2017–2021: Busyhead and I Was / I Am Kahan first went on tour at the age of 19, opening for
Milky Chance. Kahan cites some of his inspirations as being
Paul Simon,
Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens),
Counting Crows,
Hozier,
Sam Fender,
Mumford & Sons, and
Green Day. 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. On October 14, 2022, Kahan released his third studio album, the 14-track
Stick Season, which was produced by
Gabe Simon. The album debuted at number 14 on the
Billboard 200, his first appearance on the chart 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". After the release of Stick Season (We'll All Be Here Forever)'', he released tracks on the album with added collaborations from other artists, starting with "
Dial Drunk" with
Post Malone. Additional collaborations include "
Call Your Mom", with
Lizzy McAlpine; "She Calls Me Back", with
Kacey Musgraves; "Northern Attitude", with
Hozier; "
Everywhere, Everything", with
Gracie Abrams; and "
Homesick", with
Sam Fender. Kahan also collaborated with American country star
Zach Bryan on the single "Sarah's Place" from Bryan's
Boys of Faith EP. The single peaked at number 14 on the
Billboard Hot 100. Kahan was nominated for
Best New Artist at the
66th Annual Grammys Awards, marking his first Grammy nomination. In 2023, he was included as one of
Time magazine's TIME100 Next. On January 5, 2024, "Stick Season" became number 1 on the
UK Singles Chart marking the first number 1 of the year and Kahan's first chart topper of his career. In February the single also hit number 1 on the Australian
ARIA Charts. In April 2024, "Stick Season" hit a new peak on the
Billboard Hot 100 at 9, the highest position of Kahan's career. In late January, Kahan revealed a final version of the
Stick Season album,
Stick Season (Forever). Also produced by Simon, the new 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. The expanded album was released on February 9, 2024. In the same year, Kahan announced a live album,
Live From Fenway Park, which was released on August 30. Vermont governor
Phil Scott 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. Kahan performed a sold-out benefit concert that night having all proceeds going to Vermont-based mental health organizations. In 2025, Kahan performed at the
Glastonbury Festival.
2026–present: The Great Divide On January 28, 2026, Kahan made a post on his
Instagram announcing that he would release his new album,
The Great Divide, on April 24, 2026. Kahan 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." On January 30, 2026, Kahan released the first leading single to the album, "The Great Divide." Following this, Kahan released the second leading single, "Porch Light" on March 13, 2026. == Personal life ==