“I’m so glad to have him around.”
That is how one country star talks about his newest neighbor, Tucker Wetmore. They have places on the same lake outside Nashville, and he said it on the radio show Country Countdown USA, which he co-hosted the weekend of Oct. 31.
It’s a big month for Tucker. On Nov. 18, he is up for New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards, which air on ABC with Lainey Wilson as host. It’s his second year in a row in that category.
If you are just getting to know him, Tucker grew up in Washington state and played college football until an injury pointed him toward music. He moved to Nashville in 2020. “Wind Up Missin’ You” became his first No. 1 on country radio, and “3,2,1” went to the top after it.
Now he has a lake view and some famous company.
His neighbor told listeners that for a long time, it was just him and one other singer on the lake. “Then Tucker showed an interest,” he said. “He got this spectacular property.”
The two have stayed close since. “We’ve made it a point to hang out,” he said. “I’ve had some house parties and he’s popped over to hang.” He added, “He’s got great energy and is very talented.” Nobody has said which lake it is.
So who are the neighbors? The man with the house parties is Dustin Lynch. He grew up in Tullahoma, Tenn., and broke through with “Cowboys and Angels” in 2012. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2018. His new album, “Clean Slate,” came out Oct. 30.
And the singer who had the lake with him all those years? Dustin named him on the show. “For a long time it was just me and Gary Allan on the lake,” he said.
Gary is the California-born singer behind No. 1 hits like “Man to Man” and “Nothing On but the Radio.” He has been a star since the ’90s and is more than 30 years older than Tucker.
Tucker co-hosted the same radio show over Labor Day weekend, and Gary came up. “We spent seven days together on a boat,” Tucker said. He didn’t stop there. “But we also spent 4th of July at Gary’s house,” he said. “I’m friends with Gary and his wife, Molly.”
He likes listening to the older singer talk. “It’s fun to hear some of his stories,” Tucker said. He also told listeners that Gary’s songs are the ones to put on when you’re having a bad day.
Before his second shot at New Artist of the Year, here is the song that started it all for him, his first No. 1.
Tucker’s video for his first No. 1, “Wind Up Missin’ You”
If you want to try Tucker’s bad-day advice, this is Gary’s official video for “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” which went to No. 1 in 2013.
Gary Allan sings “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)”
Dustin’s new album takes its name from this song, and this is his official video for it.
Dustin Lynch’s new video for “Clean Slate”
The CMA Awards air Wednesday, Nov. 18, on ABC. If Tucker brings a trophy home, he won’t have to drive far to show it off. One of his neighbors already said he’s glad to have him around.