I've been trying to expand my musical palette and started unironically listening to country a few weeks ago around post malone's album drop

Been jamming to mainstream artists like tim mcgraw, luke combs, morgan wallen

Who are some other "gateway country" artists I should listen to that can ease me into the genre?

co-founder @survey x /ponder // benadamsky.com

Dive in head first and go down the Sturgill Simpson (aka Johnny Blue Skies) rabbit hole. 

Turtles All the Way Down would be the gateway song.