With a billion streams under his belt, sold-out shows across the country, and a debut album that feels more like a diary than a record, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter is proving that vulnerability might just be his superpower. In this candid interview, Tucker opens up about the heartbreaks that shaped him, the song that almost didn’t make the album, and the moment a third broken leg rerouted his entire life—from the locker room to the stage.
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So 1 billion streams, Billboard Charts, and The Ryman, all within a year. What’s the most surreal moment that made you stop and say, is this really my life?
Tucker: Oh gosh, I mean, the past year has been insane, so there’s been many, many of those moments where I kind of just sit there and I’m like, is this even real? I feel like I’m gonna wake up tomorrow and say, “dude, I gotta tell you about this dream.” I feel like it happens every day, honestly. Every time I’m on stage I get a moment where I just kind of sit there and look around the room and hear people sing my songs back to me. I’m like, this is the craziest thing, the craziest job in the world, and it doesn’t even feel like a job. I’m just doing what I love and it’s, it’s— Yeah, I’d say every day.
“What Not To” feels like the emotional spine of the record. When did you know that this was the song that you were going to name the whole album after?
Tucker: At first I didn’t want to, if I’m being honest, ’cause it’s the most like nerve-wracking song I’ve ever written, you know, it’s the deepest I’ve ever gone in my songwriting and I didn’t want it to be like the focus point of the album, but then I think about what I wanted the album to say, and what the album is about. It’s my first hello to the world in a lot of ways so all signs pointed to the deepest one because the album is just about me and who I am and kind of like my introduction to a lot of people.
Between ‘Brunette’, ‘Wine Into Whiskey’ and ‘Bad Luck Looks Good On Me,’ your heartbreak songs hit hard. Are these characters based on real life or just stories you create?
Tucker: Oh, no, they’re not made up. I write about real stuff whether I’m living it firsthand or, or I see it firsthand from a buddy or a family member or whatnot. It’s all real-life stuff. I’ve been heartbroken before for sure. So I try to pull as much real-life stuff into my songwriting as I can, yeah.
You’ve been called a “to-the-point storyteller.” What’s the hardest truth that you’ve ever had to sing about so far?
Tucker: Hardest truth I’ve ever had to sing about. Probably “What Not To,” honestly. Definitely “What Not To.” That song is just not something I usually talk about, but that’s why I write songs, so I don’t have to talk about it.
Your track “Bad Luck Looks Good on Me” has blown up. What’s an unlucky moment that you’ve had where you actually pulled it off?
Tucker: So I went to college to play football, and I thought that was gonna be my path. I was playing up in Montana and thought “This is it, this is what I’m gonna do.” I’m trying to make it to the league and have a good solid college career and I ended up breaking my leg for the third time at the end of my first year. That was my ‘hang the cleats up’ moment. Not good. Anyways, that was a pretty unlucky in the moment, but then I turned around, music found me again, and now I get to do something I love every day, you know—love— I love doing this even more than football. If you were to ask me back then, I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t have said that, but that seems pretty lucky to me.
Barstool called you a megastar in the making. What’s something fans don’t see behind all the buzz that keeps you grounded?
Tucker: That’s nice of them. I mean, my faith, my relationship with the Lord, my relationship with my family members, my friends, the people around me, they all keep me grounded. What they don’t see in general is… I’m an idiot, I’m a weirdo. I’m kind of a goober most of the time, especially like hanging out with my buddies but, I’m just me. I like to have fun.
Thomas Rhett, Kimmel, Stagecoach, ACM nominations—you’ve played with giants. What’s the best advice another artist has given you?
Tucker: So when I first moved to Nashville, I didn’t know anything or anybody—legitimately nobody and nothing. I just had a handful of songs and I knew I wanted to be a songwriter and artist. I remember meeting an artist, and I forgot who it was, but I was sitting down with him and we’re just talking for hours at a bar and just drinking and hanging out, having a good time. I asked him “what’s a good piece of advice for someone like me just getting here and just trying to get started?” He goes, “Show up every single time. Show up, because you can’t control the outcome, you can’t control the weather, you can’t control how someone’s gonna perceive what you’re doing, but what you can control is showing up with a smile on your face, working hard, even if on those days where you feel like the world’s crashing down on you—you show, you show up.” And so that was probably one of the biggest pieces of advice. That’s how I’ve operated a lot of my life, even if the worst thing in the world happened this morning, I got something to do that afternoon and I made a commitment to do it. I’m gonna do it with a smile on my face.
You’ve done the Opry, sold out shows, and cracked a billion streams. What’s one goal you’re still hoping to achieve?
Tucker: I mean, a second number one would be cool. You know, there’s some venues that I wanna play for sure, and just playing bigger shows. Moving these records to bigger places where it’s streaming or opportunities and—oh, I guess just being happy is my main goal. I’m happy as can be and I just want to continue to stay that way and continue to do what I love, which is exactly what I’m doing.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting out?
Tucker: OK, I’ll say this. There’s roughly 50 to 100 people moving in Nashville every day to do exactly what you wanna do. Whether it’s being an artist or a songwriter, there are tons of people that move to Nashville every day. There will always be. Nashville doesn’t wait for you. The music industry doesn’t wait for you. Work harder than the person next to you. Obviously be kind about it and don’t be an asshole, but work harder than the person next to you because that’ll get you to where you wanna go.
OK, so we’re gonna call this Tucker’s “What To” instead of “What Not To.” 5 questions, rapid fire.
@beatroutemedia Rapid fire questions with @Tuck 🌮🎤 #tuckerwetmore #beatroute #foryoupage #music #countrymusic #cowboy #windupmissingyou
What to sing at karaoke?
Tucker: “Friends in Low Places.”
What to never eat before a show?
Tucker: Taco Bell.
What to do when you see your ex at a festival?
Tucker: Sing “Brunette” on stage.
What to always bring on tour?
Tucker: ZYNS.
And what to say to someone who thinks country music is all just pickup trucks and breakups?
Tucker: You ain’t wrong, but we do it the best.
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