Tag: Corey Kent

Corey Kent on the Song That Got Him Sent to the Principal’s Office

September 17, 2026

Corey Kent’s sound brings together his Oklahoma roots with country soul and a rocker’s edge. Earlier this month, he brought that mix to Bloomington, Indiana, for the latest iteration of Spotify Homegrown Live, presented by Hilton, ahead of the release of his new album Heartland Rock and Roll, out September 25.

It was the first sponsored live event for homegrown, Spotify’s editorial playlist spotlighting the next wave of country music. Fans gathered on the Graduate Hotel rooftop at Indiana University for an intimate experience featuring an acoustic performance from Corey, a live DJ, and panoramic views as Homegrown Live kicked off college football weekend in true Hoosier fashion.

For the Record invited Corey to take our first-ever Spotify Questionnaire: a look at the songs and stories that make an artist who they are. From a preschool run-in over Garth Brooks to his favorite podcasts, here’s how Corey is listening.

What’s the name of your daylist right now?

My daylist right now is “vapor soul indie surf Thursday afternoon.” My most recent playlist is “90s throwback.” It’s got Sugar Ray, Semisonic, Macy Gray, Uncle Kracker, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, and Lenny Kravitz.

What’s the first song you remember loving?

I remember getting sent to the principal’s office and my mom having to come up to the school because I was singing “Two Pina Coladas” by Garth Brooks at my Christian preschool. Man, I love that song.

Who’s the best artist you’ve discovered recently?

I would probably say ROLE MODEL. “High Hopes 3000” was the last song I listened to.

What’s the last song you sent to a friend, and why?

I sent my bass player “Fly” and “Someday” by Sugar Ray. I was just like, “These could be fun covers to throw into the set.” We love that style of rock.

What album takes you back to a specific place or moment more than any other?

That’s an easy one for me. Come Around Sundown by Kings of Leon takes me right back to this little pond where we used to build fires and sit around until the super early hours of the morning. We’d be fishing out there and always listening to that record.

Is there such a thing as a guilty musical pleasure? If so, what’s yours?

I think so. Mine is U.K. rap. I think their accents are so dope. I also love lo-fi instrumentals. That’s what I listen to whenever I’m trying to get some work done and just need to zen out, or even when I’m working out.

If you could swap music libraries with anyone for a day, who would it be?

That’s a tough one. If it was a playlist, I’d say my producer and my good friend Austin Goodloe. He’s always putting me on stuff I’ve never heard before, so I feel like his musical library would be super interesting. If it was an artist and I could swap all of my songs for all of their songs… I’m going to go with Chris Stapleton. I feel like a lot of his songs would be really fun to sing, and obviously they’re incredible.

What’s your go-to podcast when you’re running errands or doing chores?

The Joe Rogan Experience is always a go-to. I am pretty selective about what guests I listen to because I’m more interested in the historical experts and the wonders of the world, or just crazy undiscovered mysteries about ancient civilizations. I listen to another called the Intentional Fatherhood podcast, which I’ve found super helpful in being a husband and a father. And The Daily Stoic.

Who would you want to narrate the audiobook version of your memoir?

Close race between Morgan Freeman, just because his voice is epic, or Matthew McConaughey. I think that everything McConaughey says sounds interesting and my story is pretty dynamic. There are some highs and some lows, so I think he’d do a great job narrating it.

Spotify House Celebrates Five Years at CMA Fest 2024 With a Full Slate of Live Performances

June 3, 2024

Spotify House is returning to CMA Fest for a fifth year, bringing back our marquee country music showcase June 6-8. Once again, we’re taking over Nashville’s beloved Ole Red venue, welcoming fans to enjoy three unforgettable days of nonstop country music and special surprises.

Since 2018, we’ve brought our country playlists to life through Spotify House, creating the best destination to hear the different sounds and styles of country at CMA Fest. The 2024 Mainstage lineup will include many of today’s top country stars and standout rising artists, including Ashley McBryde, Avery Anna, BRELAND, Brett Young, Brian Kelley, Cole Swindell, Corey Kent, Danielle Bradbery, Dustin Lynch, Dylan Gossett, Ella Langley, Graham Barham, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Koe Wetzel, Lady A, Lauren Watkins, Lily Rose, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Mackenzie Carpenter, Mason Ramsey, Matt Schuster, Michael Warren, Mickey Guyton, Midland, Mitchell Tenpenny, Old Dominion, Owen Riegling, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Russell Dickerson, Sam Barber, Tucker Wetmore, and Tyler Hubbard, with more to be added!

Spotify House will also welcome Lily Rose and Cassie DiLaura to serve as hosts for all three days.

“It’s hard to believe that we are about to celebrate our fifth year bringing Spotify House to CMA Fest in June,” said Jackie Augustus, Lead, Country & Folk, Artist Partnerships at Spotify. “Since we first started hosting this event in 2018, Spotify House has become a beloved part of our year-round support and dedication to all things country music. We feel so privileged to have been able to present the many incredible artists who have graced our stages, and we are excited to once again bring our playlists to life and showcase some of the best and brightest in country music today.”

