Drake Milligan

Over the last several decades, country music has become more and more of a fluid genre. Sometimes creeping into pop or rock, country music has also been finding its way into the R&B, rap and bluegrass spaces, while other times it sounds like something else entirely.

While the genre can't be put into a box or be told what to be, there are several artists who have committed themselves to maintaining the traditional sounds and styles of the genre's origin.

One of the artists on that path is Drake Milligan.

Steeped in classic country music and the pulsing energy of vintage rock 'n' roll, Milligan was raised to the soundtracks of both genres and cites the Kings of both – George Strait and Elvis Presley – as his musical heroes.

Fittingly enough, the Texas native got his start in entertainment as an Elvis impersonator, first locally then eventually rising to portraying the beloved Memphis singer on the CMT series Sun Records in 2017. After landing his big break, Milligan packed his bags and headed for Nashville to chase his own neon-tinged dreams.

After competing on American Idol and ultimately dropping out in 2018, Milligan dug his heels into the Nashville songwriting community and began to hone his own skills and sound, which melds together old school sensibility with a modern day flair.

Landing a recording contract with BBR Music Group, he issued his self-titled debut EP in July of 2021, which included his breakthrough hit single, 'Sounds Like Something I'd Do' – the same song that earned Milligan his first CMT Music Award nomination for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year.

Taking the track to season 17 of America's Got Talent, the budding entertainer made it all the way to the final three on the talent competition and released his debut album, Dallas/Fort Worth shortly thereafter.

Bringing his own unique cocktail of traditional country with a rock ‘n’ roll chaser, Milligan bridges the gap between the classic roots of the genre’s past with the forward-facing edge of its future.