RISERS: Drake Milligan Is Bringing Classic Swagger Back

Drake Milligan's appeal is a throwback to a different time, but his success in the modern era is undeniable.

That winning combination of classic cool and modern-day real-world support is why Milligan is one of Taste of Country's RISERS: 2026 Artists to Watch.

Who Is Drake Milligan?

Drake Milligan is a 27-year-old Texas native who's been making major waves in recent years for his combination of country and rock influences.

He cites George Strait and Elvis Presley as main influences, and his resemblance to young Presley landed him a breakout role as Elvis in Sun Records in 2017, followed by a stint on American Idol in 2018.

A third-place run on America's Got Talent in 2022 gave him even more spotlight, and Milligan released his debut album, Dallas/Fort Worth, in September of that year.

What Are Drake Milligan's Top Songs?

Milligan has already scored considerable radio success with songs including "Sounds Like Something I'd Do" and "Honky Tonkin' About," the latter of which featured the Reklaws and reached No. 1 in Canada.

His most recent single is "Tumbleweed."

What Are Drake Milligan's Career Highlights?

In addition to his high-profile TV work, Milligan has received positive coverage from media outlets including Billboard — which named Dallas/Fort Worth one of the Best Country Albums of 2022 — People, American Songwriter, USA Today, Access Hollywood, Taste of Country and more.

He's toured with Blake Shelton, Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan and Cody Johnson, and his highlight performances include The Kelly Clarkson Show, the Grand Ole Opry, Stagecoach and CMA Music Festival.

Milligan has earned more than 270 million career streams online.

What's Next for Drake Milligan in 2026?

Milligan released his sophomore album, Tumbleweed, in November of 2025 via Stoney Creek Records.

The title song is already a Top 10 hit in the U.K., and Milligan will spend much of 2026 on the road promoting the project.

For more information about Drake Milligan and his tour dates, visit his official website.

See the Most Played Country Song from the Year You Were Born

Who had the most played country song during the year you were born? This list is a fascinating time capsule of prevalent trends from every decade in American history. Scroll through to find your birth year and then click to listen. Some of these songs have been lost through the years, many of them for good reason!

Men named Hank dominated early before stars like Freddie Hart, Ronnie Milsap, Willie Nelson Clint Black took over to close the 1980s. More recently it's been Tim Mcgraw, Rodney Atkins, Kane Brown and Morgan Wallen. Did the most-played country song from the year you were born become a favorite of yours later? All info comes from Billboard's country airplay charts.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

Most Popular Country Album From the Year You Were Born

Find out which country singer dominated on this list of the most popular albums from the year you were born or graduated high school.

This list is based on sales date from the Soundscan era (1991 to 2022) and total weeks spent atop Billboard's Hot Country Albums chart (1964-1990).

In 1999, Shania Twain's Come on Over album became the first to top the year-end chart in back-to-back years, but that feat has been done four times since, most recently in 2022. Which country album defined your childhood? Scroll down to find out.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

Source: RISERS: 2026 Artists to Watch — Drake Milligan Is Bringing Classic Swagger Back to Country Music

Categories: Country Music News