It’s a great year so far in country music.

The biggest stars have had big hits. Some new superstars have emerged with some great new songs. A few artists that are quickly becoming super stars are Luke Bryan and Jake Owen. These guys are on a roll.

Blake Shelton is bringing country music into a greater spotlight with his role as judge on The Voice. Taylor Swift is doing amazing things in a variety of different arenas including putting a couple great tracks on the soundtrack for The Hunger Games.

Country music is on a roll and things are looking good for the future too.

Here are five quick profiles on tomorrow’s stars in country music.

New Country Spotlight: April 2012

These five artists are showing promise with their first singles. It’s impressive to see any new artist crack the charts for the first time. Breaking into the game for the first time is not easy. It takes years of honing skills and finding great songs. It also takes a little luck to find the right break.

Here’s to hoping these five artists are able to sustain their early success.

Kip Moore

If you follow closely along with country music you kind of get this feeling when an artist is right on the brink of becoming something special. I think people are starting to get that feeling regarding Kip Moore.

Kip’s first single didn’t really become a big hit, but Mary Was The Marrying Kind was a great song and it really introduced Kip to the radio folks. The song didn’t make it high on the charts, but it set the stage for what become a huge hit.

Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck is not in the top fifteen on the country singles charts and it appears like it will be in the top ten soon. Heck, this one could be in the top 3 in a few weeks. Kip has this coolness about his style. The music is confident and production is new and interesting. The sound is a combination of hard working country roots with a little rock and pop mixed. The formula makes Kip one of the most exciting artists in country right now.

If you’re feeling like you need a guy to sing about what you’re going through as someone that is about 30 or 40 years old that works a blue collar job and likes enjoying the weekends, this guy is your kind of artist.

Thomas Rhett

After getting a cut on Jason Aldean’s huge record, Thomas Rhett cut a record deal. He spent the fall out on tour with another rising star, Brantley Gilbert, and now TR has his first single on the charts and it’s already in the top 40.

Something To Do With My Hands is a fun track. It’s got a quick moving pace. It’s fun and light. TR doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously when he’s singing the track and it’s a great first single.

This year could be big for Thomas Rhett. He seems to be part of a movement in country music that’s bringing just a little hip hop influence and it’s pretty cool. I think he’ll have at least one if not two hit singles by the end of this year and we might look back on this time as the foundation for a great career in country music.

Jana Kramer

I don’t know if actresses typically make the jump from acting to country music. I know it’s happened in the other direction with Faith Hill and Taylor Swift and I guess Carrie Underwood as well.

We’ll see if Jana Kramer can be one of the only ones to move the other way .She already has a top 30 hit on her hands with her first official single release, Why Ya Wanna.

Jana’s voice has this pure, girl next door sound, which is strage if you’ve seen her character on One Tree Hill. Jana reminds me of Deana Carter a little bit, but it’s too early to really make that comparison.

Why Ya Wanna is catchy. It’s a great song about a topic a lot of young people can relate to. Heck, I think a lot of us at any age can feel this way about someone that is not good for us, but we can’t keep ourselves away from them.

This girl could be something big in the next couple years.

Dustin Lynch

I’m almost kind of embarrassed for how long it took me to come around to Dustin Lynch’s debut single, Cowboys & Angels. The song is awesome. It’s traditional country and exactly the kind of song I like.

When I first hear the song, even today, it reminds me of Pat Green’s voice. Pat was anything, but a cowboy hat wearing country artist, but he did have a bit of a traditional sound. Dustin does as well and it’s pretty cool to hear this kind of country on the radio right now.

The song is already high on the charts and I think people are really coming around to this kind of country. Dustin is someone I’m really pulling for and I think he could have a long career. He’s no George Strait quite yet, but I’m excited about what his next few singles will bring.

Eden’s Edge

Eden’s Edge had their first big hit last year. The song, Amen, was completely different than anything else out on radio last year. It became a big top twenty hit and stayed on the charts for a lot of weeks. The band is unique. They have an interesting dynamic and I think it will serve them well in the long run.

The trio seems to have this rough edge to their music. They have something to say and they’re going to make sure you’re listening to what they have to say. I think it will serve them well as they move into their second single to really keep going with what’s working.

The individuals in the band can really sing and play. There is obvious talent here and it comes across in their music.

Changes come to country music when something different comes along. I think people like what Eden’s Edge is doing and they might be leading a little change in direction for the music.