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Noah Kahan

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Noah Kahan
Kahan performing at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival
Kahan performing at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival
Background information
Born
Noah Berkenkamp Kahan

(1997-01-01) January 1, 1997 (age 29)
Strafford, Vermont, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • Mandolin
  • Piano
Years active2016–present
Labels
Spouse
Brenna Nolan
​
(m. 2025)​
Websitenoahkahan.com

Noah Berkenkamp Kahan (/kɑːn/ KAHN; born January 1, 1997)[2][3] is an American singer-songwriter. His breakthrough single, "Hurt Somebody", achieved gold status in the United States and charted in multiple international markets. The single and EP of the same name preceded the release of his debut album, Busyhead (2019). Within five years, two more albums came out: I Was / I Am (2021) and Stick Season (2022), the latter became his mainstream commercial breakthrough. It led to his nomination in 2023 for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.[4] In 2026, his fourth album The Great Divide was released and achieved record-breaking streaming and vinyl sales for a No. 1 rock album debut on the Billboard 200. That preceded The Great Divide Tour, his first stadium tour.

Early life

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Kahan was born in Strafford, Vermont, where he grew up on a tree farm.[5][6] His father, Josh Kahan, taught him to play guitar while his mother, Lauri Berkenkamp, who wrote parenting guides for a living, taught him to write.[6][7][8] His father is Jewish and his mother is Christian. He says that his Jewish roots play a large part in his identity.[9] He is the third of four children.[7]

Noah Kahan began writing songs at age eight and uploaded them to SoundCloud and YouTube, where his music began to gain exposure. He received his first guitar at 10.[10] He attended Hanover High School in Hanover, New Hampshire.[7][11]

Career

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2017–2021: Busyhead and I Was / I Am

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Kahan in 2019

Kahan first went on tour at the age of 19, opening for Milky Chance, a German rock band.[7] In 2017, he signed with Republic Records. He moved to New York City and also spent time in Los Angeles and Nashville.[6][12] He cites some of his inspirations as being Paul Simon, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Counting Crows, Hozier, Sam Fender, Mumford & Sons, and Green Day.[10][13][14]

In 2018, Kahan was featured on the song "Tough" by Quinn XCII. The song was released on December 11, 2018. In 2019, he released his debut album, Busyhead.[6] The album has the single "Hurt Somebody" featuring Julia Michaels, which peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot Rock chart, marking his first appearance on any U.S. charts. Kahan returned to Vermont at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There, he wrote his EP Cape Elizabeth over the course of a week, releasing it in May 2020.[6] On his TikTok, Kahan admitted in a video that the only song of his that he listens to is "Maine", from this EP. In late 2020, he returned to Los Angeles, where he worked on recording his second album, I Was / I Am .[6] The album was released on September 17, 2021. The album did not have any mainstream hits.

2022–2025: Stick Season and breakthrough

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In October 2020, Kahan began posting viral TikTok videos showcasing the first verse of what would become the hit single "Stick Season". Over the next two years, he uploaded more snippets of the song and teased other songs from his forthcoming third studio album, leading Stick Season to become viral before it was even released.[6] On July 8, 2022, he finally released the full version of the song to the public. Kahan says "Stick Season" is the kind of song he wanted to write, moving away from his pop heavy projects in the past to a folk centric project. He released the single "Northern Attitude" prior to the album's release.[15]

On October 14, 2022, Kahan released his third studio album, the 14-track Stick Season, which was produced by Gabe Simon.[16] The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200, his first appearance on the chart[17] launching him into mainstream success and helping make him a recognizable figure within the music world. On June 9, 2023, Kahan released a deluxe version of the album titled Stick Season (We'll All Be Here Forever), which features seven additional tracks, including an extended version of the single "The View Between Villages".[18] After the release of Stick Season (We'll All Be Here Forever), he released tracks on the album with added collaborations from other artists beginning with "Dial Drunk" with Post Malone.[19] Additional collaborations include "Call Your Mom", with Lizzy McAlpine;[20] "She Calls Me Back", with Kacey Musgraves;[21] "Northern Attitude", with Hozier;[22] "Everywhere, Everything", with Gracie Abrams;[23] and "Homesick", with Sam Fender.[24]

