Boots and Hearts 2026 Day 3 Burl’s Creek • Sunday Day 3 delivered one of the most diverse and emotionally charged days of the festival, with stacked performances across the Front Porch, Barn, and Main Stage. Sunday felt like the perfect blend of rising talent, fan‑favourite artists, and iconic closers.
SiriusXM Front Porch — Afternoon Kickoff The Front Porch stage opened just after 3 p.m. with a strong lineup that showcased some of the best emerging voices in country music.
Savannah Jade set the tone for the afternoon with warm vocals and a confident, inviting delivery.
A Breakthrough Boots Debut This was Mitch Zorn’s first time ever playing Boots and Hearts, and he delivered a standout set. He performed “Nowhere Town,” released just two days earlier on Friday, and followed it with “Home,” his most successful song to date. The crowd sang loudly, and Mitch paused mid‑set to say it was unbelievable to see so many people singing his songs back to him. Based on the reception he got, it’s hard to imagine Boots not inviting him back.
Kaitlin Butts — Grit, Heart, and Storytelling Kaitlin Butts brought one of the most distinctive voices of the weekend. Her mix of grit and emotional storytelling resonated deeply with the Front Porch crowd. She played “White River” and “What Else Can She Do,” two songs that highlight her ability to blend vulnerability with strength.
Max McNown delivered one of the most polished sets of the afternoon. He opened with “Love Me Back,” immediately pulling the crowd in. Midway through the set, he launched into a cover of Morgan Wallen’s “Cover Me Up,” sparking one of the loudest singalongs of the day. He closed with “Better Me For You,” ending his set on a high note and leaving fans cheering.
SiriusXM Barn — Wall‑to‑Wall Crowds All Day The Barn stayed packed between Main Stage sets, offering fans intimate performances from both rising artists and established names. Sunday’s lineup included: James Barker Band, Savannah Jade, Mitch Zorn, Madeleine Mae The Barn crowd was shoulder‑to‑shoulder most of the day, especially when James Barker Band made their appearance.
Main Stage — Surprises, Milestones & Massive Reactions
Ashley Cooke opened the Main Stage with a confident, polished set that immediately pulled the crowd in. She debuted a new song from her upcoming project, giving fans an early look at what she’s been working on. A highlight came during “Baby Blues.” Ashley picked a guy out of the crowd, walked to the edge of the stage, sat down beside him, and sang an entire verse directly to him to close out the song. She wrapped up her set with “Your Place.”
Emerging Artist Finals — Jackson Klippenstein vs. Leah Holtom. After Ashley Cooke, both finalists took the stage: Jackson Klippenstein and Leah Holtom Later in the night, Paul McGuire returned to announce the winner: Leah Holtom, who earned the $10,000 prize and a return slot at Boots and Hearts 2027.
A Decade of Boots & Hearts History: James Barker Band delivered one of the most memorable sets of the entire weekend, blending nostalgia, big moments, and fan‑favourite hits. James pointed off to his left and told the crowd that back in 2014, they played their first Boots & Hearts set in the campground—and went on to win the Emerging Artist contest that same year, joking that they “shouldn’t have won because we started the song in the wrong key.” They rolled through a string of their biggest songs, including: “Chills” “Keep It Simple” “After Dark” — their current radio single Then came the emotional moment. A rep from Universal Music Canada walked on stage and announced that “You Didn’t Hear It From Me” had officially gone Gold in Canada. Four label members carried out framed plaques for each band member, and the guys looked genuinely shocked. And then… the surprise guest. James had teased earlier that they might have someone special joining them. Suddenly, Pat Roach — better known as Randy from Trailer Park Boys — walked on stage shirtless, wearing his “nice white pants.” They launched into “Living The Dream” while Randy danced across the stage, sending the crowd into hysterics. They closed their set with “Lawn Chair Lazy.”
Tucker Wetmore — The Breakout Star of 2026 If there was one artist people were buzzing about all weekend, it was Tucker Wetmore. A family near me had driven six hours from Pennsylvania just so their kids could see him, and when Tucker popped up from the center lift, the reaction was the loudest of the entire weekend. His stage presence was magnetic, and his piano work added a level of musicianship that set him apart. Midway through the set, the crowd hit full volume as he rolled through fan favourites like Sunburn, 3,2,1, Wind Up Missin’ You, and Brunette, with the entire field singing every word. Throughout the performance, he repeatedly thanked Canadian fans, saying this was his last Canadian show of the year but hinting strongly that he has something big planned for 2027 — likely a headline tour. His parents watched proudly from the fenced‑in area near the stage as thousands of fans belted his songs back at him. A fun moment came when a few people handed out hats to fans in the front row that read “I Got Wetmore at Boots and Hearts.”
Rascal Flatts — Icons Close Out Boots & Hearts 2026 Rascal Flatts returned to Canada for the first time in six years to close out the festival. Their set was nostalgic and full of hits: “Mayberry” “What Hurts the Most” “My Wish” “Fast Cars and Freedom” One of the funniest moments came when Jay DeMarcus played the opening bars of “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The crowd exploded—so loudly that Jay stopped and joked: “You guys just made more noise for that song than any song we’ve played all night.” He then played “Bless the Broken Road,” getting the massive reaction they were hoping for. They closed the festival with “Life Is a Highway.”
Potential Headliners for Boots and Hearts 2027
Female Headliners (long overdue)
Lainey Wilson
Ella Langley
Returning Heavyweights
Eric Church
Dierks Bentley
Never‑Before Boots Headliners (massive draws)
Kenny Chesney
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
