‘I finally decided to be myself.' Country singer Emily Ann Roberts on her breakout year

Emily Ann Roberts has arrived. The rising country singer rejoices every time she sees fans singing lyrics off her debut album during recent shows. And as evidenced by the millions of streams her songs have amassed, the singer has had a breakout year.

“It's been incredible! I mean, I've never experienced this before,” Roberts told Knox News.

And the Knoxville native is capping off the year on an even bigger upswing. She’s preparing to head out with country superstar Blake Shelton. His "Back to the Honky Tonk" tour, with its bar stools and big hits, is slated to begin in February.

Roberts, 25, said she's thrilled to be touring with Shelton, her mentor on NBC’s “The Voice” over eight years ago. Roberts will open on the 17-date arena tour along with Middle Tennessee native Dustin Lynch.

“It's just incredible to think that Blake was really the first person I ever met in this business, through ‘The Voice,’ and it's so cool to think all these years later, he is still extending a helping hand to an artist like me,” Roberts said. “It shows his character so much.”

An arena tour is a first for the singer-songwriter, and the opportunity comes on the heels of a spectacular year. Her debut album, “Can’t Hide Country,” was released in September, her music has earned over 35 million cumulative streams, she helped kick off 2023 CMA Fest week and she celebrated her album release in Knoxville with a sold-out show at the Bijou Theatre.

“I'm just thankful to finally see the fruit of all the seeds I've been sowing for all these years,” she said.

The reintroduction of Emily Ann Roberts

“Can’t Hide Country,” a retro-country and bluegrass album with contemporary songwriting, according to Billboard, has spun off the singles “He Set Her Off,” “Chickens” and “Infinity.”

That part isn't new. Roberts has released music since nabbing the runner-up position on “The Voice" in 2015. But this is her first full-length album, and it's finding success on Spotify and Apple Music.

“This was my first introduction to the world to say, 'I’m Emily Ann Roberts and this is what I have to bring to the table,'” she said.

Roberts has been blown away by the critical response, which has drawn comparisons to Miranda Lambert, The Chicks and Lee Ann Womack. The 13-track project was produced by Trent Willmon and features legends Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs.

She's been on a steady pace for many years to reach this point. Then, something in her just ... changed.

“(2023 is) the year that I finally decided to be myself, completely,” Roberts said. “For a long time, I tried to fit the mold that folks in Nashville told me I needed to fit in order to be successful. And I have learned that success is so different for everyone.”

That authenticity is resonating with longtime fans and new listeners.

She brushed off pressure to play an album release show in Nashville, the center of the country universe, where she's been based since 2016. But only one spot felt right, and that was her hometown.

It paid off. Nearly 800 fans from across the country showed up at the Bijou to support “Can’t Hide Country.”

“It was a night I will never, ever forget,” Roberts said. “When I think about my album coming out through the years, I know that my mind will always go to that hometown show.”

There’s no place like Knoxville

Roberts loves being grounded by her trips back home. A quick visit in November was just what she needed.

“It's my home and it always settles me and fills up my cup,” she said. “I just hope that I always make East Tennessee proud and that I represent them well because, man, they have loved on me and made me who I am.”

It doesn't hurt that East Tennessee is full of legends she hopes to make proud. Dolly Parton and Kenny Chesney and contemporaries Morgan Wallen and Kelsea Ballerini all have inspired Roberts to pursue her county music dream, and she wants to pay it forward.

“I just hope that wherever the Lord takes my career, that I'm able to inspire other up-and-comers just like me from East Tennessee or wherever they're from,” Roberts added.

Yeehaw Mee-maw gives back

In that spirit, Roberts has partnered with The Salvation Army to launch a virtual Red Kettle to help provide Christmas gifts, food, shelter, and rent and utility assistance to millions during the holiday season.

“My mama and daddy always raised me to know that you don't have to do something huge to make a big impact in people's lives. All you have to do is do what you can with what you have,” she said.

Those who donate to Roberts’ Red Kettle are automatically entered for a chance to win one of the singer’s hand-crocheted blankets.

“I'm so passionate about the work that Salvation Army does and I'm honored to get to partner with them, and then somebody will win a cozy little blanket for their home. So, it's a win-win.”

A few holiday seasons ago, Roberts got a ball of yarn and a hook hoping to gift her family and friends with blankets. It turned out to be much harder than she anticipated, but the hobby has become a blessing, allowing a creative outlet when she needs to turn off the music.

“I call myself ‘Yeehaw Mee-maw’ because I'm one-part yeehaw, one-part mee-maw. Because I'm into the old stuff, but I'm only 25 years old,” Roberts joked. “I'm trying to encourage my generation to get back into these skills that we've lost over the years.”

Roberts often showcases her crotchet pieces on social media. Fans have even shown up to her concerts wearing their own crocheted recreations.

If you’d like an Emily Ann original, you can donate to Roberts’ Virtual Red Kettle at give.salvationarmyusa.org/campaign/the-salvation-army/c517804, through emilyannroberts.com and through her social media platforms until Dec. 31.

What's next for Emily Ann Roberts?

The high the 25-year-old is riding from her album release will continue into the new year. She’s most excited to share her music with audiences across North America on Shelton’s tour.

The singer and her husband Chris Sasser are documenting how they're transforming their first house into a home on a budget. The high school sweethearts bought the Nashville fixer-upper in 2022 and post videos on YouTube and social media of their progress.

“I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon. I'm just getting started and so it's gonna be a jam-packed and fun 2024," she said.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Emily Ann Roberts celebrates debut album and Blake Shelton tour