From a chance stage encounter to country music stardom, the journey of Corey Kent
In short: Born in Bixby, Oklahoma, Corey Kent spent his youth touring with a Western Swing band before nearly abandoning music entirely. A spontaneous invitation to join Willie Nelson on stage reignited his passion, eventually leading him to Nashville, a major label bidding war, and a massive Billboard chart-topping breakthrough hit.
Corey Kent White, known professionally as Corey Kent, began his musical education early. By age 11, he was already a seasoned road musician, spending five years touring with a working-class Western Swing group. Despite this early exposure, the transition to a solo career proved difficult. After moving to Tennessee at 17 and securing a publishing deal, he faced a significant setback when the agreement fell through, prompting a return to Texas just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The turning point in Kent's career arrived through a combination of local persistence and digital momentum. As live music returned, he built a following by playing clubs and supporting established acts like Cody Johnson and Parker McCollum. His breakthrough arrived in 2022 with the single Wild as Her. The track gained immense traction on streaming platforms, amassing over 300 million streams within its first year. This viral success triggered a competitive bidding war among Nashville labels, culminating in his signing with RCA Records Nashville in August 2022.
The subsequent success of Wild as Her was rapid. The song achieved platinum status in March 2023 and climbed to the top position on Country Radio by May 2023. Following this momentum, Kent released his third studio album, Blacktop, on June 2, 2023. This project marked his official major-label debut, further cementing his place in the contemporary country music landscape. His trajectory from a disillusioned teenager to a chart-topping artist highlights the unpredictable nature of the modern music industry, where digital streaming performance can fundamentally reshape an artist's career path in a matter of months.
Kent's story is deeply rooted in his Oklahoma origins, citing Garth Brooks as a primary influence. His resilience, demonstrated by his decision to continue pursuing music after losing his initial publishing deal, remains a defining characteristic of his rise. Today, he continues to build on the success of his major-label debut, with subsequent singles like Something's Gonna Kill Me released in July 2023.
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