Sam Williams isn’t just carrying the family torch — he’s bedazzling it, dropping it low, and handing it off to a new generation of country fans who crave authenticity, fearlessness, and a little bit of sparkle.
The rising country artist just released his vibrant, genre-bending new project Act II: COUNTRYSTAR — and trust us, it’s everything. Out now everywhere, the seven-song record is the second chapter of a three-part saga that finds Sam pushing boundaries and proudly owning every side of who he is.
“This album is the climax of the chaos of finding yourself,” he told Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder backstage at CMA Fest 2025 in Nashville last month. “I put so much more of the joyful and dreaming side of me into it and explored my confidence sonically.”
From the futuristic twang of the title track to the genre-hopping swagger of “Fugitive” and the cheeky, campy vibes of “HONKYTONKIN’,” COUNTRYSTAR is pure Sam — bold, brave, and beautifully unpredictable. And as he explained to us at CMA Fest, that unpredictability is the point.
“Being one thing is… I’m just not good at it,” he laughed. “I’m a Gemini — it’s just not natural to me.”
CMA Fest was a turning point for Sam, who performed some of these songs live for the very first time. “I have my big band shows of the music of my new album and it’s a lot different than a lot of my performances from the past,” he said. “I’m definitely stepping into new boots a little bit… going pretty bold.”
Among those standout tracks was “Fugitive,” which Sam called his “favorite record in a long time,” and the much-anticipated “HONKYTONKIN’,” a reimagined tribute to his iconic grandfather Hank Williams, infused with Sam’s signature flavor.
“I’m excited because people are gonna love it or hate it — not that much in between,” he told us with a grin. “And like… let’s go.”
While he didn’t have his “HONKYTONKIN’” dance moves ready just yet — “I was like, girl, what’s up? I don’t know… ball change!” — he did hint there’s more to come once the album was out. “We’ll get there, Juliet,” he teased.
Being the grandson of Hank Williams and son of Hank Jr. comes with a certain level of expectation — but Sam’s flipping the script.
On COUNTRYSTAR, he pulls from that legacy while reshaping what a “country star” can look and sound like today. With help from producers like Nick Bailey (Lana Del Rey, Quavo), Yung Lan (Morgan Wallen, Lil Uzi Vert), and Paul Moak (Dolly Parton, Gwen Stefani), Sam blends tradition with trap, steel guitars with synths, and southern charm with pop charisma.
“’COUNTRYSTAR’ was a bold choice to come out with first,” he admitted. “People were unsure about it at first, but my fans… they know I wouldn’t be doing something if it wasn’t me.”
Even as he branches out, there’s still an emotional throughline across his three-act trilogy — one that started with Act I: Scarlet Lonesome and will conclude in Act III.
“It’s kind of these three different sides of Sam Williams,” he explained. “But I made all of the songs over the same time period, so it’s not like I’m in one spot. I’m kind of a little bit of everywhere. And I think that comes across… there’s a purpose in the chaos.”
For all the genre-hopping and soul-baring, Sam is also here to serve looks. “I just like to dress up and look cute,” he said simply, noting that his outfits for CMA Fest included sparkle pants and cheetah print. (“Not like a full Benson Boone thing,” he joked.)
The visual storytelling — paired with the bold sonics — helps Sam carve out his own lane in a town that doesn’t always make space for difference. And yet, that’s exactly what makes his music resonate.
“Even if I’m not the biggest star right now, and who knows if I want to be… I’m really grateful to get to be in a space that’s mine,” he shared. “Nobody can come to my show and say, ‘Oh, he’s doing what someone else is doing,’ because that’s just not accurate.”
Put on your rhinestone boots, turn the volume up, and let the one-and-only Sam Williams show you what it really means to be a COUNTRYSTAR. But first, make sure to watch our full interview with the star-in-the-making from CMA Fest below.
Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity. For more coverage from CMA Fest 2025, click here.