Over the last five years, country’s popularity on Spotify has grown immensely, with a nearly 110% increase in U.S. streams during that time. But that’s not all:

Spotify’s Hot Country playlist has seen over an 80% increase in streams in the last five years.
In the last five years, over 193,700,000 user-generated “country” music playlists have been created on Spotify.
July is the top-streamed country music month on Spotify over the last five years.
Spotify’s Hot Country playlist is ranked in Top 10 most-listened-to playlists on Spotify, globally.
In 2023, Spotify paid out more to country music artists than any other year previous. Spotify continues to set that record amount year over year.

We’ve put a spotlight on country’s most dynamic new faces over the past five years at Spotify House, and this year’s lineup will keep the tradition going with a new wave of artists who have ignited the country scene in 2024:

Rising country singer-songwriter Wyatt Flores will step on the mainstage for the first time after debuting at Fresh Finds Rooftop last year.
Country/hip-hop/R&B artist Shaboozey, whose guest appearances on Beyonce’s COWBOY CARTER catapulted his breakout anthem, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” to the top of the country charts.
Soulful country singer-songwriter Tanner Adell, whose featured vocals on the COWBOY CARTER track “BLACKBIIRD” have firmly established her as one of Nashville’s most in-demand young singers.
Dasha, who has emerged as one of country’s hottest new stars following the massive success of her viral hit “Austin.”

We’re also partnering with Meta throughout the event to bring an exclusive Instagram Reels experience to Spotify House. Director The Tommy B will be capturing content that you can find on featured artists’ Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Spotify House will be open to the public each day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis. And fans can click here to find the full schedule.

Four Days of Country Music at Spotify House During CMA Fest 2022

June 15, 2022

This past weekend, CMA Fest returned to Nashville for the first time since 2019 to celebrate all things country music. Top country stars and emerging artists alike came together at Spotify House to perform and enjoy time in an intimate setting with their fans. Spotify House was located in the unmatched Blake Shelton and Opry Entertainment Group’s Ole Red. With four days of performances across two stages, there was something for everyone in the crowd.

Spotify partnered with Meta throughout the event to bring an exclusive Instagram Reels experience to Spotify House, capturing content with director The Tommy B for artists’ Instagram and Facebook. Adding to the experience for fans were QR codes from Digital Seat Media, which helped attendees receive real-time event updates.

Also on the ground was our team behind Spotify: Mic Check, which had the opportunity to speak to several returning CMA Fest performers and newcomers alike. The episode featured R&B-inspired country artist Tiera Kennedy, whose song “Found It In You” recently hit 20 million streams after being featured on Spotify’s Hot Country playlist.

“I remember when I first moved to Nashville, wanting so badly to be on all those playlists. To see my music on all those playlists is really cool and it feels really special.”

Meghan Patrick, who performed at CMA Fest again this year, was also thrilled to be back onstage. “I’ve always looked at CMA Fest as a huge milestone and a huge opportunity to be part of. Every year it feels like I get a few more opportunities to play and show my music and play some different stages. Every year it’s always super exciting and a great opportunity to have some great exposure to a lot of fans in a short amount of time.”

Check out the episode, which also features Erin Kinsey and Brett Eldredge, below.

Read on for a little more from each day of CMA Fest.

Day 1: Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Ashley McBryde, and more

Spotify House got off to an incredible start with Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Chase Wright, Brantley Gilbert, Ashley McBryde, Dustin Lynch, Dalton Dover, Nate Smith, Ashley Cooke, Kameron Marlowe, Meghan Patrick, and Nikki Lane taking the stage for day one.

Superstar Darius Rucker kicked off with a high-energy opening set, performing chart-toppers “Alright” and “This” as well as his iconic Hootie & The Blowfish track “Only Wanna Be With You” and fan favorite “Wagon Wheel.”

Hannah Ellis, Dalton Dover, and Nate Smith soon hit the stage for performances of their own tracks as well as famous covers from fellow country artists. They were followed by a full-circle moment for rising country star Chase Wright, who made his Spotify House debut just a few years after he found himself waiting in line to get into the CMA Fest hot spot.

Fans were treated to a surprise performance from Jimmie Allen when he joined Ashley Cooke onstage for their song “Good Goodbye” and a duet of his song “Freedom Was a Highway.” Kameron Marlowe dazzled the crowd, as did Meghan Patrick, who serenaded fans with “Heart On My Glass,” accompanying herself on the harmonica. As the sun went down, Brett Eldredge performed two tracks from his upcoming album Songs About You, including the album’s title track and latest single, “I Feel Fine.” This year, we also hosted our Fresh Finds Rooftop for the first time. The rooftop stage featured emerging artists Abby Anderson, Chris Ruediger, Taylor Edwards, Maggie Baugh, Tanner Adell, and Jordan Rowe.