Nine Country Music Songs You Need To Hear This Week Featuring Tucker Wetmore, Laci Kaye Booth, Kashus Culpepper & More

Tucker Wetmore - Casino 

Tucker Wetmore isn’t just playing the game — he’s reinventing it. The breakout country star is back with another instant ear worm, "Casino," and once again, he proves he’s cracked the code on modern country music while bringing fans along for the ride. Fresh off the momentum of his viral hits and rapidly growing fanbase, Wetmore leans all the way in on what he does best — clever storytelling, slick production, and a hook that feels like it’s always lived on country radio. But "Casino" isn't just another love-gone-wrong anthem; it’s a sharp, self-aware metaphor wrapped in melody, turning the age-old gamble of love into a high-stakes night in Vegas. Lyrically, Wetmore stacks the deck with vivid imagery and honest vulnerability. Over a driving, modern country groove, he paints himself as a man stuck in a loop — always one more hand, one more dance, one more chance, knowing full well the house always wins. Wetmore’s storytelling is punchy yet poetic — an everyman’s heartbreak packaged like a Saturday night anthem. It's a song about knowing better but doing it anyway, because sometimes the thrill of the gamble feels better than the safety of walking away.What sets Wetmore apart isn’t just the songwriting — it’s how effortlessly he fuses traditional country themes with a modern sonic edge. He’s carving a new lane in the genre, one that bridges the gap between classic country storytelling and today’s sleek production. Think the grit of Eric Church with the swagger of Morgan Wallen, but undeniably Tucker Wetmore.

"Casino" is the latest in a string of singles that show Wetmore’s finger is firmly on the pulse of what fans crave: authenticity, clever wordplay, and tracks built to be blasted with the windows down. He’s not afraid to be vulnerable, but he also knows how to craft a hook that sticks in your head long after the song ends. If Wetmore's career is a gamble, he’s currently sitting at the high-roller table. "Casino" is more than just another song in his growing catalog — it’s a testament to his ability to take risks lyrically and musically and keep winning. The house may win every time in love, but in country music? Right now, Tucker Wetmore is holding all the cards.

Jason Scott & The High Heat - American Grin

Jason Scott & The High Heat are leaning all the way in on their signature blend of roadhouse grit, heartland swagger, and soul-soaked storytelling with the release of their long-awaited sophomore album, American Grin. The 13-track collection, out now via Leo33, arrives as a bold, dynamic statement from one of Americana’s fastest-rising acts — and it’s clear they’re not interested in playing it safe. Helmed by frontman and former Pentecostal pastor Jason Scott, American Grin is a masterclass in modern American songwriting — a record that blurs genre lines while holding a mirror up to the absurdity, heartbreak, and hope that colors everyday American life. Written during a period of personal upheaval and national tension, the album drips with both sharp humor and emotional heft, layered between Texas twang, Oklahoma grit, and a healthy dose of rock & roll bravado. The project reunites Scott with longtime producer and collaborator Taylor Johnson, who helped sculpt the album’s expansive, cinematic sound. Recorded between Oklahoma City and the Texas borderlands, American Grin pulls from an eclectic palette — Tex-Mex rhythms, spaghetti-western swagger, and even a dash of Wilco-esque psychedelia. Toss in some ZZ Top-worthy guitar licks, and you’ve got a sound that feels both familiar and entirely fresh. But the real magic is in the storytelling. Tracks like “Golden” and “Bernadette” are arena-ready anthems, tailor-made for fists-in-the-air singalongs, while songs like “Yardwork” and “Me & The Bottle (Hungover You)” tap into the everyday poetry of late nights, bad decisions, and morning-after clarity. The album’s sweeping finale, “Maria,” pulls out all the stops — an orchestral, genre-bending crescendo that cements American Grin as one of the year’s most ambitious and rewarding listens. The critical acclaim is already rolling in. Fresh off being named Emerging Group of the Year at the Texas Music Awards, Jason Scott & The High Heat are proving they’re more than just a band to watch — they’re a band you can’t afford to miss. They’re currently taking their electric live show on the road in support of American Grin, including a coveted run of dates opening for country music icon Dwight Yoakam. Whether you’re in it for the storytelling, the stadium hooks, or the raw, roadhouse energy, American Grin is a record that demands your attention — and earns every second of it.

