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BIO
Waylon Hanel is a 24-year-old self-taught traditional country singer-songwriter from Millington, Michigan known for his textured vocals, vivid storytelling, and straight-ahead delivery. Named after country legend Waylon Jennings, Hanel blends outlaw country, blues, and southern rock into a vintage yet contemporary sound.
Since releasing his debut EP in 2022, Hanel has charted on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Radio Chart with “New Old Outlaws (Rewind)” and “Lighten That Load,” opened for artists including Trace Adkins, Travis Tritt, Ashley McBryde, and Lonestar, and won the 2025 Josie Music Award for Male Country Artist of the Year. He will release a new EP with producer Kenny Royster in 2026.
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT . . .
"Waylon Hanel is worth all the praises; his music is pure, genuine country. Remember his name. Waylon Hanel will soon be on the top of the charts.”
- Georges Carrier
(Host / Texas Highway Radio, France)
“With an old school, outlaw sound that’s organic, and highly missed in today’s country format, Waylon is a young artist to watch! He reminds me of Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and David Alan Coe.”
- Karl Shoemark
(Host / “Boot Stompin’ Country”/UKCountryradio.com)
"With a name like Waylon, it has to be good! ….and Waylon Hanel lives up to the name!"
- Jeff Meek
(Music Director / Mountain Top Media LLC)
“Waylon is a great new talent with a throwback in his vocals and delivery that is both unique and nostalgic."
- Kolt Barber
(Producer, "New Old Outlaws Rewind")
"I've been on the radio for more than 25 years. I've had the pleasure to interview with artists such as Merle, Waylon, Willie, Johnny Cash, and everyone in between. I'm old-school outlaw. This is one of the best songs I have heard in a long time... It's grand to hear this kind of sound again on radio!"
- Tyler Storey
(105.9 KRAZy Country)
“Waylon is what country music needs today. His voice is pure, his words are clear, and his life experiences bring deep emotion.”
- Dan Richards
("Sunday Night Flashback" WKCQ-FM)
“The first time I heard Waylon Hanel, I could imagine a country legend (named Waylon) smiling down and pleased to know there is a new breed of country artist who remembers our roots. Looking forward to following this new outlaw’s country music journey.”
- Mike Thomas
(KFAV/KWRE)
“Waylon is a genuine artist. His appreciation for older Outlaw music is what motivated the direction of the songs written for the NEW OLD OUTLAWS recording project.”
- Bernie Nelson
(NEW OLD OUTLAWS producer and co-writer)
