Shay Mooney kicked off 2023 in an unforgettable way.
The Dan + Shay star and his wife, Hannah Mooney, shared a heartwarming announcement that their third son was born. Baby No. 3, Abram Shay Mooney, made his arrival on January 17, a few weeks before his February due date. The youngest Moony boy joined big brothers Asher James Mooney, who turns 7 in January, and Ames Alexander Mooney, who turns 4 in February.
Mooney said at that time that “grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it,” as he embraced his new family of five.
Jon Pardi became a first-time father shortly after that, and he didn’t waste any time embracing parenthood with a classic dad joke. The world-famous “Mr. Saturday Night” star and his wife, Summer Pardi, welcomed their firstborn child, daughter Presley Fawn Pardi, on February 18, 2023. Presley made her arrival after a “whirlwind 24 hours,” Summer said at the time, adding that “we’re enjoying our family time.”
“Our Baby girl is here and ready to Pardi haha DAD joke!” Pardi laughed as he announced Presley’s birth. Presley was born at 5:05 a.m. on February 18, at 7 lbs and 12oz, and 20.25 inches.
Mooney and Pardi started a list of many country artists to welcome a child during 2023, whether it was Baby No. 1 or a new sibling in an already-started family. Jordan Davis, for example, added another limb to his family tree (as he sings in his award-winning single featuring Luke Bryan, “Buy Dirt”) when Baby No. 3 was born in June. Luke Combs welcomed Baby No. 2 in August, and Russell Dickerson became a father of two in October.
See the list of country artists who welcomed babies in 2023 below (Note: Several artists — including Gabby Barrett, Jessie James Decker and MacKenzie Porter, among others — announced pregnancies in 2023. iHeartCountry's list focuses on babies born within the year).
Frank Ray
Ray and his wife, Emily, introduced their newborn daughter to the world in January. They said in an announcement with PEOPLE that Olivia Ray Gomez was born weighing 8 pounds at 11:22 a.m. on Saturday, January 14, in Nashville, Tennessee. Olivia joined big sisters Mackenzie and Chloe, and Ray said in a sweet announcement: “Welcome to the familia baby girl.”
Shay Mooney
Mooney, 31, announced Baby No. 3’s arrival by posting a heartwarming video, softly singing to his newborn son. The powerhouse singer-songwriter — one half of Dan + Shay with duo partner Dan Smyers — wrote in his caption on Instagram on January 20: “Abram Shay Mooney, 1/17/23, Grateful doesn’t begin to cover it. ❤️”
Jon Pardi
Pardi, 38, shared the first photo of his newborn daughter when she arrived in February. The recently-inducted Grand Ole Opry member — who quickly garnered congratulatory messages from Jake Owen, Lauren Alaina, RaeLynn and other country stars — shared in his caption on Instagram: “Our Baby girl is here and ready to Pardi haha DAD joke! Presley Fawn Pardi, 2•18•2023, 5:05am, 7lbs 12oz, 20.25 inches.”
John Osborne
Osborne revealed his wife, Lucie Silvas, unexpectedly went into labor with the couple’s twins, born on March 21. The Brothers Osborne star announced son Arthur arrived at 1:43 a.m., weighing 3lb, 13oz, and daughter Maybelle followed at 1:44 a.m., at 5lb, 1 oz. Osborne hailed Silvas, “a damn warrior princess,” as the couple welcomed their children to the world.
LOCASH's Preston Brust
Brust, one half of the duo LOCASH with Chris Lucas, and his wife welcomed Baby No. 3 in June. Preston and Kristen Brust announced their daughter’s birth in mid-June, confirming the news with PEOPLE. Lion Lockheart Brust was born on Friday, June 9, at 2:22 p.m., weighing 7 lbs. 3 oz. and measuring 20 inches long, in Nashville, Tennessee. She joined big brother Legend Wilde and big sister Love Lily.
Jordan Davis
“Next Thing You Know,” Davis and his wife, Kristen, are parents of three. Baby No. 3, son Elijah Patrick, joins big sister Eloise and big brother Locklan. Davis shared in his announcement at the time: “God is good! My son Elijah Patrick is in the world…His momma did incredible in getting him here and we hope to get him home to his brother and sister soon.”
Naomi Cooke Johnson
Cooke Johnson, a solo artist and former lead vocalist of Runaway June, shared her birth story in a June 15 post on Instagram as she welcomed Baby No. 1 with husband Martin Johnson, frontman of The Night Game and Boys Like Girls. She said, in part: “I’m grateful to have a healthy, beautiful baby and even more grateful for my female body and the power and strength she holds. …Welcome to the world, baby Johnson.”
