Nicholas Vernon is a “rising country artist rooted in the red clay of North Carolina.” He is far from your typical overnight success story, though; he's a dedicated local singer and songwriter whose musical journey began on his family farm and has quickly caught the attention of the country music industry.
Nicholas is a true local boy: he grew up on the Vander, N.C. farm that has been in his family for four generations, where he still lives and works with his wife and their two children. After four years of playing for the Cape Fear High School band, Nicholas went on to UNC Wilmington, where he studied music education. He has spent years working with high school and middle school band programs. It wasn’t until a few years ago that a friend of his invited him to play a gig with him that his performance career started to take off.
And take off it did. In 2023, he released his first song, “Horizon,” which earned him a nomination by the Carolina Country Music Awards for Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year. For the past two years, Nicholas has been a full-time, professional recording artist. According to Vernon, “The Lord has opened so many doors, so quickly.”
Vernon writes all his own music and has even had some of his songs recorded by other artists. The inspiration for the music he writes and performs is widely varied, everything from the Gaither Vocal Band and their old-fashioned gospel music to AC/DC and other ‘80s and ‘90s rock bands. His favorite country artist has always been Clint Black, and his work has certainly inspired Vernon.
While he draws inspiration from lots of different styles of music and artists, “every song gets its own flavor,” Vernon says. Even the classical music that he played in his high school and college years influences him as an artist. Fans of classical, orchestral music will pick up familiar tunes in his song “Take Me Back” because, Vernon says, “it is taken directly from Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.”
Vernon’s music has definitely caught the attention of the country music world. The Carolina Country Music Awards named him 2024’s Male Artist of the Year. He was named the 2025 Rising Male Star by the International Singer/Songwriter Awards. The Josie Music Awards nominated his song “Lady in Black” for 2025 Song of the Year in the Southern Rock/Country Rock category. He has been featured on several country radio stations, including 94.7 WQDR, 98.5 Big Dawg Radio, and B93.9’s Carolina Country Artist Spotlight.
Vernon has played venues big and small in North Carolina and beyond. Recently, Vernon played the 2025 Stars and Guitars pre-concert at Dirtbag Ales, as well as the VIP room at Stars and Guitars. North Carolina audiences have had the chance to see him at the NC State Fair, GotToBeNC Festival, Fayetteville’s Dogwood Festival and Fayetteville After 5.
Nicholas’s next big release is his EP entitled “Under the Same Sky.” The collection will feature four of his fans’ favorite songs, re-recorded after parting ways with a past producer. The updated versions of these songs will have a raw, cozy feel, just right for the fall and winter seasons. “Under the Same Sky” will be submitted for 2026 Grammy consideration.
Nicholas Vernon has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. The next few months are booked with lots of opportunities for local audiences to see him perform live. One notable opportunity is an event that he is headlining on January 17 at Bird’s Nest Listening Room in Dunn.
VIP tickets for the event sold out in the first hour, but general admission tickets are still available for purchase. His music can be streamed on all streaming platforms, and discs are available for purchase on his website: nicholasvernonmusic.com

(Photo courtesy of Amy Stillwell)