Lauren Alaina - Household

Award-winning powerhouse vocalist Lauren Alaina is kicking down the door with her latest release, and this time, she’s not sugarcoating a thing. In her hard-hitting new single, “Household,” Alaina turns up the volume on vulnerability, unpacking the weight of expectations, crumbling façades, and the quiet chaos that lives behind closed doors. From the very first line—“Death grip on the powder room sink / This ain’t a smile, nah I’m grittin’ my teeth”—Alaina’s delivery is nothing short of haunting. She paints a picture far from the glossy, Instagram-filtered version of “home.” Instead, she invites listeners into a house that’s filled with tension, regret, and heartache—the kind that doesn’t show up in family portraits. Written like a Southern gothic diary entry, “Household” cleverly flips the familiar phrase on its head. It's not about the pretty front porch or the happy family inside—it’s about how much hell a house can actually hold when the walls start closing in. Alaina leans into lyrical honesty as she sings about replaying her mother’s warnings, the exhausting dance of appearances, and the pressure of being the so-called “good girl.” She delivers lines like “I ain’t a Barbie doll / He ain’t no Ken / These four walls about to cave in” with enough grit and ache to make the listener feel the cracks in the foundation. The production follows suit—raw, urgent, and unapologetically country. The tension builds until it breaks loose in the chorus, echoing the emotional tornado brewing beneath the surface: “House / Hold it together Diamond ring around / The Rosie forever That’s what good girls do, yeah that’s what I’ve been told Home sweet home never felt so cold How much hell can a house hold” It’s a song that taps into the unspoken struggles of women expected to keep it all together while everything quietly unravels around them. And Alaina doesn’t just scratch the surface—she digs deep into the whiskey-soaked arguments, the sweeping secrets under the rug, and the suffocating weight of perfectionism. By the final chorus, “Household” doesn’t just feel like a song—it feels like an exhale, a permission slip to acknowledge the mess behind the front door. Alaina has long proven she can belt with the best of them, but it’s her ability to blend power with pain that makes this single a standout. In a genre that’s never been afraid to shine a light on real life’s darker corners, Lauren Alaina’s “Household” is a timely reminder that sometimes, the prettiest houses hide the hardest truths—and sometimes, burning it all down is the only way to start fresh.

Kashus Culpepper feat. Marcus King - Southern Man

In a world where authenticity sometimes feels like a dying art, Kashus Culpepper has kicked down the door and reminded us what it really means to bleed Southern soul. His brand-new single, "Southern Man" (featuring Marcus King), isn’t just a song — it’s a four-minute, blues-soaked sermon on grit, roots, and unapologetic identity. Penned by Culpepper alongside NEEDTOBREATHE’s Bear Rinehart, “Southern Man” is without question Culpepper’s most dynamic and powerful work to date. The track opens like a slow burn — smoky, bluesy, and laced with the kind of raw, gravel-road vocals that feel like they’ve lived a thousand lifetimes. And when Marcus King steps in, it’s game over. The collaboration between these two soulful Southern sons is electric, weaving together country, blues, and Southern rock with ease and fire. Culpepper leans all the way in on what it means to be unapologetically yourself — a theme that's becoming a trademark of his songwriting. “You can dress me up in diamonds / You can give me all your gold / But I still need that water, baby, for the roots down in my soul,” he sings, a nod to the idea that no amount of glitz can rewrite where you come from. The production, steeped in bluesy guitar licks and gospel-tinged backing, feels as big as the South itself — but it's the lived-in weariness of Culpepper’s voice and the fiery urgency of King’s guitar work that make this track shine. It's not polished for the sake of radio; it’s real, raw, and refreshingly unfiltered. "Southern Man" doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is — a tribute to family teachings, blue-collar grit, and the unshakable pride of knowing exactly who you are and where you come from. It’s a reminder that while the world keeps changing, some things — like Southern soul — are built to last. Take four minutes of your day. Press play. Let Kashus Culpepper and Marcus King remind you that real music still exists.

