'Koe Wetzel & Friends: Stronger Together' Raises Over $774k (and Counting) for Kerr County Flood Relief

Fans, artists and community members came together in force last night, Aug. 4, for Koe Wetzel & Friends: Stronger Together, a powerful night of music and giving held at Toyota Music Factory. The benefit concert spearheaded by the Texas native raised $774,870-and-counting in support of the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund via his own foundation, Koe’s Kids, with a raffle for a Can-Am Defender Max Lone Star Cab provided by Progressive Powersports in Granbury, Texas still open HERE through Labor Day weekend and fans still able to donate HERE.
 
The event featured unforgettable performances from Koe Wetzel and a stellar lineup of friends, including Kolby Cooper, Casey Donahew, Ray Wylie and Lucas Hubbard, Pecos Hurley of Pecos & The Rooftops, Mike Ryan, Shane Smith of Shane Smith & The Saints and Dylan Wheeler. 
 
“To see how packed the fans had the Pavilion on a Monday night – that love and support for this cause meant everything,” reflects Wetzel. “I can’t say thank you enough to my buddies who came out and donated their time, too. Seeing them all get up there and play with the band I’m blessed to stand on stage with every night is something I won’t forget for a long time!”
 
From the opening chords of Wetzel’s cult-classic “February 28, 2016” getting the night started with a bang, to Wheeler’s cover of Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine,” Ray Wylie Hubbard sharing the stage with his son, Lucas, Hurley delivering a rousing take on Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red White & Blue” and more, the night was a nonstop party enroute to raising significant funds for the cause. As the Dallas Observer noted, “The acts came and went, the crowd was electric, the building was rocking and the atmosphere was a country music dream. Then Wetzel came back out, and it was like the show started all over again. Wetzel played the hits, like ‘High Road’ and ‘Sweet Dreams,’ but most importantly, hammered down the theme of the night. Texans help Texans.”
 
“If this isn’t a testament to what we are, who we are as a state, I don’t know what god damn Texas means,” the multi-Platinum singer-songwriter proclaimed from the stage. “I’m so f*ckin’ proud to be a Texan.”
 
For fans who missed the show or want to relive the energy, the full livestream is available to re-watch Below.
 
Stronger Together was made possible through support from generous partners including Todd Graves and Raising Cane’s, PBR, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Rock & Roll Denim, Hall Wines, Hurtado BBQ, Hooray Grills, Outlaw Beer, Double Eagle, New Country 96.3 (KSCS-FM), and 99.5 The Wolf (KPLX-FM).

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down. The Texan singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. With his defining fifth studio album, 9 Lives, released in 2024 via Columbia Records, Wetzel earned recognition on several major year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean and more, with the Los Angeles Times naming lead single “High Road” (feat. Jessie Murph) as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres. The single not only marked Wetzel’s debut at Country radio, it also held the No. 1 spot for five weeks and became his fastest song to reach the RIAA Platinum milestone to date. Previously, his 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no-holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” plus the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has amassed 3.7 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” Wetzel performed for well over 200,000 fans across the U.S. in Europe in 2024, with over 96% of all headline tickets sold, in addition to playing prominent festival sets and opening for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour, while 2025 sees him again embark on a year of heavy touring both as a headliner and alongside Wallen and HARDY.

Koe Wetzel Ushers in the Next Era with "Surrounded," Out Now

 Rolling Stone’s “unpredictable wild man” praised by Billboard “for music that’s unvarnished and unfiltered” officially kicks off a new chapter as Koe Wetzel unveils highly-anticipated new single “Surrounded” – the first taste of new music since his chart-topping 9 Lives. Listen HERE.
 
Co-written by Wetzel with Josh Serrato, Ashley Gorley and producer Gabe, “Surrounded” captures the aching aftermath of heartbreak and delves into the feeling of being trapped by a memory you can’t outrun:

Initially teased during a radio event in February, the hard-driving track blending raw emotion with Wetzel’s signature country-rock edge has since become a fixture in his live set, from a pair of home state stadium dates in Texas with Morgan Wallen to a high-energy run of summer festival dates amid Jim Bob World Tour legs with HARDY.
 
““The way fans have connected with ‘Surrounded’ at shows made it clear this needed to be the first new song we put out,” notes Wetzel. “It’s been fun seeing the fans hyped online this week and we’re excited for everyone to finally hear the full version.”
 
The release of “Surrounded” follows a landmark year that saw Wetzel hit five consecutive weeks at No. 1 with 9 Lives standout “High Road” featuring Jessie Murph, land on year-end “Best Of” lists from the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, LA Times, Tennessean, Holler and more, grace the covers or POLLSTAR and Billboard, plus receive three new RIAA certifications at the sold-out Red Rocks finale of the Damn Near Normal World Tour, which saw the renegade rockstar perform for well over 200,000 fans globally with over 96% of all headline tickets sold – and even spawned its own live album.
 
With new music out now, a nonstop touring schedule this summer and his Madison Square Garden debut this fall, Wetzel shows no signs of slowing down.
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down. The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. With his defining fifth studio album, 9 Lives, released in 2024 via Columbia Records, Wetzel earned recognition on several major year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean and more, with the Los Angeles Times naming lead single “High Road” (feat. Jessie Murph) as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres. The single not only marked Wetzel’s debut at Country radio, it also held the No. 1 spot for five weeks and became his fastest song to reach the RIAA Platinum milestone to date. Previously, his 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no-holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” plus the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has amassed 3.7 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” Wetzel performed for well over 200,000 fans across the U.S. in Europe in 2024, with over 96% of all headline tickets sold, in addition to playing prominent festival sets and opening for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour, while 2025 sees him again embark on a year of heavy touring both as a headliner and alongside Wallen and HARDY.

Koe Wetzel and Friends: Stronger Together Benefiting the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, Aug. 4 at Toyota Music Factory

Multi-Platinum, Texas-born singer-songwriter Koe Wetzel and Friends present Stronger Together benefiting the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. Set for August 4 at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas, the event will feature performances by Wetzel plus Kolby Cooper, Casey Donahew, Ray Wylie and Lucas Hubbard, Pecos Hurley of Pecos & The Rooftops, Mike Ryan, Shane Smith of Shane Smith & The Saints and Dylan Wheeler. 

Tickets go on sale today, July 25, at 12 p.m. CT via KoeWetzelMusic.com. All net proceeds from ticket sales plus funds raised through partnerships, the on-site silent auction and additional fan donations will benefit the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund via Wetzel’s foundation, Koe’s Kids. Fans who cannot attend the concert but would still like to help the cause can find donation information at KoeWetzelMusic.com.
 
“Texas is home – these floods hit our neighbors hard and they need our help,” reflects Wetzel. “Music has a way of bringing people together, and I’m grateful to my friends who immediately raised their hands to help when we called. This benefit concert is our way of standing with the people of Texas and doing whatever we can to make a difference as our great state rebuilds.”
 
