‘Blood, sweat, kindness and respect’

Collin White is pictured backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in May of 2024.

Update (April 2026): Collin White was named the 2026 New Artist of the Year, after first being selected as a top 12 nominee. He also performed at the Grand Ole Opry House on April 6 following his win in The Sound of Small Town America competition.

Campbellsville, Kentucky is a small town, but it’s where inspirational country music artist Collin White’s big dreams began. Surrounded by the sounds of classic country and southern gospel from an early age, White soon discovered that music was more than just a hobby.

“I’ve always grown up here in Campbellsville. This has been my hometown for 23 years now, and, although I didn’t know it at the time, I was always surrounded by country and inspirational music,” White said. “I grew up spending a lot of time with my grandparents while both of my parents were at work. They would always have their music playing, which often consisted of the classics.”

Even as a young performer, White’s music has been deeply tied to his faith in many ways.

“My music is a gift from God,” White said. “I try to find that message of how it would connect to somebody that may not go to church, that may not really connect with contemporary Christian music or the hymns but can still convey that message of Jesus’s love.”

Dr. Jamie Lawrence, a longtime friend and musician, first noticed White’s dedication and talent in the church setting.

“We asked Collin to be part of the youth service, and we basically rearranged in that moment, ‘How Great Thou Art,’ with a more contemporary take on the hymn, which became quite the deal,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence said White’s passion for music quickly became clear to him.

“We were asked to sing a few more times around town for some different things and found out he had a love for country music,” Lawrence said. “We put two and two together, and we had a lot of common friends in country music. But he wanted to do something bigger with it.”

When Lawrence introduced White to inspirational country music artist Steve Bridgmon, it marked a turning point.

“Steve had helped a couple of other artists along the way. When he sees talent, he’s got a big heart for people, and he wants to help them,” Lawrence said. “And so, I called Steve that night. That was the start of their relationship of building that bridge, and at that point, I just became a cheerleader. I just got to step back and say, ‘you guys got this.’”

Bridgmon, a veteran in the genre, was impressed by White’s natural ability.

“Collin first came to see me in concert when I was performing in central Kentucky a few years ago. I had him play me a song and we ended up going out for lunch afterwards,” Bridgmon said. “I think Collin’s passion for great music and his natural talent was something that stood out to me. He has an ear for finding really good songs as well, which is something that has always been part of my career: finding great songs is vital.”

Bridgmon said White quickly developed into a storyteller, both on stage and in the studio.

“I can see growth in Collin, particularly when it comes to connecting to an audience,” Bridgmon said. “This isn’t something just any artist can do. Our last tour, several others in the audience approached me and mentioned how far Collin had come. Collin is becoming more of a storyteller when it comes to his music. This is important, especially in delivering a great performance. As a new artist in this genre, radio and listeners are always looking for something fresh and Collin has delivered that to them.”

White’s career milestones reflect his hard work and talent. His first single, “Still Standing,” released in September of 2022, made an immediate impact.

“We woke up that morning, and it was No. 18 on the iTunes chart, which was crazy,” White said. “Steve later told an audience it was the highest debuting charted song in inspirational country music in the history of the genre.”

His EP, “Through the Noise,” followed, and White called the title track his favorite.

“I love it, and I just think it has a wonderful message,” White said.

Additionally, performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage was a milestone White will never forget.

“It took things to a whole new level,” White said. “I had not been used to performing in venues of that size and of that quality. So, it gave me a deeper appreciation for this industry and for the work that artists have to put in in order to get to those stages. It also taught me to never take anything for granted, and to cherish each and every moment.”

As White finishes his master’s in social work this December at Campbellsville University, he reflects on balancing his music career with his education.

“People often ask me, how do I do it? Well, I don’t know. I don’t know how I do it, I guess it’s by God’s grace,” White said. “You really have to use your organizational skills 100 percent. I had to rely on mine heavily. It really prepared me. It was a great test to show me how the real world works.”

White said connecting with his audience remains central to his work.

“I hope that they can form a real connection,” White said. “And I really want to put an emphasis on that word ‘real.’ I want them to know that it is real. Even when listening to my songs, they can still form that connection and say, you know, this is something that I really, really resonate with. This is something that speaks to me.”

Looking ahead, White hopes to release a full album, sign with a record label and continue performing while advancing his career in inspirational country music.

Fans can follow Collin on social media to keep up with his latest projects and performances. His music, including his EP “Through the Noise” and debut single “Still Standing,” is available on all major streaming platforms. Just search “Collin White” to listen, stream and share.