The Sunset Stage Series returns this week to spotlight one of country music’s most honest rising voices: Hannah Hokit, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter from the Dallas-Fort Worth area who has been building one of the genre’s most personal and purposeful catalogs one song at a time. With 2024’s “CHEAP THINGS” and 2025’s “DRESSED TO KILL” already establishing her as an artist who refuses to play it safe, Hokit enters 2026 as an up-and-coming name with the songwriting depth of someone who has been doing this her whole life. That is because she has. Watch this name for 2027.
From Texas to Nashville: The Hannah Hokit Story
Hannah Hokit released her self-titled EP in 2019 while still making her mark on the Texas country scene, where strong regional shows and word-of-mouth energy built her first real following. Since relocating to Nashville to write and perform full-time, the move has paid dividends. Her songwriting draws comparisons to Miranda Lambert and early Taylor Swift for its emotional specificity, and to Jewel for the quiet, cutting way she frames a line. Hokit draws from classic country, alternative folk, and everywhere in between, and the blend results in music that resists easy categorization while still feeling unmistakably country at its core.
CHEAP THINGS, DRESSED TO KILL and a Catalog in Real Ascent
“CHEAP THINGS,” Hokit’s 2024 single, announced a songwriter willing to sit in emotional discomfort without flinching. The production is spare, the vocal performance raw, and the lyric lands with the precision that only comes from lived experience. “DRESSED TO KILL,” released in 2025, pushed harder with a sharper sonic edge while keeping the emotional honesty intact. Both tracks show an artist who understands the difference between vulnerability as performance and vulnerability as craft. Hokit’s music belongs in the second category. Together, these releases represent a catalog climbing steadily toward a breakthrough, and 2026 is shaping up to be the year her wider audience arrives.
Building a Live Reputation the Right Way
Hannah Hokit has been putting in stage time across Texas and Tennessee throughout 2026, including a well-received free concert at District 121 in McKinney, Texas in April. Her live performances carry the same quality as her recordings: direct, unguarded, and emotionally present in a way that connects across room sizes. Artists who build a live reputation the hard way, one venue at a time, tend to own festival stages when the opportunity comes. The Sunset Stage Series exists to track these artists because their growth is real and because their moment is coming soon.
Why Hannah Hokit Belongs on a Festival Stage
The case for Hannah Hokit at a festival is uncomplicated: she writes songs that stay with you, she performs them like she means every word, and she builds the kind of artist-fan connection that translates from club stages to open-air crowds. Country fans who discover Hokit at a festival become long-term followers. That is exactly the dynamic that makes a great festival lineup, and it is exactly what Sunset Country Fest, the largest country music festival in Central Florida, is built to deliver. Sunset Country Fest 2027 is a country music festival taking place in Apopka, Florida, in the Greater Orlando area, on March 13, 2027. Hannah Hokit is exactly the kind of act that belongs on a festival stage. Watch this name for 2027.
Frequently Asked: Who Is Hannah Hokit and Where Can I Hear Her Music?
Hannah Hokit is a Nashville-based country singer-songwriter originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She released her self-titled EP in 2019 and has released singles including “CHEAP THINGS” (2024) and “DRESSED TO KILL” (2025). Her music is available on Spotify and all major streaming platforms, and her latest news and tour dates are at hannahhokit.com.
Hannah Hokit is one of the most compelling rising artists in country music today, and 2026 is the year her larger audience finds her. The Sunset Stage Series at Sunset Country Fest, the voice of country music in Central Florida, exists to document exactly this kind of trajectory, from Central Florida, for Central Florida and for every country fan who wants to discover great music before the rest of the world catches on. Sunset Country Fest 2027 is coming to Apopka, Florida on March 13, 2027. Mark your calendar and keep following Sunset Country Fest for lineup announcements, ticket info, and all the country music coverage you love.
Be First to Know When the Lineup Drops
Join the Sunset Country Fest insider list. Lineup announcements, ticket pre-sales, and festival news straight to your inbox.
Sources & References
- Hannah Hokit — Official Website
- Hannah Hokit — Spotify Artist Page
- Shoutout DFW — Meet Hannah Hokit, Country Music Singer/Songwriter
- District 121 — Free Country Music Concert With Hannah Hokit, April 25
Is Hannah Hokit performing at country music festivals in 2026?
Hannah Hokit has been performing across Texas and Tennessee in 2026, building her live reputation through club and outdoor shows. For the latest on her tour schedule and festival appearances, check her official website at hannahhokit.com. The Sunset Stage Series at Sunset Country Fest will continue following her progress through 2026 and into 2027.
What kind of music does Hannah Hokit make?
Hannah Hokit makes country music rooted in personal storytelling and emotional honesty. Her sound draws comparisons to Miranda Lambert and early Taylor Swift for its lyrical specificity, with spare production that keeps her voice and words front and center. Her singles “CHEAP THINGS” (2024) and “DRESSED TO KILL” (2025) are the best starting point for new listeners.
When and where is Sunset Country Fest 2027?
Sunset Country Fest 2027 takes place on March 13, 2027, in Apopka, Florida, in the Greater Orlando area. It is the largest country music festival in Central Florida and will feature a full lineup of country artists. Follow sunsetcountryfest.com for lineup announcements and ticket information as they are released.
Disclaimer — Important Notice
The information published in this article is based on publicly available data from official sources, press releases, and music industry publications available at the time of writing. Tour dates, ticket prices, venue details, setlists, album release schedules, award nominations, lineup announcements, and all other details referenced in this article are subject to change at any time without prior notice.
Sunset Country Fest makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information contained herein. All changes, cancellations, rescheduling, postponements, or modifications to any events, releases, tour dates, award results, or announcements referenced in this article are the sole responsibility of the artists, record labels, talent agencies, concert promoters, venues, and any other third parties involved.
Sunset Country Fest shall not be held liable for any decisions, travel arrangements, ticket purchases, or other actions taken by readers based on the information published here. We strongly encourage all readers to verify current details, including dates, venues, ticket availability, and event status, directly through official artist channels, venue box offices, and authorized ticketing platforms before making any plans or purchases.
Last updated: July 7, 2026 · Sunset Country Fest Editorial Team · Contact Us