Stronger Together is made possible through support from generous partners including Todd Graves and Raising Cane's, Rock & Roll Denim and Outlaw Beer.

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down. The Texan singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. With his defining fifth studio album, 9 Lives, released in 2024 via Columbia Records, Wetzel earned recognition on several major year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean and more, with the Los Angeles Times naming lead single “High Road” (feat. Jessie Murph) as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres. The single not only marked Wetzel’s debut at Country radio, it also held the No. 1 spot for five weeks and became his fastest song to reach the RIAA Platinum milestone to date. Previously, his 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no-holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” plus the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has amassed 3.7 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” Wetzel performed for well over 200,000 fans across the U.S. in Europe in 2024, with over 96% of all headline tickets sold, in addition to playing prominent festival sets and opening for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour, while 2025 sees him again embark on a year of heavy touring both as a headliner and alongside Wallen and HARDY.

Koe Wetzel Ushers in the Next Era With "Surrounded" Out This Friday 7/25

Fresh off a pair of home state stadium dates in Texas with Morgan Wallen and in the midst of a high-energy run of summer festival dates amid Jim Bob World Tour legs with HARDY, Koe Wetzel returns this week with the highly anticipated release of “Surrounded” – the first official preview of new music since his chart-topping 9 Lives. The long-awaited single arrives this Friday, July 25, alongside an official visualizer. Pre-save/pre-order HERE.
 
Initially teased during a radio event in February, “Surrounded” has since become a fixture in Wetzel’s live set, building buzz through headline and festival performances across the country, including standout moments at Country Fest, Country Boom and Windy City Smokeout – where he also appeared on “Good Morning America” as the celebrity guest judge for their onsite BBQ competition.
 
“‘Surrounded’ felt like the right way to kick off this next chapter,” shares Wetzel of the hard-driving track that delves into the feeling of being trapped by a memory you can’t outrun. “The way fans locked into it live from the jump has been wild, so we’re fired up to finally let the full thing loose this week.”
 
The release of “Surrounded” follows a landmark year that saw Wetzel hit five consecutive weeks at No. 1 with 9 Lives standout “High Road” featuring Jessie Murph, land on year-end “Best Of” lists from the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, LA Times, Tennessean, Holler and more, grace the cover or POLLSTAR and receive three new RIAA certifications at the sold-out Red Rocks finale of the Damn Near Normal World Tour, which saw the renegade rockstar perform for well over 200,000 fans globally with over 96% of all headline tickets sold – and even spawned its own live album.
 
With new music arriving this week, a nonstop touring schedule this summer and his Madison Square Garden debut this fall, Wetzel shows no signs of slowing down.
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down. The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. With his defining fifth studio album, 9 Lives, released in 2024 via Columbia Records, Wetzel earned recognition on several major year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean and more, with the Los Angeles Times naming lead single “High Road” (feat. Jessie Murph) as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres. The single not only marked Wetzel’s debut at Country radio, it also held the No. 1 spot for five weeks and became his fastest song to reach the RIAA Platinum milestone to date. Previously, his 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no-holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” plus the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has amassed 3.7 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” Wetzel performed for well over 200,000 fans across the U.S. in Europe in 2024, with over 96% of all headline tickets sold, in addition to playing prominent festival sets and opening for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour, while 2025 sees him again embark on a year of heavy touring both as a headliner and alongside Wallen and HARDY.

Koe Wetzel Celebrates Grand Opening of Riot Room Houston

Fresh off electrifying a sold-out crowd on the first of two nights as direct support on Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem Tour at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Texas native Koe Wetzel kept the party rolling with the highly anticipated grand opening of Koe Wetzel’s Riot Room Houston on Friday, June 20.
 
Following the groundbreaking success of the original Riot Room in Fort Worth, the Houston outpost levels up the concept with an even more immersive, unapologetically bold experience. Designed to be bigger, rowdier and more creative, the 8,000 square-foot, two-story venue sits in the heart of Midtown and can host nearly 700 guests.
 
True to Wetzel’s reputation for doing things his own way, Riot Room Houston pushes the limits with standout features including:

• A full-sized pontoon boat bringing that “on the lake” vibe straight into the club

• A DJ booth set in a full-size Ford pickup engine bay

• A custom-built jail cell and bucking bull, both perfect for photo ops

• A vintage pickup truck suspended on the building’s exterior

• Wetzel’s lyrics in neon lighting up the space

• Photos and memorabilia that bring fans closer to the music and the man behind it

The venue also boasts an upgraded kitchen with a brand-new menu, including Houston-exclusive items that make this Riot Room unlike any other.
 
Following the home-state shows with Wallen, Wetzel is next slated to play several prominent festival sets throughout the summer in addition to joining HARDY’s Jim Bob World Tour later this year.
 
For more information, visit KoeWetzelsRiotRoom.com and KoeWetzelMusic.com. Follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

Credit Motion Theory Media

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down. The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop and even Nineties grunge. With his defining fifth studio album, 9 Lives, released in 2024 via Columbia Records, Wetzel earned recognition on several major year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean and more, with the Los Angeles Times naming lead single “High Road” (feat. Jessie Murph) as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres. The single not only marked Wetzel’s debut at Country radio, it also held the No. 1 spot for five weeks and became his fastest song to reach the RIAA Platinum milestone to date. Previously, his 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no-holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” plus the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has amassed 3.7 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” Wetzel performed for well over 200,000 fans across the U.S. in Europe in 2024, with over 96% of all headline tickets sold, in addition to playing prominent festival sets and opening for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour, while 2025 sees him again embark on a year of heavy touring both as a headliner and alongside Wallen and HARDY.

Koe Wetzel Day Arrives With 'Live from the Damn Near Normal Tour' Out Now

In celebration of today’s fan-favorite holiday, Koe Wetzel Day, POLLSTAR's “under-the-radar superstar” delivers a brand-new album, Live from the Damn Near Normal Tour, available everywhere now. Listen HERE.
 
The 13-track live album captures the raw, raucous energy of Wetzel’s 2024 Damn Near Normal Tour, featuring live recordings from Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, S.C.), the Moody Center (Austin, Texas) and Dickies Arena (Fort Worth, Texas). Available digitally now and for preorder as a 2LP Opaque White Vinyl, the album celebrates a setlist stacked with live recordings of songs such as the Platinum-certified, 5-week No. 1 “High Road,” Platinum-certified “Sweet Dreams” and Gold-certified “Damn Near Normal” from his critically acclaimed album 9 Lives, which earned year-end best-of praise from prominent outlets Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Los Angeles Times, Tennessean, Holler and more, plus beloved catalog hits such as “Austin,” “Love” and the iconic “February 28, 2016.”
 
To mark the occasion of the unofficial holiday made famous by that song, Wetzel’s own Riot Room will host a massive Koe Wetzel Day block party tonight, complete with flash tattoos, a Raising Cane’s food truck, limited merch from Roll & Roll Denim, drink specials… and a surprise performance from Koe himself.
 