Kahan also collaborated with country star Zach Bryan on the single "Sarah's Place" from Bryan's Boys of Faith EP. The single peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Kahan was nominated for Best New Artist at the 66th Annual Grammys Awards, marking his first Grammy nomination.[25] In 2023, he was included as one of Time's TIME100 Next.[26]

On January 5, 2024, "Stick Season" topped the UK Singles Chart marking the first No. 1 of the year and Kahan's first chart topper of his career.[27] In February the single also hit No. 1 on the Australian ARIA Charts.[28] In April 2024, "Stick Season" reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest position of Kahan's career.[29] In late January, he revealed a final version of the Stick Season album, Stick Season (Forever). Also produced by Simon, the rendition of the album contains all the collaboration projects since the release of Stick Season (We'll All Be Here Forever), including a new track titled "Forever" and two new collaborations on "You're Gonna Go Far" with Brandi Carlile and "Paul Revere" with Gregory Alan Isakov.[30] The expanded album was released on February 9, 2024.[31] Also in 2024, Kahan announced a live album, Live From Fenway Park, which was released on August 30.

Governor Phil Scott of Vermont proclaimed Thursday, September 19, 2024, as "Noah Kahan's Busyhead Project Day" in Vermont. Kahan founded the Busyhead Project as an initiative to provide resources and information to Vermonters struggling with mental health issues. He performed a sold-out benefit concert that night and all proceeds went to Vermont-based mental health organizations.[32] In 2025, Kahan performed at the Glastonbury Festival in Britain.[33]

2026–present: The Great Divide

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On January 28, 2026, Kahan made a post on his Instagram announcing that he would release an album, The Great Divide, on April 24, 2026.[34] He wrote and recorded The Great Divide in a variety of settings, ranging from "next to a piano in Nashville" to "next to a pond in Guilford, Vermont," as well as "in a legendary studio in upstate New York" and "on a farm with a firetower in Only, Tennessee".[35] On January 30, 2026, Kahan released the title track as the lead single. He released the second leading single, "Porch Light" on March 13, 2026. In May, The Great Divide debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart,[36] and was in the top position on the Billboard 200 for 3 consecutive weeks.[37][38]

Personal life

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Although they keep a low profile, Kahan has been in a relationship with Brenna Nolan since at least 2014.[39] They got engaged on July 17, 2023, during a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[39] They married on August 23, 2025, in a private ceremony in Strafford.[40] Kahan and Nolan lived in several places during their relationship including Nashville and Watertown, Massachusetts.[6] They live in their home state of Vermont.[39]

Kahan has openly discussed his experiences with anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia.[6][7][41] In a documentary released on Netflix, Noah Kahan: Out of Body,[42] he openly discusses dealing with his mental health. He channels it into the music he writes, often making light of his struggles with jokes on social media and in concert.[43]

Discography

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Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Organization Category Nominated work- Result Ref.
2023 Billboard Music Awards Top Rock Album Stick Season Nominated [44]
Top Rock Artist Himself Nominated
2024
Grammy Awards Best New Artist Nominated [45]
People's Choice Awards The New Artist of the Year Nominated [46]
Brit Awards International Song "Stick Season" Nominated [47]
iHeartRadio Music Awards Best New Artist (Alternative or Rock) Himself Won [48]
Best Lyrics "Dial Drunk" Nominated
Social Star Himself Nominated
Americana Music Honors & Awards Artist of the Year Nominated [49]
Billboard Music Awards Top Rock Artist Nominated [50]
Top Billboard 200 Album Stick Season Nominated
Top Rock Album Won
Top Rock Song "Stick Season" Nominated
Country Music Association Awards Musical Event of the Year "Cowboys Cry Too" with Kelsea Ballerini Nominated [51]
2025 Grammy Awards Best Country Duo/Group Performance Nominated [52]
Brit Awards International Song "Stick Season" Nominated [53]
2026 Fenway Music Hall of Fame Four Consecutive Sold Out Nights at Fenway Park[54]