Zach John King - I Deserve A Heartbreak

Rising country artist Zach John King is pulling no punches and wearing his heart on his sleeve with the release of his latest single, "I Deserve A Heartbreak" — a modern country gut-punch that sets the stage for his highly anticipated upcoming EP. A songwriter known for his clever hooks and raw authenticity, King has never been afraid to shine a light on the messier sides of love and loss. But with "I Deserve A Heartbreak," he flips the script — holding himself accountable and delivering what may be one of his most introspective and hard-hitting tracks to date. From the first line, King paints a vivid picture of a man reckoning with the reflection staring back at him. “There's a man standing in the mirror / Where a wild boy used to be,” he sings, signaling that the reckless version of himself has finally caught up to him. It’s a grown-up admission wrapped in radio-ready production — modern country storytelling at its finest. The song’s pre-chorus builds like a storm rolling in, as King confesses, "If what goes around comes around / Baby, right now my whole world would be headed south." And when the chorus hits, it’s undeniable. He doesn’t shy away from the mess he’s made, delivering the gut-wrenching hook: "I deserve me a heartbreak / Straight up breaking down in the driveway / Barely getting by in the bed I made, wide awake." The vulnerability in the lyrics — paired with a soaring, modern-country sound — makes it clear: this isn’t just another heartbreak anthem. It’s a personal reckoning. A lyrical mirror held up not only to himself but to anyone who’s ever realized too late the damage they’ve done. On the second verse, King doubles down, singing, "I should feel how it all hurt / Have my love drug through the dirt / It's too late to apologize, so for what it's worth." It’s the kind of honest, unfiltered songwriting that country music has always thrived on, with a modern edge that feels tailor-made for today's country charts. With this single, Zach John King solidifies why he's been labeled "one to watch" and why he’s already got big stages written all over him. If "I Deserve A Heartbreak" is any indication, King's forthcoming EP is poised to blend the emotional weight of classic country storytelling with the fresh, stadium-ready sound of modern country music.

Laci Kaye Booth - Daddy’s Mugshot

Laci Kaye Booth isn’t just knocking on country music’s front door — she’s cannonballing straight through it with her haunting, autobiographical new single, "Daddy's Mugshot." It’s a song that doesn’t just introduce itself; it unapologetically bares its soul, carving Booth’s name deeper into the fabric of modern country music as the ethereal, gritty voice the genre’s been quietly craving. The Texas-born songstress, long admired for her angelic vocals and smoky vulnerability, trades the polish for raw honesty on "Daddy’s Mugshot," proving that sometimes the prettiest voices come with the hardest truths. From the very first verse, Booth paints a picture equal parts cinematic and heartbreakingly human: "When I was younger, I thought he was a god with a guitar / Mama was a bombshell with her hand on her hip, standing outside the trailer park." It’s a lyrical snapshot of a childhood colored by chaos and charisma — a father who disappears, a mother holding it all together, and a young girl caught somewhere in the middle. But it’s in the chorus where Booth really flips the script, unmasking the starry-eyed dreamer the industry expected and revealing the fractured fighter underneath: "Now I'm a little too Texas for Tennessee / I smiled in the picture, but I was gritting my teeth." It's a gut punch of a line, acknowledging how easily Nashville can break a "show pony" who doesn’t fit the mold. Booth doesn’t shy away from the wounds that shaped her — she leans in, turns them into melody, and lets them spill out unfiltered. It’s a moment of biting reflection from a singer who’s been told what she should be — and finally decided to be herself. With "Daddy’s Mugshot," Laci Kaye Booth doesn’t just sing — she testifies. She dismantles the glittery facade and tells the real story: of generational scars, Texas grit, and the kind of authenticity you can’t fake. And when she delivers the song’s final blow — "I might look like my mama, but I smile like my daddy’s mugshot" — it lands like a poetic punch to the gut. In a genre that often polishes its rough edges, Booth leans into hers. And in doing so, she’s crafted the kind of song that makes you stop, listen, and remember why country music was built on stories like hers. Country music needed a voice like Laci Kaye Booth’s. Turns out, it also needed her scars.