The origins of Koe Wetzel Day date back to the aforementioned February 28, 2016, when a legendary night out turned into an infamous moment in Koe Wetzel lore that now serves as an annual rallying point. As an added celebration of the day, Wetzel is giving back to fans with 28% off all regularly priced items via his online store for the full 24 hours, including vinyl and a fresh merch drop.  
 
Having recently kicked off the year with a sold-out San Antonio Rodeo performance, Wetzel is poised to continue the strong momentum from the Damn Near Normal Tour into 2025 with upcoming performances at SXSW on March 13 and Stagecoach on April 26 before hitting the road with HARDY and Morgan Wallen this summer.  
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down. The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop and even Nineties grunge. With his defining fifth studio album, 9 Lives, released in 2024 via Columbia Records, Wetzel earned recognition on several major year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean and more, with the Los Angeles Times naming lead single “High Road” (feat. Jessie Murph) as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres. The single not only marked Wetzel’s debut at Country radio, it also held the No. 1 spot for five weeks and became his fastest song to reach the RIAA Platinum milestone to date. Previously, his 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no-holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” plus the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has amassed 3.7 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” Wetzel performed for well over 200,000 fans across the U.S. in Europe in 2024, with over 96% of all headline tickets sold, in addition to playing prominent festival sets and opening for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour, while 2025 sees him again embark on a year of heavy touring both as a headliner and alongside Wallen and HARDY.

Koe Wetzel’s ‘Live from the Damn Near Normal Tour’ Album Arrives Friday

POLLSTAR’s “under-the-radar superstar” Koe Wetzel is bringing the energy of his dynamic live shows straight to fans with the release of his brand-new album, Live from the Damn Near Normal Tour, dropping this Friday, Feb. 28 just in time for the annual Koe Wetzel Day celebration. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.
 
The 13-track live album captures the raw, raucous energy of Wetzel’s 2024 Damn Near Normal Tour, featuring live recordings from Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, S.C.), the Moody Center (Austin, Texas) and Dickies Arena (Fort Worth, Texas). Available digitally this Friday and for preorder as a 2LP Opaque White Vinyl, the album celebrates a setlist stacked with live recordings of songs such as the Platinum-certified, 5-week No. 1 “High Road,” Platinum-certified “Sweet Dreams” and Gold-certified “Damn Near Normal” from his critically acclaimed album 9 Lives, which earned year-end best-of praise from prominent outlets Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Los Angeles Times, the Tennessean, Holler and more, plus catalog fan-favorites such as “Austin,” “Love” and the iconic “February 28, 2016.”
 
To mark the occasion of the unofficial holiday made famous by that song, Wetzel’s own Riot Room will host a massive Koe Wetzel Day block party this Friday, Feb. 28, complete with a Raising Cane’s food truck, drink specials and much more to be announced. The origins of Koe Wetzel Day date back to the aforementioned February 28, 2016, when a legendary night out turned into an infamous moment in Koe Wetzel lore that now serves as an annual rallying point. As an added celebration of the day, Wetzel is giving back to the fans with 28% off his entire online store for the full 24 hours, including vinyl and a fresh merch drop.  
 
Having recently kicked off with a sold-out San Antonio Rodeo performance, Wetzel is poised to continue the strong momentum from the Damn Near Normal Tour into 2025 with upcoming performances at SXSW on March 13 and Stagecoach on April 26 before hitting the road with HARDY and Morgan Wallen this summer.  
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down. The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop and even Nineties grunge. With his defining fifth studio album, 9 Lives, released in 2024 via Columbia Records, Wetzel earned recognition on several major year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean and more, with the Los Angeles Times naming lead single “High Road” (feat. Jessie Murph) as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres. The single not only marked Wetzel’s debut at Country radio, it also held the No. 1 spot for five weeks and became his fastest song to reach the RIAA Platinum milestone to date. Previously, his 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no-holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” plus the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has amassed 3.7 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” Wetzel performed for well over 200,000 fans across the U.S. in Europe in 2024, with over 96% of all headline tickets sold, in addition to playing prominent festival sets and opening for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour, while 2025 sees him again embark on a year of heavy touring both as a headliner and alongside Wallen and HARDY.

Koe Wetzel Graces POLLSTAR Cover, Celebrating His Rise as a Modern-Day Rebel

Koe Wetzel, the chart-topping renegade whose electrifying blend of Red Dirt country, grunge rock and outlaw spirit has earned him a loyal following across the globe, kicks off 2025 as this week’s POLLSTAR cover artist. Highlighting Wetzel’s meteoric rise and his unparalleled connection with fans, the profile explores how the Texas-born artist has reshaped the boundaries of country music with his unapologetic authenticity and relentless touring schedule.
 
From headlining sold-out shows at iconic venues like Red Rocks and throughout Europe to making history with his latest album 9 Lives and five-week No. 1 lead single “High Road (feat. Jessie Murph),” Wetzel has proven that his unique “hillbilly punk rock” sound resonates far beyond the genre’s traditional limits.
 
“This tour, we had a lot of new fans who weren’t used to how hard we go. I could see it on their faces,” Wetzel shares in the cover story celebrating the “under-the-radar superstar.” “People leave going, ‘That was a lot.’ But they love everything about it.”
 
“Koe doesn’t hold back onstage,” added manager Jeb Hurt. “He says outlandish things. He cusses. He tells wild stories. Fans respect that and have come to expect it from him. They look forward to Koe’s shows, because it’s an opportunity to be yourself and not worry about who’s watching or listening.”
 
AEG’s Adam Weisser echoed Wetzel’s fan-first mentality, recounting a time when his drummer missed a flight to a show – something that would push most artists to postpone or cancel. “Koe had the best idea,” he shared with POLLSTAR. “He said ‘Refreshments are on me. Go get beers. Go get whatever. I’m buying the concessions. I’m coming back in 15 minutes, and I’m gonna play.”
 
“Koe didn’t build it from TikTok or one radio hit,” noted Chicago-based promoter Ed Warm, who has booked him multiple times on progressively larger stages, from Joe’s on Weed St. and Joe’s Rosemont to now headlining the 2025 Windy City Smokeout. “It was one fan at a time, one city at a time, but everywhere he played, they came back with three or four friends. That first time he played (for us), I was energized. I thought, ‘This is different. This isn’t your dad’s Red Dirt music, it’s a seismic shift in how the music’s going. But it fits how raw and real and genuine Red Dirt is.’” 
 
His music has resonated overseas, too, with BBC Radio 2’s “Country Show” producer Mark Hagen adding, “What Koe does very well is not be any one thing – not a straight up country player, not a Southern rocker, not a metalhead, but a bit of all those at once. Historically, that really appeals to the UK audience accustomed to the idea that genre is not as important as the quality of your songs… We have a fondness for acts who have a distinct character to them. Koe certainly has that. You can’t mistake him for anyone else.”
 
