for 20%, industry recognition accounts for 10%, and CRE editorial evaluation accounts for 5%.
Rankings are updated weekly to help fans discover artists who are building something real before the rest of the industry catches up.
No paid placement—ever.
