Cole Goodwin Is Worth Getting On Your Radar

Reigning Saving Country Music Artist of the Year Zach Top is rewriting what is possible for neotraditionalist performers in today’s country music, no different than what George Strait and Randy Travis did back in the ’80s. And just like Strait and Travis, the most important part might be how he opens doors and inspires other performers, going from one rising star to a full-fledged neotraditionalist movement.

There are already a lot of promising contemporaries to Zach Top, including Jake Worthington, Braxton Keith, and William Beckmann just to name a few. But the next one coming up through the ranks to keep your eye on is Pooler, GA-native Cole Goodwin. Already opening shows for Zach Top, he’s got a similar sound to Zach, is a good guitar player as well, but it’s Cole Goodwin’s songwriting that is garnering attention, and distinguishing him from other neotraditionalist performers.

Earlier this week, Cole Goodwin signed a worldwide publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing for his songs.

“The first time I met Cole, I knew he was something special,” says Courtney Allen of Concord. “He blew me away with his magnetic personality and self-confidence and especially, with the songs he had penned solo. He is proof that traditional country music is alive and well in the next generation of hitmakers and I am thrilled that he has chosen Concord as his publishing home.”

Cole Goodwin grew up in a musical family, with his mom performing in local clubs and honky tonks, as well as a Gospel group with her family. Goodwin says he spent hours upon hours while growing up watching old country artists do their worst like Merle Haggard, George Jones, Keith Whitley, Waylon Jennings, and Mark Chesnutt on YouTube. Hank Williams Jr. was his favorite, and Cole swears he’s seen everything uploaded to YouTube with Bocephus.

This comes through in Cole Goodwin’s music. He released an EP in 2023 called Soon Enough, but it’s really been the succession of his latest singles where Goodwin feels like he’s settled into his voice and style. Whether it’s the more slow, acoustic, and sentimental “When You Get Home,” or his recently-released frenetic song “Fast Track Back,” he’s tapped into that ’90s country goodness, and has those little inflections in his voice to really drive it home.

And as a guy that can write songs by himself, this makes Cole Goodwin even more valuable. As things continue to trend more country, and labels look for their version of Zach Top, Cole Goodwin is sitting in the cat bird’s seat. He opened the show for Zach Top in Colorado where Billy Strings stopped by to sit in, and he’s even been featured on a few Luke Bryan tour stops. But don’t worry, if his sound and story is any indication, little will sway Cole Goodwin from making country that sounds country.

– – – – – – – –

If you enjoyed this article, consider leaving Saving Country Music A TIP.