Timeless talent
Colton Bowlin is making his mark
Colton Bowlin may still be a fresh face in Kentucky’s music scene, but his voice has a timeless tone that feels familiar, even upon first listen.
That sentimental nature is more evident than ever on the Albany native’s album Grandpa’s Mill, which honors the legacy of his grandfather who died in 2025 and the feelings he experienced afterward. The album is produced by Dave Ferguson, who has also worked with Kentuckians Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson.
“Going all in with music has changed my life and taught me that the only thing holding me back from chasing after my dreams was myself,” says Bowlin, a consumer-member of South Kentucky RECC. “It’s always possible to make something out of nothing with a little bit of elbow grease and want to, no matter who you are.”
Released earlier this year, his album evokes classic country singers like Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard with vibrant vocals and even more colorful storytelling.
Nowhere on the record is Bowlin’s love for his southeast Kentucky home more prevalent than on songs like Clinton County—about how appreciation for a person’s roots seems to grow with time away—and Grandpa’s Mill.
The latter sees the singer recounting memories made and lessons learned as a child wandering around his grandpa’s feed mill and how they’ve shaped him into the man he is today. It also acknowledges how his grandfather’s death was anything but a goodbye as he closes by singing “Paw, save me a seat and someday I’ll see you again.”
That heartfelt passion was evident during a June appearance at Laurel Cove Music Festival in Pineville, where hundreds of fans gathered to hear his 45-minute set.
The 21-year-old’s talent has been recognized by more than just folks within the commonwealth. He’s also caught the attention of country power players like Hank Williams Jr., Ashley McBryde, Diamond Rio and Benjamin Tod, each of whom has tapped the crooner to open for them over the past year. That support, along with the way fans have flocked to his songs, have shown Bowlin what he’s capable of when he puts all his energy into it.
Bowlin is opening for singer-songwriter Paul Cauthen on September 11 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. He has other shows scheduled in the coming months from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Hamburg, Germany. For more information, visit ColtonBowlin.com.
Bowlin’s fall schedule includes appearances in the U.S. and overseas. In November, he will join singer Waylon Wyatt as a guest on the Dustpiles World Tour in Europe. Photo: Sommer Daniel
