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.”

Trace Adkins

Wisconsin State Fair Main Stage