Following the landmark success of 2024, Wetzel is already gearing up for another high-throttle year on the road, with upcoming headlining shows at the San Antonio Rodeo, Windy City Smokeout, Tailgate N’ Tallboys and more, plus prominent sets at Stagecoach and CMC Rocks (Australia) and more exciting tour news coming soon.
 
For more information, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down. The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. With his defining fifth studio album, 9 Lives, released in 2025 via Columbia Records, Wetzel earned recognition on several major year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean and more, with the Los Angeles Times naming lead single “High Road” (feat. Jessie Murph) as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres. The single not only marked Wetzel’s debut at Country radio, it also held the No. 1 spot for five weeks and became his fastest song to reach the RIAA Platinum milestone to date. Previously, his 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no-holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” plus the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has amassed 3.7 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, appearing for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel again performed for well over 200,000 fans across the U.S. in Europe in 2024, with over 96% of all headline tickets sold, in addition to playing prominent festival sets and opening for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour.

Koe Wetzel’s “High Road (feat. Jessie Murph)” Makes History With 5th Week at No. 1

Koe Wetzel continues his meteoric rise into 2025 as “High Road” featuring Jessie Murph, both artists’ first single at Country radio, remains atop the Billboard Country Airplay chart for a fifth consecutive week. “High Road” is only the sixth debut single to achieve this feat since the chart’s inception in 1990 and marks the first song by two acts each charting for the first time to ever earn that distinction.
 
“The way ‘High Road’ has connected has been unreal, and to wrap my head around the fact that it’s stayed at No. 1 for over a month now is honestly hard to do,” marvels Wetzel. “It’s a hell of a way to start 2025.”
 
“Getting to No. 1 is difficult; staying there for five weeks is very difficult and only happens if the song is a true bonafide smash hit record,” RECORDS Nashville EVP Josh Easler shared with Billboard as he earned Executive of the Week honors in recognition of the milestone achievement.
 
“High Road” is the lead single off Wetzel’s fifth studio album and fourth Billboard Top 10, 9 Lives (Columbia), which has proven to be a defining album for the Texan renegade, earning recognition on multiple year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean, Holler and more, with the Los Angeles Times naming “High Road” specifically as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres.
 
Written by Wetzel alongside Murph, Amy Allen, Carrie Karpinen, Laura Veltz, Josh Serrato and producer Gabe Simon, the single has amassed more than 330 million global streams en route to becoming Wetzel’s fastest RIAA Platinum certification to date.
 
As Wetzel dominates the airwaves, he’s also gearing up for another high-throttle year on the road, with upcoming headlining shows at the San Antonio Rodeo, Windy City Smokeout, Tailgates N’ Tallboys and more, plus prominent sets at Stagecoach and CMC Rocks (Australia) and more exciting tour news coming soon.
 
For more information, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down. The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. With his defining fifth studio album, 9 Lives, released in 2025 via Columbia Records, Wetzel earned recognition on several major year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean and more, with the Los Angeles Times naming lead single “High Road” (feat. Jessie Murph) as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres. The single not only marked Wetzel’s debut at Country radio, it also held the No. 1 spot for five weeks and became his fastest song to reach the RIAA Platinum milestone to date. Previously, his 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no-holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” plus the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has amassed 3.7 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, appearing for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel again performed for well over 200,000 fans across the U.S. in Europe in 2024, with over 96% of all headline tickets sold, in addition to playing prominent festival sets and opening for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour.

Koe Wetzel Hits No. 1 with “High Road" feat. Jessie Murph

Koe Wetzel caps a breakout year with another major career milestone, earning his first No. 1 single at Country radio with “High Road” featuring Jessie Murph, topping both the Billboard Country Airplay and Country Aircheck/Mediabase Country charts this week while also Top 20 Hot AC and Top 25 at Top 40. 

“Look at us with a No. 1! Jessie, you’re a beast of a singer and writer, glad we share this one together. Amy, Carrie, Laura, Serrato and Gabe, it’s an honor any time we’re in a room together,” shares Wetzel. “It’s been an unbelievable year and to cap it off with this is just unreal. Huge shoutout to the fans for already making this one Platinum, to our promo team for working their asses off all year and to Country radio for taking a chance on a kid from East Texas.” 

Released in July as his fifth studio album, 9 Lives has proven to be a defining album for Wetzel, earning recognition on multiple year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Tennessean, Holler and more, with the Los AngelesTimes naming “High Road” specifically as the No. 8 best song of 2024 across all genres.

“High Road” showcases the mature level of vulnerability that defines the still hard-rocking album as a whole:

As Wetzel dominates the year-end airwaves, he’s also spreading holiday cheer with the recent release of his new holiday EP, Koe Wetzel Presents…Wetzel's Wonderland Chapter 2. Featuring four new reimagined classics, the project continues a tradition that Wetzel’s began last year, now boasting seven songs total. This holiday spirit will come alive later this week when Wetzel takes the stage for two special shows in his home state of Texas for Wetzel’s Wonderland Live, set for Friday, Dec. 27 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth and Saturday, Dec. 28 at Moody Center in Austin. Limited tickets remain available HERE.
 
For more information, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 3.4 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own recently-wrapped Damn Near Normal World Tour. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as Platinum-certified lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph marks his first No. 1 Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

Koe Wetzel’s Year-End Best Of Lists + Theo Von

Koe Wetzel continues to celebrate a milestone year, solidifying his status as a powerful force in Country music with his acclaimed album 9 Lives earning a spot on major year-end lists from the all-genre wrap-ups in Rolling Stone and Billboard, to the Tennessean and Holler bests in Country. Cementing Wetzel’s reputation as one of music’s most boundary-pushing forces, the album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and No. 15 across all genres. Listen HERE.
 
Rolling Stone hailed 9 Lives as one of the “Best Albums of 2024,” declaring that “Wetzel has been a Texas country anti-hero for a decade now, but 9 Lives finally helped introduce the singer-songwriter to an audience outside the Lone Star State,” while Billboard spotlighted the track “Sweet Dreams” in its “Best Songs of 2024” roundup, describing it as “bruised rather than bruising, soft rock designed for hushed singalongs.” The accolades continued with the Tennesseannaming the record among its “Top Nashville Albums of 2024,” celebrating Wetzel as “about as real as a musician can get,” noting that “9 Lives represents Wetzel’s best work yet and signals there's much more to come,” with “Holler” praising it among its “Best Country Music Albums of 2024” as “a record that thrives in its exposure to honesty…equal parts outrageous and vulnerable, swaggering yet subdued.”
 
As “High Road” feat. Jessie Murph climbs ever closer to the top spot at Country radio (No. 3 on this week’s Mediabase chart and No. 4 on Billboard Country Airplay) while also impacting at both Hot AC (Top 25 at No. 23) and Top 40 (Top 30 at No. 26), Wetzel’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down. In a year that saw Wetzel perform to well over 200,000 fans across the U.S. and Europe with over 96% of all headline tickets sold, he also amassed more than 650 million global streams of 9 Lives and earned five new RIAA certifications, with “High Road” becoming his fastest song to reach the Platinum milestone to date.  
 
