When she auditioned a cappella for the 2011 season of American Idol, Lauren Alaina's voice made J.Lo cry. In truth, that emotive pop-country coo is enough to power an entire concert today, but the Georgia singer gives audiences that and more. Backed by a lean and mean band, Alaina moves between upbeat sing-alongs full of Southern shout-outs (from Jason Aldean to John Deere) and heartfelt autobiographical ballads that often end with the artist shedding a few tears herself. It's no wonder that after winning hearts (and second place) on Idol, Alaina went on to tour with the likes of Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride and Luke Bryan. Her music supports its old twang with new tech, and her knack for classic storytelling is infused with modern messages of empowerment, acceptance and self-love.

Lauren Alaina in Concert

It's tempting to imagine Alaina as the small-town girl who appears in her 2011 song "Growing Her Wings," locked in a bedroom and dreaming of bigger things. But in truth, this Rossville, Georgia, native took flight at a very young age. She began singing at three and did so pretty much anywhere she could: churches, restaurants, karaoke, family gatherings and, by age eight, talent shows. She won one after another between trips to perform in Nashville, so it shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone who knew her that, as a teen, Alaina would step away from serving pizza at CiCi's to try out for Idol. Though she was the Season 10 runner-up, she scored big with a Mercury Nashville record deal, then repaid the favor with her first LP, 2011's Wildflower, the best-selling debut from a female country star since 2006. While that set featured big, crisp production, it was fueled by laid-back grooves, driving Southern rock and the occasional banjo strum. Alaina's long-awaited follow-up, 2016's Road Less Traveled, carried that same feeling forward but with more modern flourishes (producer busbee is as much known for his work with Shakira as Maren Morris). The songs also brought new insight into Alaina's personal life, as she sang about family struggles, romantic troubles and, most importantly, making it to the other side.