For every successful country artist, there's an artist who made them want to be a country artist. The most memorable collaborations are always those where country music veterans have the opportunity to pass on their wisdom, and long-time fans get to live out their dreams of not only meeting their heroes but also creating something great with them once they've "made it big." Here are some of our favorite examples of young country artists who got to collaborate with their idols.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Ella Langley and Miranda Lambert
Ella Langley has been a long-time fan of Miranda Lambert, whom she refers to as her "soul sister in country music." This year at the 2025 ACM Awards, their sisterhood was solidified when the two sang a duet of Miranda Lambert's "Kerosene" onstage, with Langley wearing a recreation of Lambert's outfit from the music video. Langley described the moment as "a 12-year-old kid living her biggest dream ever on stage," and expressed that her idol was very encouraging and welcoming.
Cody Johnson and Reba McEntire
Cody Johnson, whose sound as an artist draws inspiration from traditional country influences like Reba McEntire, had the opportunity to collaborate on a song with McEntire in 2020, exploring life experiences that both share. Before pursuing a music career, McEntire discussed how she used to be an avid barrel racer and had to give it up to pursue her "God-given talent" for making music. Johnson, who also had a career as a professional bull rider, resonated deeply with this and wrote "Dear Rodeo," which McEntire happily agreed to sing on for a duet version.
Hailey Whitters and Trisha Yearwood
Rising star Hailey Whitters has mentioned that one of the most significant influences on her sound is Trisha Yearwood, as she "grew up studying her records" in the 90s. So it's no surprise that it was a full circle moment for Whitters in 2020, when she landed a duet with Yearwood on her deluxe album, Living The Dream. The duet, titled "How Far Can It Go?" is a song that explores the themes of ambitions and big dreams, and perfectly captures the kind of records that Whitters grew up listening to and was inspired by.
Zach Top and Billy Strings
Although Zach Top is known for bringing the 90s country sound back to a radio full of country pop influences, something many of his fans may not know about Top is his background in bluegrass music. Well, if they didn't, they indeed became aware of it after he got to collaborate with bluegrass legend Billy Strings in 2024 on a 3-song EP titled Me And Billy. The EP was initially released exclusively to Apple Music and later made available to all platforms that year. The project not only showcases the artists' musical chemistry but also enables both artists to expand their fan bases to different generations.
Photo By: ACM / Christopher Polk