Luke Combs
Combs, 33, and wife Nicole welcomed Baby No. 2 on August 15. Son Beau Lee Combs joins big brother Tex Lawrence Combs, who arrived on Father’s Day in June 2022. Nicole announced Beau’s arrival with a reel set to Cory Asbury’s “These are the Days,” writing in the caption: “Welcome to the world. We couldn’t love you more.”
Kimberly Perry
Perry and husband Johnny Costello welcomed Baby No. 1 on August 26. The Superbloom artist and Band Perry alum introduced son Whitaker (Whit) James Costello to the world in early September. Whit arrived on August 26 at 4:01 p.m. in Nashville, Tennessee, at 7 lbs and 8 oz. Perry said at the time, “our house has truly become a home.”
Maddie Font
The Maddie & Tae star and her husband, Jonah Font, welcomed their firstborn child on September 9. Son Forrest Henry Font was born at 4:03 p.m., weighing 7 lbs, 10 oz. Maddie shared at that time: “Forrest is everything Jonah and I could’ve ever dreamed of, and we’d go through it all over again for him. Thank you Lord for the gift of this perfect boy and this magical time. We are so in love.”
Dylan Scott
Scott and his wife, Blair Robinson, welcomed their third child in late September. The “Livin’ My Best Life” star introduced son Barron to the world on Instagram, revealing he’d been born at 7:19 p.m. on September 26, joining big siblings Beckett and Finley.
“Blair is a ROCKSTAR! She did awesome! Beckett and Finley are in love, as well as Momma and myself!” Scott gushed in his Instagram caption as he introduced his newborn son, whose name means “Warrior” and “Noble Man.” “Thank you Jesus for blessing me with three healthy beautiful kids and a smoking hot rockstar wife! Life is good!”
Jimmie Allen
Allen and his wife, Alexis Gale, welcomed their newborn baby on September 27. Gale was the first to share a photo of son Cohen Ace James, who joins the couple’s daughters Naomi Bettie, born in March 2020, and Zara James, born in October 2021. Allen is also father to son Aadyn, 8, from a previous relationship. Though Allen and Gale confirmed earlier this year that they were separating and going through a divorce, they opted “to work on things together and are still together,” focusing on their baby.
Russell Dickerson
The “God Gave Me A Girl” star and his wife, Kailey Dickerson, welcomed their second son in early October. Dickerson, was dropped off at the hospital on his tour bus following a show in Kansas City. Radford Arthur Dickerson arrived 10 days early on October 1, weighing 8 lbs, 14 oz, and measuring 20.5 in. He joins big brother Remington Edward.
Sam Hunt
Hunt and his wife, Hannah Lee Fowler, welcomed Baby No. 2 this year. The country star posted a photo of the family of four for the first time on November 24, though a rep for Hunt confirmed to PEOPLE that his son arrived about a month earlier. Hunt and Fowler welcomed son Lowry Lee, whose name is a combination of his parents’ middle names (Hunt’s middle name is Lowry and Fowler’s middle name is Lee), on Tuesday, October 24. He joins big sister Lucy Louise.
Jana Kramer
Kramer welcomed Baby No. 3, her first with fiancé Allan Russell, in mid-November. The country star, actress, author and Whine Down with Jana Kramer podcast host shared that son Roman James Russell was born on November 13, weighing 6 lbs, 1 oz, and she’s “blessed beyond measure for this little miracle.” Roman James joins Kramer’s two children from her previous marriage, Jolie, 7, and Jace, 5, and Russell’s teen son Troy.
Caitlyn Smith
Smith and husband Rollie Gaalswyk welcomed son Jacob Roland to the world in late November. The singer-songwriter gushed, as she shared the first photos of her newborn baby, “we are over the moon excited and so grateful that you’re finally here!” Jacob Roland Gaalswyk arrived on November 26, weighing 7lb. 4oz, and “turning us into a family of 5! [Big brothers] Tom and Louie are so excited about their new baby brother. …God is so good and I am beyond grateful.”
Caroline Jones
Jones and her husband, Nick Dana, welcomed Baby No. 1 on November 29. The Zac Brown Band member and solo artist shared in her caption on Instagram that she and her husband named their newborn Declan Tudor Dana. Jones wrote in her announcement that she and Dana “and I are overjoyed, overwhelmed, and very grateful to be able to soak up this time as a new family of 3.”