Wetzel also recently sat down with comedian and podcaster Theo Von for a wide-ranging conversation providing insight into his Texas upbringing, his relationship with fans and his take on modern Country music. Watch Below.
 
Adding a festive note to his banner year, Wetzel also recently released Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2, a building holiday collection that brings his signature edge to the Christmas season. Featuring four new reimagined classics, the project continues a tradition that Wetzel’s began last year, now boasting seven songs total. This holiday spirit will come alive later this month when Wetzel takes the stage for two special shows in his home state of Texas for Wetzel’s Wonderland Live, set for December 27 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth and December 28 at Moody Center in Austin. Limited tickets remain available HERE.
 
For more information, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 3.4 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own recently-wrapped Damn Near Normal World Tour. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as Platinum-certified lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

“Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2” New 7-Song Holiday Collection Arrives Friday

Following last year’s festive Wetzel’s Wonderland, genre-defying artist Koe Wetzel returns with Koe Wetzel Presents... Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2 set for release this Friday, December 6. The new installment, packed with Wetzel’s bold takes on holiday classics, is available to presave now via WetzelsWonderland.com.
 
Building on its predecessor, Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2 features fresh renditions of holiday staples, including a spoken-word “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas” intro plus “Run Run Rudolph,” “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Silver Bells,” blending nostalgia with a modern edge. The initial installment featured Wetzel’s rock-infused covers of classics “Please Come Home for Christmas,” “Blue Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” earning rave reviews from fans and critics alike. 
 
Country Central described the project as “a festive twist on Koe’s signature style,” while Country Now applauded his “unconventional energy that resonates across genres.” This year’s sequel takes the tradition further, delivering an eclectic mix of holiday favorites infused with Wetzel’s raw sound and heartfelt delivery. 
 
“I fucking love Christmas,” he declares. “It is always a big deal in the Wetzel household, and we wanted to put our own spin on some more holiday classics for you. Ho Ho Ho from Uncle Koe!”
 
Fans eager to celebrate the holidays in person can also catch two special Wetzel’s Wonderland Live shows in Texas: December 27 at Austin’s Moody Center and December 28 at Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena. Limited tickets remain via KoeWetzelMusic.com.
 
In the midst of offering fans a new soundtrack for the season, Wetzel continues to dominate the charts with his latest single, “High Road,” featuring Jessie Murph. The lead single from his critically acclaimed album 9 Lives, is quickly climbing the Top 10 as his Country radio debut while also impacting at Top 40 and Hot AC, further cementing his reputation as a boundary-pushing artist who thrives across genres.
 
For more information, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 3.4 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own recently-wrapped Damn Near Normal World Tour. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as Platinum-certified lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

Koe Wetzel Drops “Good Times (Bonus Track)” Ahead of European Run

As 9 Lives lead single “High Road” feat. Jessie Murph crests the top 20 at country radio (currently at No. 16 and climbing in just 14 weeks) while also impacting at Top 40 and Hot AC, Forbes’s “rising music powerhouse” Koe Wetzel has surprised fans by adding a bonus track to the critically acclaimed album, with brand new song “Good Times (Bonus Track)” out now. Listen Below.
 
“One of the coolest parts of being on the road all summer has been celebrating this new album with the fans every night,” reflects Wetzel of the recently-wrapped U.S. leg of his Damn Near Normal World Tour, which heads to Europe next week. “Going overseas for our first real headlining run in some of these cities, it felt like the perfect time to give the fans one more new song to sing every night. We’re not giving up the good times just yet!”
 
The introspective track penned by Wetzel alongside Steph Jones, Charlie Handsome, Josh Serrato and producer Gabe Simon after a long night out sees the renegade rocker reckoning with leaving the party behind and doubling down on the “new emotional depths” the Los Angeles Times celebrates on “his stirring new album, 9 Lives, reveal[ing] an older, slightly wiser hell-raiser.”

“Every record’s almost turning a new leaf, always a left turn because of how honest I am. I want fans to know that there's a different side of me, not just the sex, drugs, and rock & roll Koe that they may have heard about online,” Wetzel shared upon the album’s release. “I've grown up a little bit. I’m no longer the 20-year-old kid that's partying down and getting thrown in jail all the time. 9 Lives reveals a vulnerable side that people may not be used to hearing.”
 
The new release joins fan-favorite track “Casamigos,” which was recently released along with an official music video, in rounding out the final 9 Lives track list. To date, the critically acclaimed album has accumulated more than 500 million audio/video streams globally after debuting at No. 15 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart (No. 2 among new releases behind only the “Twisters” soundtrack).
 
Following the overseas leg of the Damn Near Normal World Tour running through November, Wetzel will also bring the holiday spirit home to Texas this Christmas, with two Wetzel’s Wonderland Live shows set for Friday, Dec. 27 and Saturday, Dec. 28 in Austin and Fort Worth, respectively.
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

Wetzel’s Wonderland Live Dates:
Dec. 27      Austin, Texas  ||  Moody Center
Dec. 28      Fort Worth, Texas  ||  Dickies Arena
 
About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 3.4 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel has played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour, currently underway. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as Platinum-certified lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

Koe Wetzel Celebrates 3 New RIAA Certs at Sold-Out Red Rocks Finale of 'Damn Near Normal World Tour' U.S. Leg

Spanning 28 sold-out dates across the country, Koe Wetzel’s Damn Near Normal World Tourwrapped its U.S. leg emphatically this weekend, bringing the live show praised by the Tennessean for its “mix of reckless abandon and a veteran artist’s knowledge of how to move a crowd to believe in the power of intoxication and sensuality to gratify their wildest dreams every night” to the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, even treating fans to the rarely-performed-live “Honey Pain.” Prior to the sold-out stateside finale, Wetzel was also presented with three plaques celebrating the new RIAA Platinum certification of current single “High Road” as well as the Gold certification of hits “Sweet Dreams” and “Creeps.” 
 
“Every year that we’re out on the road seeing the fans singing every word of these songs, I think to myself that it can’t possibly get bigger or better – and then the next tour rolls around and it does,” he reflected following the show. “Red Rocks is up there with some of my favorite shows we’ve ever played and I’m so grateful to the people who show up every night. We can’t wait to keep this thing rolling across the pond... hope you’re ready for some rowdy Texas boys headed your way!”
 
Wetzel’s debut single at country radio, “High Road” feat. Jessie Murph, also continues its impressive momentum, cresting the top 20 at country radio (currently at No. 16 in just 14 weeks) while also impacting at Top 40 and Hot AC. 
 
Following the release of his critically acclaimed fifth studio album 9 Lives earlier this year, which has accumulated more than 500 million audio/video streams globally after debuting at No. 15 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart (No. 2 among new releases behind only the “Twisters” soundtrack), Wetzel recently released fan-favorite track “Casamigos” along with an official music video and has teased even more new music on the horizon as he gears up to head overseas for a run of shows through November.
 
