Polk County’s impact felt on Country Music’s present and future thanks to rising stars

Dalton Dover. Isabella Hartline. Sam Hunt. Isaac Streetman.

All names who got their start locally and have risen in the ranks of country music stardom over the past decade, and a clear sign that Polk County is making its presence known in Nashville and beyond in country music.

Polk Today has covered the sounds of many local artists over the past few years, but here are some of the figures who have made their mark on music and culture over the past decade in one way or another.

Let Dalton come over

Dalton Dover is on the rise over the past couple of years, and is on a national tour currently (and played just this Friday in Nashville as part of the CMA Fest.) His latest hit “Bury Me In This Bar” is available on streaming platforms now, and follows on a release of cover songs “that has come out in recent “Take Me Home” that is a tribute to some of his favorites from across country music.

The Aragon native’s career began humbly on the local level, but he got into the limelight on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2019 as part of Team Blake.

Dover’s career has since grown by leaps and bounds. He was signed in 2022 to UMG Nashville, and he’s on a tour that is taking him around the country this summer and will be back toward the area in September at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds for a show featuring several hometown favorites for Rome River Jam 2024.

His roots in Polk County remain strong, and in 2023 he returned home to play the Homespun festival, a big crowd locally compared to many of the festivals and events he’s played in the past in Cedartown and Rockmart.

On the Hunt for hits

Sam Hunt has been a shining star in Cedartown for many years, starting with his time playing football and growing brighter as he rose in the hearts of country music fans in 2014 with his breakout album “Montevallo.”

Hunt followed up the success with singles in 2015 and 2018, a 2020 release of “Southside” and additional new music over the past two years. The results have been nothing but stellar for Hunt: the multi-Grammy nominated, multi-platinum hit maker has continued to show his talents are still growing.

He’s been back on the road nationally this summer and is joining Dalton Dover on stage in September for the Rome River Jam. The two will be playing several shows on tour in August and September together.

Hunt’s latest EP “Locked Up” released in March.

Rising star

Isabella Hartline isn’t a name that everyone in country music knows, but will one day as she works to increase the reach of her singles to fans near and far.

Hartline kicked off her career here in Cedartown as a middle school student hoping to inspire folks during the pandemic with the online release of “Love’s Still Here.”

She’s since grown in life and her career with new singles in the past couple of years. In most recent news, Hartline’s new label Private Label Artists re-released one of her online hit songs “Free” in February.

This past week she played in the CMA Fest, joining Dover in promoting her new work. A new single is expected out later this month for the summer.

A man of the street

One name whose bright light shined on a national stage – twice – has since cemented his status on the local music scene while also serving in the community at-large.

Isaac Streetman got his time in the sun thanks to performances on American Idol as a two-time contestant and got in front of producers the first time when he was just 17.

He returned again in 2019 as Dalton Dover was competing on “The Voice.”

Streetman since settled down some with his family and work, but remains active on local stages. He also serves as a local firefighter at Polk County Fire Rescue.

He is also to be congratulated after a new addition to the family arrived in May as his son Isaac Charles Streetman was born.