The race for No. 1 is heating up on the CRE Rising 25! Greylan James holds onto the top position for a second consecutive week, but Zach John King is closing the gap, climbing two positions to No. 2 as his country radio momentum continues.

Hannah McFarland makes one of the week's biggest moves, jumping three positions to No. 5. Meanwhile, three new artists enter the chart, led by Tyler Nance, who makes an impressive debut at No. 12.

Arizona's Nathan Dean & The Damn Band also climbs three positions following a major award win, while The Jack Wharff Band and Belle Frantz make notable gains.

With new music, growing touring opportunities and fresh faces entering the competition, Week 14 offers another look at the artists working toward country music's next big breakthroughs.

Week 14 Highlights

The Week 14 Story

Greylan James Holds No. 1 as Zach John King Closes In

For the second consecutive week, Greylan James leads the CRE Rising 25. The singer-songwriter maintains his position as anticipation builds for his self-titled debut album, scheduled for release November 13.

James has continued developing his profile as both a songwriter and recording artist, and the upcoming release represents another important milestone in that journey.

But the competition at the top is getting stronger.

Zach John King rises two places to No. 2, fueled in part by growing national radio recognition. His single Get To Drinkin' held the No. 4 position on MusicRow's November 6 Country Breakout Radio Chart, where reported spins increased from the previous week.

BELLES moves to No. 3, while Elizabeth Nichols follows at No. 4. Both remain firmly established among the chart's leading emerging artists.

Hannah McFarland Breaks Into the Top 5

Hannah McFarland jumps three positions from No. 8 to No. 5, becoming one of Week 14's biggest upward movers.

Her growing live-performance opportunities are an important part of the story. McFarland is among the supporting artists announced for Riley Green's 2027 That's Just Me Tour, which will travel through major markets across the United States and Canada.

Opportunities to perform before larger audiences can help introduce emerging artists to listeners who might not otherwise discover their music.

McFarland's advance puts her inside the Rising 25's Top 5 for Week 14.

Gabriella Rose Holds Strong at No. 6

After climbing four positions last week, Gabriella Rose maintains her No. 6 ranking.

Holding a strong position following a significant climb is an important part of the Rising 25 story. Not every successful week requires another upward move, and Rose remains just outside the Top 5.

Emily Ann Roberts occupies No. 7, Jacob Hackworth climbs one position to No. 8, and Laci Kaye Booth follows at No. 9.

Kevin Powers completes the Top 10 at No. 10, while Wyatt McCubbin holds at No. 11.

Tyler Nance Makes an Impressive Debut at No. 12

One of the biggest developments this week is the arrival of Tyler Nance, who enters the CRE Rising 25 at No. 12.

The Missouri singer-songwriter has developed an increasingly substantial streaming audience while building his career around a blend of traditional country, folk, bluegrass and Americana influences.

According to his Grand Ole Opry artist biography, Nance has surpassed 187 million global streams and attracted more than 2.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

His debut album, Midwest Memoir, offers another introduction to his songwriting, with collaborations featuring Jackson Dean, Karley Scott Collins and The Castellows.

Those milestones make Nance the highest new entry on the Week 14 chart.

Nathan Dean & The Damn Band Gain Momentum Following Arizona Awards

Arizona country music favorites Nathan Dean & The Damn Band climb three positions from No. 17 to No. 14.

The move comes as the group celebrates winning Country Western Group/Band of the Year at the 2026 Arizona Desert Country Music Association Awards, held November 8 in Scottsdale.

Recognition from the local country music community adds to the band's ongoing performance history and visibility.

While the Rising 25 is a nationwide ranking, CRE continues to recognize independent artists and bands whose regional achievements contribute to their broader career development.

The Jack Wharff Band and Belle Frantz Climb

The Jack Wharff Band advances three positions from No. 18 to No. 15 as the group continues preparing for its upcoming debut album and expanding live schedule.

Belle Frantz also makes a three-position climb, rising from No. 20 to No. 17.

Both acts continue attracting attention within the emerging country music community, and their Week 14 positions reflect CRE's editorial evaluation of recent career activity and developing audience interest.

Two More Artists Join the Chart

Alongside Tyler Nance, two additional artists make their first Rising 25 appearances this week.

Cole Goodwin enters at No. 24 following continued recording and performance activity, including his November 6 release Fa La La La La La Land.

Mack Geiger arrives at No. 25 following the November 6 release of his debut album, Dying In This House.

Geiger's growing international visibility and expanding live schedule provide additional reasons to watch his development.

The arrival of three new artists makes Week 14 one of the more competitive recent editions of the chart.

Movement in the Lower Rankings

Several artists experienced changes in the lower half of the chart as new entries reshaped the rankings.

Kashus Culpepper moves to No. 16, KINSLEY follows at No. 18, and Tyce Delk occupies No. 19. Just Jayne is No. 20.

Hunter Flynn climbs two positions to No. 21 following his Week 13 debut, while Ashley Wineland holds steady at No. 22.

Abbie Callahan rounds out the returning artists at No. 23.

Editorial Sources

Artist developments referenced in this article include information published by Greylan James, MusicRow, Live Nation, the Grand Ole Opry, the Arizona Desert Country Music Association, and artist release announcements. Chart placements represent Country Road Entertainment's independent editorial assessment for November 10, 2026.

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