Wetzel will also bring the holiday spirit home to Texas this Christmas, with two Wetzel’s Wonderland Live shows set for Friday, Dec. 27 and Saturday, Dec. 28 in Austin and Fort Worth, respectively.
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

(L to R: Columbia Records’ Alexa Zeliger, Floating Leaf Entertainment’s Jeb Hurt, Columbia Records’ Drew Schieffelin & Peter Gray, Koe Wetzel, Columbia Records’ Ben Maddahi, Floating Leaf Entertainment’s Cody Maldonado, Columbia Records’ Sarah Pfeiffer & Karissa Keller) | Photo Credit: Trevor Lamb, Motion Theory Media

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 3.4 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel has played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour, currently underway. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as Platinum-certified lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

Koe Wetzel Brings "Wetzel's Wonderland Live" to Texas Dec. 26 & 27; Tickets on Sale Friday

 Forbes’s “rising music powerhouse” Koe Wetzel brings the holiday spirit home to Texas this Christmas, with two Wetzel’s Wonderland Live shows set for Friday, Dec. 26 and Saturday, Dec. 27 in Austin and Fort Worth, respectively. Tickets to both dates, featuring special guests Morgan Wade and Stephen Wilson, Jr., are on sale this Friday, Sept. 20.
 
The two shows will bring to life the Platinum-certified country-rocker’s Wetzel Wonderland EP, released in 2023 and featuring his reimagined takes on “Blue Christmas,” “Please Come Home for Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” 
 
The holiday homecoming will serve as the finale to a year of sold-out shows from Wetzel, with his Damn Near Normal Tour currently underway. The headlining run has spanned the U.S. all summer and will conclude at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre before heading overseas through November.
 
Wetzel most recently released fan-favorite track “Casamigos” along with an official music video last Friday, Sept. 13, as his fifth studio album 9 Lives continues to impress. Having debuted at No. 15 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart (No. 2 among new releases behind only the “Twisters” soundtrack), the vulnerably mature album features lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph, which has already cracked the Top 30 in just 10 weeks at country radio, while “Sweet Dreams” earned a nod at next week’s NBC People’s Choice Country Awards and the duo of songs marked Wetzel’s first two Hot Country Songs Top 10 hits.
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel. 

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 3.3 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel has played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour, currently underway. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

Koe Wetzel’s “Casamigos” Out Now w/ Official Music Video

When Koe Wetzel’s highly anticipated fifth studio album 9 Lives arrived in July, it debuted at No. 15 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, earning critical praise commending his most vulnerable work to date. Lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph – his first-ever at country radio – has already cracked the Top 30 in just 10 weeks, while “Sweet Dreams” earned a nod at this month’s NBC People’s Choice Country Awards and the duo of songs marked Wetzel’s first two Hot Country Songs Top 10 hits, also debuting on at No. 29 and No. 47 respectively on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart. Despite the album’s impressive wave of success, there was just one thing missing: “Where is ‘Casamigos’!?” read countless comments on his social posts. Today, the man celebrated by the Los Angeles Times for establishing his fanbase on the road answers that question emphatically, with “Casamigos” and its accompanying official music video available to stream everywhere now.
 
“It took a while to get this song right,” Wetzel concedes. “I think it changed five or six different times; lyrically, musically, the melody, everything about it. We’d get used to it for a month or so and then we’d change it up again, but once the final was done we knew the song was special. I think going through those ups and downs is one of the reasons why we kept it off the record to begin with, just so it could have its own light and its own time because we’re super happy with the song and now it’s one of my favorites on the record.”
 
Written by Wetzel together with Amy Allen, Sam Harris, Ben Burgess and producer Gabe Simon, the rowdy singalong sees the dark-haired Texan ruminating on the things lost to his wild ways, while noting that perhaps a certain relationship also disappearing from his life is the one thing he may not actually miss, a theme further brought to life in the official music video out now. Directed by Patrick Tohill (“Creeps”) and shot at a lake house in New Jersey, the music video depicts Wetzel leaving everything behind to start over in New York City. Watch Below. 
 
Wetzel will bring the tequila-driven anthem to the remainder of his Damn Near Normal World Tour throughout the fall, making stops in St. Louis, Nashville, Indianapolis, across his home state of Texas and more, before closing out the U.S. run at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre and heading overseas through November. 
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and X @KoeWetzel. 

Remaining Damn Near Normal World Tour Dates:
Sept. 13            Camdenton, Mo.  ||  Ozarks Amphitheater  
Sept. 18            St. Louis, Mo.  ||  Chaifetz Arena  
Sept. 20            Huntsville, Ala.  ||  The Orion Amphitheater  
Sept. 21            Macon, Ga.  ||  Atrium Health Amphitheater  
Sept. 25            Alexandria, La.  ||  Rapides Parish Coliseum  – SOLD OUT  
Sept. 26            Tuscaloosa, Ala.  ||  Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater  
Sept. 27            Nashville, Tenn.  ||  Ascend Amphitheater – SOLD OUT
Sept. 28            Little Rock, Ark.  ||  First Security Amphitheater  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 3               Pikeville, Ky.  ||  Appalachian Wireless Arena  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 4               Indianapolis, Ind.  ||  Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park – SOLD OUT
Oct. 5               Evansville, Ind.  ||  Ford Center  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 10             Abilene, Texas  ||  Expo Center of Taylor County  
Oct. 11             Lubbock, Texas  ||  Cooks Garage  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 13             Morrison, Colo.  ||  Red Rocks Amphitheatre – SOLD OUT
Oct. 26             Manchester, U.K.  ||  Academy 3
Oct. 27             London, U.K.  ||  The Garage
Oct. 30             Glasgow, U.K.  ||  Oran Mor
Oct. 31             Birmingham, U.K.  ||  Academy 2
Nov. 1              Leeds, U.K.  ||  Brudenell Social Club
Nov.3               Amsterdam, Netherlands  ||  Melkweg (Oude Zaal)
Nov. 5              Hamburg, Germany  ||  Bahnhof Pauli
Nov. 6              Berlin, Germany  ||  Frannz Club
Nov. 7              Cologne, Germany  ||  Club Volta 
 
Additional Shows:
Sept. 14            Prior, Okla.  ||  Born & Raised
Sept. 19            Louisville, Ky.  ||  Bourbon & Beyond
 
About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 3.3 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel has played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour, currently underway. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

Koe Wetzel Makes Late Night Debut: “High Road” on CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Rolling Stone notes, “there’s an undeniable thrill” that comes with grunge-infused country rocker Koe Wetzel’s music, and with his first-ever single at Country radio, “High Road” featuring Jessie Murph already Top 40 on Billboard charts in just six weeks and two People’s Choice Country Award noms, his presence with new album 9 Lives is undeniable. After 8 years of building his touring base, the “ain't startin' my day until 2 a.m.-er” made his debut on late night, naturally. 
 