Tours

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Headlining

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Opening act

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References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Noah Kahan | Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  2. ↑ Honeycutt, Shanté (April 17, 2018). "Takeover Tuesday: Noah Kahan Gets Lost in the Music (And Mexico)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  3. ↑ Noah Kahan: Out of Body. Directed by Nick Sweeney, Netflix, 2026, https://www.netflix.com/title/82161512
  4. ↑ Savage, Mark (2026). "Noah Kahan was crowned a superstar. It messed with his head". bbc.co.uk. London: BBC. "I got too attached to this idea that my value came from what I created. So when you're not creating, it feels like you have no value."
  5. ↑ "Interview: Inside Noah Kahan's Beautiful Mess". Atwood Magazine. March 28, 2019. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gera, Makena (August 31, 2023). "Meet Noah Kahan, the Voice of an Emotionally Evolved Generation". Boston Magazine. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Lefrak, Mikaela; Smith, Matthew F (August 23, 2022). "WATCH: Musician Noah Kahan performs 'Stick Season' and dishes on TikTok stardom". Vermont Public. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ "All About Noah Kahan's Parents, Lauri Berkenkamp and Josh Kahan".
  9. ↑ Unterberger, Andrew (January 24, 2024). "HOW NOAH KAHAN TURNED 'STICK SEASON' INTO THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING". Billboard.
  10. 1 2 Saner, Emine (February 19, 2024). "The secret life of Noah Kahan: pop's sudden superstar on No1s, packed arenas – and impostor syndrome". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Exclusive Interview with Noah Kahan". The Fix. May 15, 2018. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  12. ↑ Kurutz, Steven (December 1, 2023). "Noah Kahan, Low-Key Superstar, Contemplates 'Stick Season'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  13. ↑ Nunn, Jerry (January 25, 2024). "Singer Noah Kahan leaves small town life behind". Chicago Pride. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  14. ↑ Skinner, Tom (January 19, 2024). "Listen to Noah Kahan and Sam Fender's huge new collab 'Homesick'". NME. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  15. ↑ Paul, Larisha (July 9, 2022). "Noah Kahan's Latest Single 'Stick Season' Is The Song He's Always Wanted To Write". uDiscover Music. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  16. ↑ Hallenbeck, Brent (October 13, 2022). "Noah Kahan goes all in on Vermont for new album 'Stick Season'". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  17. ↑ Cabison, Rosalie (January 2, 2013). "Billboard 200™". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  18. ↑ Wheeler, Sage (June 14, 2023). "REVIEW: 'We'll All Be Here Forever' is Kahan's latest masterpiece". Daily Trojan. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  19. ↑ Mier, Tomás (July 18, 2023). "Post Malone and Noah Kahan Can't Stop Drinking About You on 'Dial Drunk'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  20. ↑ Mower, Maxim. "Noah Kahan to Release New Version of 'Call Your Mom' with Lizzy McAlpine". Holler. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  21. ↑ "'She Calls Me Back' by Noah Kahan & Kacey Musgraves". Holler. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  22. ↑ Frank, Jason P. (November 10, 2023). "Irish Hozier and Vermont Hozier Have the Same Attitude". Vulture. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  23. ↑ Grow, Kory (December 1, 2023). "Noah Kahan and Gracie Abrams Get Morbid on Gruesome Love Song 'Everywhere, Everything'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  24. ↑ Brandle, Lars (January 17, 2024). "Noah Kahan and Sam Fender Set 'Homesick' Collaboration". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  25. ↑ Willman, Chris (December 21, 2023). "Noah Kahan on Becoming One of 2023's Biggest Music Breakouts: How 'Stick Season' Made America Fall in Love With Seasonal Affective Disorder". Variety. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  26. ↑ Shiffrin, Mikaela (September 13, 2023). "2023 TIME100 Next: Noah Kahan". Time. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  27. ↑ Griffiths, George (January 5, 2024). "Noah Kahan's Stick Season secures first Number 1 of 2024, and first for Vermont singer-songwriter". Official Charts. