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Tucker Wetmore Wins ACM New Male Artist of the Year: Six Things to Know
Tucker Wetmore was named ACM New Male Artist of the Year on April 30, 2026. He learned piano at 11, landed two tracks on the Twisters soundtrack, released 2025’s What Not To, and charted on the Hot 100 after a TikTok hit. He has major tour dates and AMA nominations.
Tucker Wetmore was named the Academy of Country Music Awards New Male Artist of the Year on April 30, 2026. The announcement preceded the 61st ACM Awards, scheduled for May 17. Wetmore, 26, was onstage in London when the news was relayed to him via a video message from Thomas Rhett.
During the set, Wetmore’s mother, Sia, walked onto the stage and pointed the crowd toward the video screens. Rhett, a nine-time ACM winner, appears on the screens to relay the news. Wetmore told the audience he was speechless. In a brief onstage comment he said, “I’m at a loss for words right now for the first time in a long time. I can’t do any of this without you guys. I can’t do any of this without that woman [mom] right there… Thank y’all so much and thank you ACMs for this amazing honor.”
The following are six concise facts about Wetmore and his recent rise.
1. Early piano training inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis
Wetmore taught himself to play piano at age 11. He has cited Jerry Lee Lewis as an early influence. Lewis is among a small group of artists inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
2. Two songs on the Twisters soundtrack
In 2024 Wetmore had two credits on the Twisters soundtrack. The album reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and No. 7 on the Billboard 200. Wetmore is credited with the song “Already Had It” and as a featured artist on Conner Smith’s “Steal My Thunder.”
3. Debut album What Not To and its singles
Wetmore released his full-length debut, What Not To, in 2025 after a 2024 EP, Waves of Sunset. The album peaked at No. 4 on Top Country Albums and No. 15 on the Billboard 200. Four singles have been issued from the project; three—”Wind Up Missin’ You,” “3,2,1” and “Brunette”—reached the top three on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
4. Broke the Hot 100 with a TikTok-driven single
Wetmore entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 77 on the chart dated March 9, 2024 with “Wine Into Whiskey.” The track first appeared on his TikTok on December 12, 2023 and its chorus lyric, “I took a good thing and I turned it into goodbye,” was widely used in user-generated clips. The song later peaked at No. 68 on the Hot 100 and opened at No. 22 on Hot Country Songs.
5. Touring resume and upcoming dates
Wetmore opened for Thomas Rhett last summer and has also toured with Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Jordan Davis. He will join select dates this summer with Jordan Davis, HARDY and Brooks & Dunn, and he is headlining his own Brunette World Tour.
6. American Music Awards nominations
Wetmore is nominated at the upcoming American Music Awards in two country categories: breakthrough country artist and best country album for What Not To. His competitors include Sam Barber and Zach Top in the breakthrough category, and a field that includes Barber, BigXthaPlug, Megan Moroney and Morgan Wallen for album of the year.
Seven past winners of the ACM New Male Artist of the Year award have later won ACM Entertainer of the Year, including Merle Haggard, Mickey Gilley, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Chris Stapleton.
The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge.