Wetzel and Murph joined forces to perform “High Road” in the iconic Ed Sullivan Theater on last night's episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS/Paramount+. Watch the full performance below.

For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming shows, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel.

Damn Near Normal World Tour Dates:
Aug. 16            Council Bluffs, Iowa  ||  Stir Cove (Harrah’s Casino) – SOLD OUT
Aug. 21            Cleveland, Ohio  ||  Jacobs Pavilion  
Aug. 22            Columbus, Ohio  ||  KEMBA Live! Outdoor – SOLD OUT
Aug. 23            Pittsburgh, Pa.  ||  Stage AE – SOLD OUT
Aug. 24            Washington, D.C.  ||  The Anthem – SOLD OUT
Aug. 28            Boston, Mass.  ||  Roadrunner  – SOLD OUT
Aug. 29            Uncasville, Conn.  ||  Mohegan Sun Arena  
Aug. 30            Atlantic City, N.J.  ||  Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena  
Aug. 31            Reading, Pa.  ||  Santander Arena  – SOLD OUT
Sept. 4              Charleston, W.V.  ||  Charleston Coliseum  
Sept. 5              Roanoke, Va.  ||  Berglund Center  
Sept. 6              Columbia, S.C.  ||  Colonial Life Arena  – SOLD OUT 
Sept. 7              Cary, N.C.  ||  Koka Booth Amphitheatre  – SOLD OUT  
Sept. 12            Kansas City, Kan.  ||  Azura Amphitheater  
Sept. 13            Camdenton, Mo.  ||  Ozarks Amphitheater  
Sept. 18            St. Louis, Mo.  ||  Chaifetz Arena  
Sept. 20            Huntsville, Ala.  ||  The Orion Amphitheater  
Sept. 21            Macon, Ga.  ||  Atrium Health Amphitheater  
Sept. 25            Alexandria, La.  ||  Rapides Parish Coliseum  – SOLD OUT  
Sept. 26            Tuscaloosa, Ala.  ||  Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater  
Sept. 27            Nashville, Tenn.  ||  Ascend Amphitheater – SOLD OUT
Sept. 28            Little Rock, Ark.  ||  First Security Amphitheater  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 3               Pikeville, Ky.  ||  Appalachian Wireless Arena  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 4               Indianapolis, Ind.  ||  Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park – SOLD OUT
Oct. 5               Evansville, Ind.  ||  Ford Center  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 10             Abilene, Texas  ||  Expo Center of Taylor County  
Oct. 11             Lubbock, Texas  ||  Cooks Garage  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 13             Morrison, Colo.  ||  Red Rocks Amphitheatre – SOLD OUT
Oct. 26             Manchester, U.K.  ||  Academy 3
Oct. 27             London, U.K.  ||  The Garage
Oct. 30             Glasgow, U.K.  ||  Oran Mor
Oct. 31             Birmingham, U.K.  ||  Academy 2
Nov. 1              Leeds, U.K.  ||  Brudenell Social Club
Nov.3               Amsterdam, Netherlands  ||  Melkweg (Oude Zaal)
Nov. 5              Hamburg, Germany  ||  Bahnhof Pauli
Nov. 6              Berlin, Germany  ||  Frannz Club
Nov. 7              Cologne, Germany  ||  Club Volta 
 
Additional Shows:
Aug. 17            Wichita, Kan.  ||  Bulls, Bands and Barrels
Sept. 14            Prior, Okla.  ||  Born & Raised
Sept. 19            Louisville, Ky.  ||  Bourbon & Beyond

Photo Credit: Scott Kowalchyk Photography

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 2.8 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel has played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour, currently underway. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

Koe Wetzel Makes Late Night Debut TONIGHT: “High Road” on CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Rolling Stone notes, “there’s an undeniable thrill” that comes with grunge-infused country rocker Koe Wetzel’s music, and with his first-ever single at Country radio, “High Road” featuring Jessie Murph already Top 40 on Billboard charts in just six weeks and two People’s Choice Country Award noms, his presence with new album 9 Lives is undeniable. After 8 years of building his touring base, the “ain't startin' my day until 2 a.m.-er” makes his debut on late night, naturally. 
 
Tune in to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert TONIGHT at 11:35/10:35p CT on CBS/Paramount+ as Wetzel with Jessie Murph perform “High Road” in the iconic Ed Sullivan Theater. 

Damn Near Normal World Tour Dates:
Aug. 15            Minneapolis, Minn.  ||  The Armory  
Aug. 16            Council Bluffs, Iowa  ||  Stir Cove (Harrah’s Casino) – SOLD OUT
Aug. 21            Cleveland, Ohio  ||  Jacobs Pavilion  
Aug. 22            Columbus, Ohio  ||  KEMBA Live! Outdoor – SOLD OUT
Aug. 23            Pittsburgh, Pa.  ||  Stage AE – SOLD OUT
Aug. 24            Washington, D.C.  ||  The Anthem – SOLD OUT
Aug. 28            Boston, Mass.  ||  Roadrunner  – SOLD OUT
Aug. 29            Uncasville, Conn.  ||  Mohegan Sun Arena  
Aug. 30            Atlantic City, N.J.  ||  Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena  
Aug. 31            Reading, Pa.  ||  Santander Arena  – SOLD OUT
Sept. 4              Charleston, W.V.  ||  Charleston Coliseum  
Sept. 5              Roanoke, Va.  ||  Berglund Center  
Sept. 6              Columbia, S.C.  ||  Colonial Life Arena  – SOLD OUT 
Sept. 7              Cary, N.C.  ||  Koka Booth Amphitheatre  – SOLD OUT  
Sept. 12            Kansas City, Kan.  ||  Azura Amphitheater  
Sept. 13            Camdenton, Mo.  ||  Ozarks Amphitheater  
Sept. 18            St. Louis, Mo.  ||  Chaifetz Arena  
Sept. 20            Huntsville, Ala.  ||  The Orion Amphitheater  
Sept. 21            Macon, Ga.  ||  Atrium Health Amphitheater  
Sept. 25            Alexandria, La.  ||  Rapides Parish Coliseum  – SOLD OUT  
Sept. 26            Tuscaloosa, Ala.  ||  Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater  
Sept. 27            Nashville, Tenn.  ||  Ascend Amphitheater – SOLD OUT
Sept. 28            Little Rock, Ark.  ||  First Security Amphitheater  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 3               Pikeville, Ky.  ||  Appalachian Wireless Arena  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 4               Indianapolis, Ind.  ||  Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park – SOLD OUT
Oct. 5               Evansville, Ind.  ||  Ford Center  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 10             Abilene, Texas  ||  Expo Center of Taylor County  
Oct. 11             Lubbock, Texas  ||  Cooks Garage  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 13             Morrison, Colo.  ||  Red Rocks Amphitheatre – SOLD OUT
Oct. 26             Manchester, U.K.  ||  Academy 3
Oct. 27             London, U.K.  ||  The Garage
Oct. 30             Glasgow, U.K.  ||  Oran Mor
Oct. 31             Birmingham, U.K.  ||  Academy 2
Nov. 1              Leeds, U.K.  ||  Brudenell Social Club
Nov.3               Amsterdam, Netherlands  ||  Melkweg (Oude Zaal)
Nov. 5              Hamburg, Germany  ||  Bahnhof Pauli
Nov. 6              Berlin, Germany  ||  Frannz Club
Nov. 7              Cologne, Germany  ||  Club Volta 
 
Additional Shows:
Aug. 17            Wichita, Kan.  ||  Bulls, Bands and Barrels
Sept. 14            Prior, Okla.  ||  Born & Raised
Sept. 19            Louisville, Ky.  ||  Bourbon & Beyond
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming shows, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel.