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  28. ↑ Brandle, Lars (February 2, 2024). "Noah Kahan Lands First No. 1 In Australia With 'Stick Season'". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Noah Kahan | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  30. ↑ Lane, Lexi (February 7, 2024). "Noah Kahan's New Album 'Stick Season (Forever)': Everything To Know Including The Release Date, Tracklist, And More". UPROXX. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  31. ↑ Griffiths, George (February 8, 2024). "New Releases: Zara Larsson, Usher, Noah Kahan, Sia & Kylie Minogue and more". Official Charts. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan gets his own day in Vermont". WCAX. September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  33. ↑ Harrison, Ellie (June 29, 2025). "Noah Kahan admits he got famous UK landmark wrong". The Independent. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  34. ↑ Alterisio, Heather (January 28, 2026). "'The songs are the words I would say if I could': Noah Kahan reveals release date for new album, 'The Great Divide'". Boston.com. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  35. ↑ Paul, Larisha (January 28, 2026). "Noah Kahan Sets Return With Fourth Album 'The Great Divide'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Noah Kahan secures historic second number 1 album with 'The Great Divide'". Music-News.com. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  37. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/noah-kahan-the-great-divide-number-one-billboard-200-chart-1236237889/
  38. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/noah-kahan-great-divide-third-week-atop-billboard-200-1236250155/
  39. 1 2 3 Quihuiz, Ariana (April 13, 2026). "Who Is Noah Kahan's Wife? All About Brenna, Who Is Featured in His Netflix Documentary". People. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  40. ↑ Freitag, John (August 28, 2025). "Strafford Celebrates Hometown Celebrity Kahan's Nuptials Quietly". White River Valley Herald. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  41. ↑ Ewens, Hannah (June 19, 2024). "On the road with Noah Kahan, where men feel free to cry along". British GQ. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  42. ↑ "Noah Kahan: Out of Body | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  43. ↑ Wood, Olivia (October 24, 2023). "The rapid rise of Noah Kahan". The Eagle. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Billboard Music Awards 2023: Taylor Swift racks up 10 wins, including top artist". USA Today. November 19, 2023. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  45. ↑ Minsker, Evan (November 10, 2023). "Grammy Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  46. ↑ VanHoose, Benjamin (February 18, 2024). "Taylor Swift, Barbie and Grey's Anatomy Score at 2024 People's Choice Awards: See the Full List of Winners". People. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  47. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (January 24, 2024). "Brit awards 2024: record-breaking Raye lands seven nominations". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  48. ↑ Grein, Paul. "Taylor Swift Leads 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards Nods, With Jelly Roll, 21 Savage & SZA Close Behind: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  49. ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (May 7, 2024). "Tyler Childers & Sierra Ferrell Lead 2024 Americana Honors & Awards Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  50. ↑ Atkinson, Katie. "Here Are the 2024 Billboard Music Awards Winners: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  51. ↑ Stace, Madi (September 9, 2024). "CMA Announces Nominees For "The 58th Annual CMA Awards" -". CMA World. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  52. ↑ Willman, Chris (November 8, 2024). "Grammy Nominations 2025: Beyonce Leads With 11 Nods as Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX Are Among Top Nominees". Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  53. ↑ Rufo, Yasmin (January 23, 2025). "List of nominations in full for Brit Awards 2025". BBC. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  54. ↑ "Noah Kahan Makes History, Selling Out 4 Consecutive Shows in Boston as Mom Inducts Him into Fenway Music Hall of Fame". People.
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