Her rise has now carried her onto some of country music’s biggest stages — and into the conversation surrounding the genre’s next generation of stars.

From The Voice to Nashville

Roberts first reached a national audience as a teenager on Season 9 of The Voice, where she competed on Blake Shelton’s team and ultimately finished as runner-up.

Rather than rushing to capitalize on that television exposure, Roberts spent the years that followed developing her songwriting, live show and musical identity.

That patience helped shape an artist who remained committed to traditional country even during periods when much of Nashville leaned toward a more pop-influenced sound.

Country Music at the Core

Roberts frequently points to artists including Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless and Ricky Skaggs among her early influences.

Fiddle, steel guitar, acoustic instrumentation and Appalachian musical traditions remain central to her sound, giving her Music a connection to classic country while still allowing it to feel current.

Her 2023 debut album, Can't Hide Country, helped establish that identity and introduced a wider audience to Roberts as more than a television-show discovery.

A New Chapter

After signing with RECORDS/Sony Music Nashville in 2025, Roberts continued building momentum through new Music , touring and a rapidly expanding fanbase.

Her recent releases have included the Memory Lane EP along with songs such as “Lonely Boy,” “Laundry” and “Jack & Jill Daniel’s.”

Her next project, the five-song EP Thread, continues leaning into the traditional country and bluegrass influences that have become central to her musical identity.

CMA Recognition

In 2026, Roberts earned her first CMA Awards nomination as one of five artists competing for New Artist of the Year.

The nomination places her alongside Avery Anna, Carter Faith, Tucker Wetmore and Stephen Wilson Jr. in one of the most closely watched emerging-artist categories in Country Music .

She has also earned an ACM New Artist nomination and recognition through programs including Opry NextStage and MusicRow’s Next Big Thing Artists Class of 2026.

Built for the Stage

Roberts’ growing career has included arena and international touring alongside artists such as Thomas Rhett and Cody Johnson.

That touring exposure has helped introduce her traditional-country sound to increasingly large audiences while strengthening a fanbase that stretches across generations.

Her live performances showcase one of the qualities that has defined her career from the beginning: a powerful voice capable of moving comfortably between bluegrass-influenced country, emotional ballads and high-energy traditional country songs.

More Than the Music

Roberts has also built a distinctive connection with fans through the personality she calls her “Yeehaw Meemaw” side — sharing her love of gardening, baking, crocheting, canning and other traditional homemaking skills.

That combination of Music , personality and authenticity has helped make her increasingly recognizable beyond the songs themselves.

Why CRE Is Watching

Emily Ann Roberts represents an increasingly important lane in modern Country Music : an artist who does not have to abandon traditional influences to connect with younger audiences.

Her growing touring profile, major-label backing, industry recognition and 2026 CMA New Artist of the Year nomination all point toward an artist entering an important stage of her career.

For Country Road Entertainment , Emily Ann Roberts is firmly among the artists worth watching as country music’s next generation takes shape.