Jesse Daniel - My Time Is Gonna Come

In a time when country radio is often cluttered with pop-leaning production and predictable hooks, Jesse Daniel is here to remind us that the heartbeat of honky tonk is still alive and well — and thriving. The rising country traditionalist has just released his brand-new single, “My Time Is Gonna Come” — a soulful, hard-hitting anthem that chronicles the grit, grind, and resilience of his remarkable life journey. From the first downbeat, “My Time Is Gonna Come” plays like a modern-day honky tonk dream. It’s a masterclass in musicianship seamlessly beneath Daniel’s razor-sharp vocals, which sound more confident and compelling than ever. There’s a rawness to his delivery, but also a refreshing clarity — the sound of an artist who knows exactly who he is and where he’s headed. The track isn’t just sonically electric; it’s a lyrical gut-punch. Daniel uses the song to reflect on the winding, turbulent road he’s walked — one marked by personal battles, hard lessons, and ultimately, a belief that perseverance pays off. “My Time Is Gonna Come” reads like a hopeful mantra, a reminder that no matter how long the climb, the view from the top will be worth it. What makes the single so captivating is how effortlessly it blends old-school country authenticity with a modern energy. It’s a rare and refreshing reminder that great country music — with true craftsmanship and real-deal storytelling — is still being made by artists who live and breathe it. If this song is any indication, Jesse Daniel’s time isn’t just gonna come — it’s here.

Tyler Nance - Whiskey Me or The Pain

In a world of polished party anthems and slick pop-country hybrids, every once in a while, a song comes along that reminds us what country music is supposed to feel like — raw, haunting, and heartbreakingly honest. Rising country singer-songwriter Tyler Nance just did exactly that with the release of his newest single, Whiskey, Me, or The Pain — a modern-day country ballad that hits like a sucker punch straight to the gut. With a smoky vocal delivery and a lyrical edge that feels ripped from the pages of a weathered journal, Nance unpacks the kind of story country fans live for — one of love lost, demons battled, and unanswered questions that linger long after the bottle runs dry. The song’s hook — simple but devastating — asks the question many of us have silently wondered after a breakup: What really drove them away? Was it the whiskey, me, or the pain? From the very first verse, Nance paints an unflinching portrait of a woman on the run from herself.  It’s a modern outlaw ballad, not afraid to be messy, flawed, and brutally real. Nance doesn’t sugarcoat the chaos — whether she's "drunk off her ass in Flagstaff, Arizona" or "high as a kite out in South Dakota," the song captures the spiraling recklessness of someone who could never quite outrun whatever haunted them. But what makes Whiskey, Me, or The Pain so powerful isn’t just its grit — it’s the vulnerability buried beneath the bravado. Nance’s delivery isn’t angry; it’s aching. Each chorus feels like a desperate phone call to the past, wondering if there’s still a way back to the person she used to be. This is classic country storytelling, wrapped in a modern production that keeps it fresh without losing the genre’s heartbeat. Nance masterfully balances old-school lyricism with contemporary grit, creating a song that feels equally at home in a dive bar jukebox or a Spotify New Country playlist. At the end of the day, Whiskey, Me, or The Pain isn’t just about her — it’s about the quiet wreckage we all carry after love burns out, and the ghosts that follow us long after the last drink. One thing’s for certain — Tyler Nance is a name worth remembering, because this song is the kind of gut-punch country music that doesn’t come around every day.

Lakeview - Lips Of An Angel 

In an era where nostalgia reigns supreme, country-rock duo Lakeview is stepping up to the plate with a fiery reimagining of Hinder’s 2006 smash hit, “Lips of an Angel.” Known for their electric live performances and boundary-pushing sound, the band is bringing new life to the beloved rock ballad while staying true to the grit and emotion that made it a classic. That signature edge is on full display in their rendition, which blends searing guitar riffs, powerhouse vocals, and a polished yet rugged modern country production. By infusing their country-rock DNA into the track, Lakeview transforms “Lips of an Angel” from a mid-2000s rock anthem into a crossover hit poised to resonate with both longtime fans of the song and a new generation of listeners. With nostalgia-driven covers dominating streaming platforms and genre lines blurring more than ever, Lakeview’s take on “Lips of an Angel” arrives at the perfect moment. The track not only highlights their ability to reinterpret a classic but also solidifies their place in the ever-evolving landscape of country music. As the duo continues to carve out their own space in the industry, one thing is clear—whether through original music or bold reimaginings, Lakeview knows how to captivate an audience. Their high-octane cover of “Lips of an Angel” is sure to be a staple in their setlist for years to come, proving that some songs are simply meant to live on, no matter the decade.