Waylon Wyatt is part of a new wave of country artists rising quickly through a mix of raw songwriting and grassroots momentum. Hailing from Hackett, Arkansas, the teenage singer-songwriter first gained attention online when his breakout track ‘Everything Under the Sun' went viral, introducing listeners to a stripped-back, red dirt-influenced sound shaped by artists like Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan. Still early in his career, Wyatt has already released multiple EPs and built a rapidly growing audience, with his debut project ‘Til the Sun Goes Down' racking up hundreds of millions of streams and earning early certifications for standout tracks like ‘Arkansas Diamond.'
What sets Wyatt apart is the authenticity behind his music. He began writing songs as a kid and continued developing his craft after long days working construction with his father, often recording and sharing music from his bedroom or job sites. His songwriting is deeply personal, shaped in part by the loss of his older brother, an experience that pushed him toward music as both an outlet and a purpose. That emotional honesty has translated into a fast-rising live presence too, with sold-out hometown shows and tour dates alongside artists like Dwight Yoakam and Dylan Gossett. By the time he arrived in London for C2C, Wyatt wasn’t just another emerging name—he was already establishing himself as one of the most compelling young voices in modern country. We were thrilled to catch up with him to talk all about it.
Thank you for your time Waylon, we do appreciate how busy you are at festivals like these.
Oh, no problem, thank you for speaking to me.
You seem to be a real old head on young shoulders, have you always felt like that?
Oh, for sure. Probably from where I'm from it's a pretty prominent thing, being an old soul.
You're making your debut on the main stage at C2C festival in London as, possibly, the second youngest artist ever to do so, with only Ty Myers younger than you!
Yes sir! Ty was born in 2007 and I was born in 2006. It feels incredible to be doing it. I probably won't soak it all in until I am back home. I've been told all about the O2 but I didn't really understand just how big it was until we walked into the arena earlier! It's incredibly large!
How do you plan to fill that arena with your sound?
Oh man, we're just gonna rock and hope that people want to rock along with us!
Do you change your sets for festival crowds compared to your own headline shows at all?
You kinda have to because the time you've got at festivals is always much less than our own headline shows. We like to keep a festival set as close to a headline set as possible so people feel like they are getting the same show.
British audiences are notoriously loyal and passionate when they bond with an artist. Have you heard good things about them?
Of course, yeah. When I was in Scandinavia they were very big on being quiet. It's considered disrespectful there to be anything other than that but where I'm from crowds can be quite noisy and rowdy so it takes some getting used to. I'm looking forward to getting a rowdy, energetic crowd going here in the UK!
You've built up such momentum in the last couple of years. Was there a turning point in the last couple of years where you realised something special was happening?
I think the turning point was me being discovered on TikTok to be honest. I was just playing my guitar and hoping someone would see it online and then it exploded and now here I am, touring the world and getting to play out here in Europe. It's such a privilege being able to travel and see such awesome parts of the world – a lot of people from my hometown in Arkansas don't get to do that at all. I wish I could bottle up everything I've ever seen and take it back home to show people. I feel very much blessed beyond belief right now.
What thing that you've done or seen in the last couple of years has really surprised you?
Touring the world is definitely one of them. Opening for some of my most favourite artists that I look up to in this field of work is another. I opened for Tyler Childers which was mind blowing at the Country Calling. I also opened for Turnpike Troubadours at Red Rocks in Colorado – that was a week before I graduated from school and had my prom – that was crazy.
You didn't play at your own prom, did you?
I did! There's a funny story there. The only way I could go to the prom in the first place was having to play at it because I'd missed 80 days of school because of being out on the road on tour! That was the negotiation that I had to navigate with them there! I fulfilled it and got to have a great time at prom!
You've just collaborated with Wyatt Flores on new song ‘Didn't Forget.' He played the main stage here at C2C last year. What was it about him and his music that made you want to do that?
He was actually the very first person I ever saw live. It was in Cain's Ballroom in Oklahoma, I remember it like it was yesterday. It was wicked, I screamed my lungs out – the next day I was so hoarse I couldn't talk. (laughing) I was perfectly fine with that because I had got to go and see Wyatt Flores' show!
The fact that I put a song out is such a full circle moment for me. I'm such a big fan of this guy and the fact that I now have his number in my phone is insane to me! (laughing)
You've also worked with Bayker Blankenship a couple of times now too. What is it that happens when the two of you get together?
We're both deep south boys! He's from Tennessee and I'm from Arkansas. The ways that we grew up aren't that far apart and the things we've seen and done………. We're very similar. He's a funny, funny guy – between the two of us we could just crack jokes and mess around all day!
Magic happened when we first got into a room and played together. I don't think I could ever replicate it with anyone else, I think me and Bayker are just such a perfect match and compliment to each other. I'm not quite sure who I would love to work with next or be on a song with but I know that Bayker and I will work together again, for sure. I love working with other artists.
Since the EP came out in 2024 you've released a tremendous amount of songs. Do you consider yourself a prolific writer? Are you always writing?
A good amount, of course. I've just got into co-writing with other people which I had been against for the longest time. I had a writer's block for a good while….. I'm 19 so having a writer's block for a good while is like 6 months or something, right? (laughing) I couldn't come up with what I thought was any good material and so working with other co-writers helped break that and also taught me that not every song needs to be absolutely perfect, you know? As long as the song means something to someone……. people want relatability and authenticity and I'd got in my head about every song needing to be perfect but writing with other folks helped me move past that.
If you spend weeks or months trying to find the perfect lyric or sound the song will never come to be because there are no perfect lyrics and it's a fools game trying to chase that.
When you go into a co-write what are you bringing into the room? Lyrics? Melodies? Titles? Or does it depend on the day and the other guys in the room?
Sometimes I bring the lyrics and other times the melodies. Honestly, most of the time I don't like to bring in anything. Coming in empty handed is a really great way to get the best out of all the creatives in the room – when you come in empty handed all of the writers have to dig in deep and find something whereas when you come in with something it's mostly yours in the first place and that can be less creative I think.
Is there a co-writer you've connected with more than any other since you've started doing that?
My bass player, JR Atkins, is an amazing writer – great with lyrics and great at making what I've envisioned happen. I also like Brett Truitt, who's from Nashville. Between the two of them we have written a good amount together. Joe Becker is also a favourite of man, he's from Montana and has worked with Sam Barber a good amount.
Those guys have been around the block a lot more than I have. I've only been doing this since I was 16, which is only three years. I still have a lot of learning to do and those guys are great to have in my camp and help teach me all about this songwriting thing!
What does 2026 have in store for you regarding new music? What can fans expect coming down the line from you this year?
We're working on our debut album right now. We are putting a lot of songs out this year too. I'd love for the album to come out this year and we've been working real hard to make that happen but there's been a lot of headbutting because I want it to be perfect but perfect is not really a real thing! (laughing)
Our headline tour ‘Everywhere Under the Sun' was announced not too long ago so we are going to be going out on the road a good amount too in 2026. A full band tour that's hitting a lot of markets and cities that we haven't been able to go to as yet too.
What goals are you setting yourself in this next phase of your career?
I definitely want to get better at playing my guitar. I feel like I only know a few chords that get me by and here I am with these amazing musicians in my band that can play anything. They are so good and I am a baby to it, so I have a lot of learning to do to catch up with them! For his age, Ty Myers is an incredible guitarist and a good example to me of the learning that I still need to do. The guy in my band, Jack McLoughlin, is an amazing guitarist and it's a pleasure to share the stage with him every night.
Check out Waylon's tour dates at the link right here. His newest song, ‘Didn't Forget' with Wyatt Flores is out in all the usual places right now.
