"I Work Too Hard to Not Strive For Something Greater:" Tucker Wetmore Reflects on His Breakout Year and All That Still Awaits Him in 2026

It's been a big year for one of country music's newest and brightest stars, Tucker Wetmore.

In 2025 alone, the 'Brunette' artist spent time on the road with country heavyweight Thomas Rhett, made his first international outing, released his full-length debut album, scored a couple of radio No. 1s, saw a nomination for CMA New Artist of the Year, as well as played even bigger shows and made even greater career strides all around.

"It's definitely been a very long year and been 'go, go, go' for about 11 months straight now," Wetmore tells Holler during a recent conversation, adding, "I'm a little tired. I'm ready for a little break."

However, 2025 has overflowed with blessings, and he says, "It's been amazing. I feel like I'm pinching myself every day for something new."

Between the hefty Thomas Rhett tour, the new album release and receiving recognition for his music across radio charts and award ceremonies, it's difficult for Wetmore to pinpoint the year's biggest highlight. "The list just continues to grow, and I'm trying to just keep up with it all," he says.

His packed schedule has not stopped him from dropping new music, which most recently arrived in the form of 'Proving Me Right', the artist's first solo release since his acclaimed debut album, What Not To.

Wetmore's most pop-leaning song to date, 'Proving Me Right' could be an indicator of what's to come from the artist as he continues to release music in 2026.

"Obviously I'm country, it's the way I was raised," he shares of the direction of his sound. "But I have a lot of other musical influences that I'm trying to bleed into my songwriting, production and everything else."

Whether he's making country, pop or a dynamic blend of the two going forward, it seems his goal when crafting music is to make listeners feel. As he explains, "I don't hate on any type of music, because I think it all serves its purpose, and that's to help somebody through a hard time or help a good time get better ... That's what I'm trying to do is just make people feel things."

Even as his breakout year comes to close, Wetmore doesn't appear to be letting off the gas anytime soon. Already, a late winter-early spring tour is in place, and it seems he's got even bigger moves in the works for 2026.

While he admits to being a dreamer, it's all backed up by his hard work and determination. As he says, "I work too hard for to not strive for something greater."

It's safe to say we can expect much more from the star as we enter a new year. Fresh music, exciting live moments and new successes are undoubtedly in Wetmore's future, but he says all of it will happen with his personal evolution at the fore.

"I think the main thing is just growing," he says of his plans for the year ahead, "not just music or career-wise, but as a man, as a person, growing into the man that I want to be someday."

For more on Tucker Wetmore, see below: