Tucker Wetmore Makes Ryman Headlining Debut With Sold-Out Show
Surprises fans with special appearance from Gavin DeGraw
Wetmore presented with plaques for 1 BILLION total global career streams and an RIAA 2x PLATINUM certification for “Wind Up Missin’ You”
Breakout debut What Not To marks biggest new artist country album debut of 2025, lands at No. 15 on Billboard 200 Albums chart
Country’s hottest rising star Tucker Wetmore closed out his WAVES ON A SUNSET headlining tour last night (5/21) with a sold-out debut at the Ryman Auditorium. Marking the culmination of a massive album release month, Wetmore had the crowd on their feet from start to finish, delivering fan favorites off What Not To, including a stripped-back piano rendition of the title track that captivated the crowd. The night hit another high with a surprise appearance by Gavin DeGraw, who joined Wetmore on stage for a powerful performance of “I Don’t Wanna Be.”
Adding to the celebration, Wetmore’s team at Mercury and MCA surprised him with two major milestones: plaques commemorating 1 BILLION career streams across his catalog and an RIAA 2x PLATINUM certification for “Wind Up Missin’ You” – both achieved in just over a year.
“I didn’t know what I was doing when I first moved here if I’m being honest,” shared Wetmore from the stage. “I still don’t know what I’m doing now, I’m just writing songs and having a blast doing it. You guys don’t even know it, but you’re changing my life every single day. I love you guys so much, thank you.”
Released April 25, What Not To made history as the biggest country album debut from a new artist in 2025. The album debuted at the No. 15 spot on Billboard’s all-genre 200 Albums chart and helped propel Wetmore to over 1 BILLIONtotal global streams in just over a year.
In its first month, the critically acclaimed debut has garnered widespread praise. The Tennessean declares “What Not To is sure to be heard at all times, day or night, worldwide” and praises Wetmore for being “built differently,” noting the emergence of what could become “an early career hallmark as a to-the-point storyteller.” GRAMMY.com echoes this sentiment, highlighting Wetmore’s songwriting potential: “Each song has a self-awareness and vulnerability that makes his music as relatable as it is intriguing.” American Songwriter hails the album as one that “will surely make a statement. A statement articulating who he is as an artist and person, and a statement articulating that he is here to stay.”
Blending radio-ready anthems with moments of real depth and vulnerability, What Not To captures the highs, lows and hard-earned lessons of Wetmore’s 25 years. Standouts include the viral smash “Brunette,” which earned him the biggest streaming debut of his career, fan favorite “Drinkin’ Boots” and the emotional centerpiece and album’s namesake, “What Not To.” The record showcases his range from the arena-ready (“Bad Luck Looks Good On Me”) to aching slow burns like “Goodbye Whiskey.”
The Ryman milestone comes just ahead of his return to the road for Thomas Rhett’s BETTER IN BOOTS TOUR 2025 this summeras direct support across 33 dates. Wetmore and Rhett’s new collaboration, “Small Town Girls,” is out now. Wetmore just dropped the official music video for “3,2,1,” his lead single climbing at Country radio which recently entered Billboard’s Hot 100. Following his late-night television debut on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (4/29) with a high-energy performance of “Bad Luck Looks Good On Me,” he continued his whirlwind release month with appearances on The Viall Files, The Zach Sang Showand more.
With multiple Billboard Hot 100 entries, RIAA-certified hits “Wine Into Whiskey” and “Wind Up Missin’ You” (his first No.1 at Mediabase Country Airplay), Wetmore has been named an ACM New Male Artist of the Year nominee and an artist to watch by Spotify, Vevo, Billboard, MusicRow and the Grand Ole Opry. With What Not To setting the stage, Wetmore formally makes his debut as an artist with both grit and mass appeal – one that’s not only worth watching, but impossible to ignore. For updates, tour dates and announcements, keep up with Wetmore on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and his website at tuckerwetmore.com.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR TUCKER WETMORE:
“each song has a self-awareness and vulnerability that makes his music as relatable as it is intriguing.” – GRAMMY.com
“His new album is poised to be a star-maker for Wetmore” – Billboard
“Betting on Tucker Wetmore is house money at this point” – Country Central
“songs like ‘Bad Luck Looks Good on Me,’ ‘Brunette,’ ‘Casino’ and ‘Whiskey Again’ are crafted like sledgehammer pop ballads with the DNA of deep-entrenching mainstream country lyricism.” – The Tennessean
“Wetmore shows his gravitas as a storyteller willing to share the struggles and realizations of a true-to-life journey.” – Holler
“Wetmore’s debut album will surely make a statement. A statement articulating who he is as an artist and person, and a statement articulating that he is here to stay.” – American Songwriter
“clearly he’s off to a great start” – Forbes
“With his family to ground him and a career that’s skyrocketing, it seems Wetmore, in fact, knows exactly what to do.” – People
“this guy is going to be a megastar. Get familiar with the name now” – Barstool Sports
