Country Music is part of Walker Montgomery’s DNA. Even though he is the son of John Michael Montgomery and the nephew of Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery, he often gets mistaken for Chris Young. However, the emerging star was raised away from the spotlight in Nicholasville, Kentucky, a small town outside Lexington.
He had a pretty ordinary childhood except that his dad worked weekends instead of weekdays. When he would see his dad in concert, it was the equivalent of “Bring Your Kid to Work” day.
Nevertheless, being from a musical family didn’t mean being a singer was a done deal. The twenty-five-year-old recalled, “Around high school, I kind of learned that football wasn’t going to work out. I looked at myself in the mirror and knew I had to figure out something else. I picked up a guitar and played at a little honky-tonk bar for about 30 people. I knew then what I wanted to do.”
Montgomery attended college for about nine weeks and when his first single, “Simple Town” was well received, he knew his career choice was solidified.
Montgomery’s rich baritone voice is swoon-worthy and since he began performing more than six years he has released other popular singles like the power ballad, “She Don’t Know,” an ode to his hometown, entitled “Rust” and the popular tongue-in-cheek tune, “Bad Day To Be A Beer.”
In 2023 Montgomery released the EP Work to Do which included the popular singles “Things That Break My Heart,” ““Lonely For A Livin’”,” and “Time Stood Still.”
But the goal of every country artist is to play the Grand Ole Opry and on December 1, 2023, Walker Montgomery made his Opry debut flanked by his dad, John Michael Montgomery, and Uncle Eddie Montgomery. And while he has been to the Opry many times to support his dad and uncle, it’s completely different when it was he who was in the spotlight.
He stated, “To be on this hardwood and in the circle, that’s what you dream about. Every time you walk into this building, you understand how important it is to country music. Country music has been mighty good to my family and the Grand Ole Opry is a big part of that. I am honored to play here.”
I met the rising country star for the first time in 2023 at Country Radio Seminar, an event he has attended since he was 18 years old. Besides his impeccable vocals, what most impressed me was that he unabashedly sang/supported traditional-sounding country music regardless of what was being played on the radio.
He concurred, “It’s not country. It’s just pop. County music isn’t for the cool people, it’s for real people.”
I met him again in 2024 when the independent artist was promoting the re-release of "Never Again, One More Time," a dance tune that Randy Rogers partnered with him on. It’s the perfect song for boot scootin’ your way around Texas and other rowdy venues that welcome the throwback music.
His single “Leave Your Leaving Behind” is further proof that Montgomery embraces the traditional country sound of the 1990s. But it was when his publicist sent me his latest single, “It’s What I Am,” that I remembered I was long past due on featuring the country crooner.
Besides the fiddle sawing and the pedal guitar sliding, Montgomery sings the song with the utmost conviction as you know he is telling the truth. “It’s What I Am” was originally featured on one of his dad’s records in 1995 but it wasn’t a huge hit at the time.
“It just needed another chance. And if anybody's going to do it, it might as well be me,” he asserted. His delivery of the dance tune is spot on and just what is needed in today’s country music landscape.
However, it was his campaign on TikTok to “Make Country Ballads Great Again,” that amused me. If there was ever a voice that was born to sing country ballads, it’s Montgomery’s. He gives Sammy Kershaw a run for his money on his cover of “Love of My Life.” Also, now that he is dating Tigir Lily Gold’s Krista Slaubaugh, he has further inspiration to sing the old love songs.
He stated, “I know they don’t have the energy of upbeat songs, but if I could sing ballads all day, I would. But it would make for a pretty boring concert for some people.”
Montgomery’s voice is so memorable and genuine, that he sounds just as good singing on an acoustic set as he does with a full band. Singing is in his genes, and it comes effortlessly to him. He has one of my favorite male voices in country music, and I can’t wait to see what he brings us next.
You are going to want to see Walker Montgomery in person, so keep up with his touring schedule to see if he is playing near you. Also, be sure to follow him on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok, and all streaming platforms.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Facebook, Instagram, and X.