Tucker Wetmore is an emerging American country music singer-songwriter. Growing up in a small town of approximately 2,700 residents, Wetmore developed a passion for music early on, teaching himself to play the piano at the age of 11, inspired by the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis. Despite his musical interests, he pursued athletics throughout his youth, excelling in multiple sports and eventually playing college football at Montana Technological University in Butte, Montana, where he majored in business and information technology. However, a significant leg injury during his freshman year ended his football aspirations, prompting him to return home and refocus on his musical talents.
In 2020, Wetmore relocated to Nashville to pursue a career in country music. He released a series of promotional singles in 2021, including ‘Kiss My A$$,' ‘Another Shot' and ‘She’s Trouble.' His breakthrough came in 2024 with the single ‘Wine into Whiskey' which charted on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts. Following this success, Wetmore signed with Back Blocks Music and UMG Nashville, leading to the release of his debut album, “What Not To,” today, April 25, 2025. The 19-track album encapsulates the highs and lows of his 25 years, featuring RIAA Platinum-certified singles ‘Wine into Whiskey' and the No. 1 hit ‘Wind Up Missin’ You.'
‘What Not To' is a strikingly vulnerable collection that threads together themes of heartbreak, self-awareness, and the emotional turbulence of life in your twenties and thirties. Across 19 tracks, Wetmore showcases a knack for combining dramatic storytelling with slick modern country production, delivering a record that feels both deeply personal and widely relatable. It begins and ends in the haze of whiskey-soaked regret, but in between lies a journey full of romantic pitfalls, character flaws and occasional flashes of hope.
The album opens with the dark, slow-burning ‘Whatcha Think Is Gonna Happen,' where Wetmore lays the groundwork for the recurring theme of self-destruction. “I know how this ends, I light the match and let it burn,” he sings with eerie clarity, capturing a familiar cycle of impulsive choices that define much of the album’s emotional core. This is echoed on tracks like ‘Casino' and ‘Goodbye Whiskey,' where he draws analogies between women and vices—both equally irresistible and ultimately consuming. On ‘Casino,' he croons, “Like a moth to the flame… I’m in love with the game,” in an almost Eagles-esque West Coast tinged Country manner that rolls back the years to the 70s whilst keeping the narrative theme of character flaws and failings going strong while ‘Goodbye Whiskey' finds him caught between letting go and clinging to the things that hurt him most, another narrative theme explored and agonised over across many of the tracks on offer here.
There’s also a clever juxtaposition between breezy melodies and heavier subject matter throughout the album. ‘Break First' and ‘Bad Habit' pair upbeat, 80s-tinged production with lyrics about emotional fragility and self-sabotage. “It’s looking like 50/50 if it’s gonna be my habits or that heart of hers,” Wetmore admits on ‘Break First,' capturing the tension of relationships strained by inner turmoil. Meanwhile, ‘Bad Habit' is an infectious, percussion-driven anthem where he tries to rationalise, “Girl, I’m good if you’re my only bad habit.” These tracks sparkle sonically but cut deep emotionally.
Wetmore also delivers several standout tracks that hinge on classic country tropes, reimagined with fresh flair. ‘3,2,1' is a twangy ode to the one that got away, bursting into an explosive, radio-ready chorus. Similarly, ‘Drinkin Boots' and ‘Drunk On Her' tread familiar territory—missing an ex, falling too fast—but with clever twists and memorable hooks. “I took a good thing and turned it into goodbye,” he confesses on ‘Wine Into Whiskey,' a song that has already become a fan favourite and helped launch his career. These moments of regret are balanced by moments of longing and levity, giving the album its emotional range.
Among the more cinematic and dramatic moments, ‘Brunette' rides along on a galloping Western beat, dripping with cowboy swagger and destined for chart success, while ‘Give Her the World' explores a darker narrative. “You can give her the world, but she will give it right back,” Wetmore sings with a mix of bitterness and resignation, flipping the blame from himself to the woman who couldn’t be tamed. These cautionary tales of dating in your twenties are elevated by his storytelling prowess and strong vocal performances, adding new depth to common themes of love and loss.
The title track, ‘What Not To' serves as the emotional heart of the record. Stripped down and haunting, it finds Wetmore speaking to his father, reflecting on generational trauma and vowing to break the cycle. “I don’t know a thing about settling down, but I know what not to,” he admits with quiet resolve whilst closing with the plaintive ‘Whiskey Again,' the album finishes on a note of solitude and sorrow, with Wetmore singing, “I miss her, it still hurts,” in a stark, intimate setting, reflecting the emotional through-line of the whole project.
Altogether, ‘What Not To' is a deeply introspective debut full of raw honesty, catchy melodies, and a refreshing willingness to confront the messier parts of growing up. For Tucker Wetmore, it’s not just a strong start—it’s a statement.
Track list: 1. Whatcha Think Is Gonna Happen? 2. 3,2,1 3. Bad Luck Looks Good On Me 4. Casino 5. Takes One To Break One 6. Brunette 7. Wind Up Missin’ You 8. Give Her The World 9. Goodbye Whiskey 10. When I Ain’t Lookin’ 11. Drink Alone 12. Bad Habit 13. What Not To 14. Break First 15. Drinkin’ Boots (Demo) 16. Drunk On Her 17. Silverado Blue 18. Wine Into Whiskey 19. Whiskey Again Release Date: April 25th Record Label: Mercury Records / UMG Buy ‘What Not To' right here
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