9 Lives Cover Art | Photo by John Park

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 2.8 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel has played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour, currently underway. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

Koe Wetzel's '9 Lives' Debuts at No. 5 Country Album, No. 15 All-Genre as 'Damn Near Normal World Tour' Begins

Texan renegade singer-songwriter Koe Wetzel continues his meteoric rise with his latest release, 9 Lives, debuting at No. 15 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart (No. 2 among new releases, behind only the “Twisters” soundtrack), marking Wetzel’s fourth Top 10 entry. With 36,200 in total consumption, 9 Lives surpasses the debut week of his previous album, Hell Paso, which entered at No. 3 with 25,000 units in October 2022.
 
“We’ve been honing and growing a certain sound, and we’re hitting it: it’s what the people have been expecting from me, but we hadn’t gotten there yet,” reflects Wetzel about the album that is resonating with fans in an unprecedented way. “This weekend we saw thousands of people singing the lyrics to every single song from the time we get onto that stage until we were done,” he marvels. “When you see that, you realize what you’re saying means something to people – and that’s more important than anything.”
 
9 Lives also arrives at No. 3 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart and features Wetzel’s first two Hot Country Songs Top 10 hits, “High Road” with Jessie Murph (currently No. 9, having peaked at No. 8) and “Sweet Dreams” (currently No. 19, having peaked at No. 10). Additionally, these tracks are making waves on the Billboard Country Streaming Songs chart, with “High Road” at No. 7 and “Sweet Dreams” at No. 25, having also debuted on at No. 29 and No. 47 respectively on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart.
 
“When we made music together, it was all about his heart, being honest with his feelings, and giving it the backdrop of confidence that didn’t feel like he was only being vulnerable, [that he was] also being a badass,” adds producer Gabe Simon in a conversation with American Songwriter about the new album recorded both in Texas and Tennessee. “It needed to be honest but also bulletproof.”
 
That backdrop of confidence was also on full display as Wetzel kicked off his Damn Near Normal World Tour with a sold-out weekend in his home state. Joining Morgan Wallen in performing to more than 50,000 fans on Friday, July 26 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, Wetzel then began his own headlining run in front of nearly 16,000 fans in Houston on Saturday, July 27. Photos from opening weekend of the tour that continues through mid-November are available HERE.
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming shows, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel.

(Credit Trevor Lamb)

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 2.8 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel has played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour, currently underway. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

Koe Wetzel Drops "Hatchet" Video as '9 Lives' Earns Critical Acclaim

“There’s an undeniable thrill that comes along with Wetzel’s music… Wetzel has never been shy about his sins, and on 9 Lives he leans even harder into his misdeeds.”
– Rolling Stone
 
“nods to R&B and ’70s soft rock amid the echoes of Waylon Jennings and Puddle of Mudd”
–Los Angeles Times
 
“unvarnished and unfiltered — sonically and lyrically”
– Billboard
 
“A Rising Music Powerhouse”
–  Forbes
 
“He’s outlaw country in his music and in life”
– GRAMMY.com
 
“Koe Wetzel is charging at pop stardom like an outside linebacker preparing to sack a quarterback from his blind side.”
– Tennessean
 
“Koe’s voice, which is objectively phenomenal, while at times raspy and dark in its timbre, always possesses that quintessential twang and clarity that defines country music.”
– Fort Worth Magazine
 
“This is a sea change for Koe… not only sonically but also a more personal look at who Koe is.”
– Today’s Country with Kelleigh Bannen 
 
“While 9 Lives is ultimately a contradiction of an album – equal parts outrageous and subdued, proud yet self-deprecating, volatile and still virtuous – it's a welcome one.”
– Holler

With fans having already pushed new album 9 Lives to the upper echelons of Apple Music’s album charts during the preorder window, Koe Wetzel’s new Columbia Records project arrived Friday, July 19 with a vengeance. With singles “Sweet Dreams” and “High Road” (with Jessie Murph) debuting at No. 47 and No. 29 respectively on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, Wetzel’s latest offering is connecting with his devout following. 
 
“I’ve never been afraid to say what’s on my mind or get too personal… I kind of do it because I know people out there are going through the same stuff or have gone through the same stuff, and they might not know how to cope with it,” Wetzel shared with “Today’s Country” host Kelleigh Bannen. “I just wanted to be honest with people and just give them the truth. I think that’s why people have related with us and our music so much… It’s kind of like my therapy pretty much; sometimes it’s hard for me to say things so I just take it out through the music.”
 
Critical acclaim has followed as well, with the album produced predominantly by Gabe Simon (Noah Kahan’s Stick Season) alongside a string of trusted collaborators like Josh Serrato, Amy Allen, Carrie K and Sam Harris (X Ambassadors) earning praise and recognition from Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Billboard, Forbes, GRAMMY.com and more:

Wetzel continues building on the album’s momentum with the release of an official music video for album standout “Hatchet.” Filmed at his lake home in East Texas, which he described in the July/August print issue of American Songwriter as his “sanctuary,” the video brings to life Simon and Mick Coogan’s flowing tangle of how hard love is, embodying the duality of Wetzel as a guy who is fully a man’s man, but also has that romantic tenderness that undermines his machismo.
 
“I remember hearing that song and really resonating with the lyrics when I was kind of going through the same thing at the time,” remembers Wetzel of the outside cut. “It’s one of those songs you feel like you could have written yourself and I’m really glad it found a home on this project.”
 
The new music arrives as Wetzel’s substantial catalog continues to resonate, with fan favorite “Good Die Young” off Sellout, his 2020 major label debut, earning RIAA Platinum certification on 9 Lives release day to mark Wetzel’s ninth RIAA-certified hit to date.
 
For more information on all things Koe Wetzel and to purchase tickets to upcoming shows – including a hometown stadium show as he joins Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour in Arlington, Texas tomorrow, July 26 and his headlining Damn Near Normal World Tour kicking off this Saturday, July 27 – visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel.

Photo by John Park / Design by Dalton Latham, Courtesy of Columbia Records

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” plus the Gold-certified “Good Die Young” and “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 2.8 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel will play prominent festival sets this summer and open for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as lead single “High Road” feat. Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single.