Koe Wetzel | Totally Private

After closing out 2024 with his first #1 at Country Radio, Texas Country’s Koe Wetzel is keeping the momentum rolling right into 2025 with a new album taking shape, supporting role on the road with HARDY’s 'Jim Bob' tour, and a slew of new fans. While his single, “High Road” featuring Jessie Murph may have been the first introduction of Koe to several Country fans, it was definitely not the East Texan’s first taste of success as he’s been a well-known name in the Texas Country scene for years. After years of success in the Lonestar music scene, Wetzel saw the opportunity for his music to impact more fans by expanding his reach through Nashville’s scene. “I think all we’re doin’ is showing the rest of the country, the rest of the world what Texas music is about,” he told Katie Neal ahead of his performance at Audacy’s 'Totally Private' concert series. Making clear he has no intentions of allowing his music to change with the expansion, Koe shared he’s honored to represent the Texas way within Country music alongside other natives who got their start in similar ways including Cody Johnson and Parker McCollum. “It’s cool to see Texas music getting out there a little bit,’ he expressed. Wetzel will have a big stage to show fans the Texas way as he hits the road with HARDY on the 'Jim Bob' Tour this year which will visit arenas and amphitheaters across the U.S. and Europe. “I’m excited, me and HARDY have been boys for a while,” Koe said of the fellow Country-Rocker, who he did an acoustic tour with in 2021. “Great dude, I love his music… it’s going to be a lot of fun. I hope nobody goes to jail because we’re going to have a good time,” he laughed. Known for their rowdy ways, exemplified by Koe breaking his shoulder on the last tour, the 32-year-old said they’ll have to tone things down a bit this year. Not only are he and HARDY both expecting baby girls to arrive this year, but Koe admits the “hangovers hurt a little more.” “We gotta wind it back a little this year,” he laughed. “We’re not as agile… we’re as crazy as we used to be, but we’re a little bit older so, the hangovers hurt a little bit more these days.” Ahead of hitting the road in September, Wetzel shared he’s currently at work on a new album and while he’s not sharing too much about it, he did say it’s more on the Rock & Roll side. “With the new record I wanted to kind of get a little bit more on the Rock & Roll side, back to that Texas Rock & Roll,” he disclosed. “We’re having a lot of fun with it, we’ll see how it turns out.” Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Katie Neal