Country Next: Tommy Acker

Tommy Acker is a Nashville-by-way-of-Texas artist on the rise, and he’s keeping the momentum going with his new single, “10 & 2,” out now via River House Artists. The song is fun, upbeat, and full of heart, using driving metaphors to capture what it’s like to hold on tight in a relationship—just like gripping the wheel at 10 & 2.

The 25-year-old has been busy these past few months, releasing a string of singles and hitting the road with Megan Moroney and Hudson Westbrook. He was first discovered by legendary songwriter Jessi Alexander (known for Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” and Luke Combs’ “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma”), who signed him to his first publishing deal and has been a huge mentor, opening doors to writing rooms and opportunities he never would have had on his own. Last year, his debut single, “How To Not,” went viral on TikTok and now sits at over 3.5 million streams. With millions of streams and growing attention from the country world, Acker is ready to step into the spotlight as an artist in his own right.

We caught up with Tommy to talk about his journey from Tyler, Texas, to Music City, the story behind his new single, and what life on the road has taught him so far.

What made you want to start playing guitar in high school?

In high school, my buddy had a guitar that he was always fascinated with, and he always had the girls all over him when he played. So, I made him teach me a few chords so I could learn it myself!

Did songwriting and performing naturally follow after you learned to play guitar?

Songwriting definitely came naturally after learning. I was tired of playing the same songs, so I tried writing my own. Performing, however, came much later. 

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How did you first get connected to Jessi Alexander and how has that relationship impacted your musical journey so far?

My connection with Jessi Alexander came rather quick! She found me through social media after I teased my first song. She really took me under her wing and put me in a lot of (writing) rooms that I would never have gotten the chance to be in otherwise. She has been crucial to my growth and new career in music!

When did you officially make the move to Nashville and what has been the biggest challenge of breaking into Music City as an artist from Texas?

I officially moved to Nashville on December 1, 2024. It’s funny because I am from Texas, but I moved to Nashville from Utah. I think a lot of people assume I’m from Utah, and so they never try to push the “Texas” sound or style on me which is nice because I feel it gives me a lot more freedom and less of a box that I can fit in. Don’t worry, I still throw some Texas roots in there!

Last year your debut single “How To Not” went viral and has earned millions of streams. How did it feel to see fans resonating with that song so strongly?

The success from ‘How To Not’ definitely gave me the confidence to push for a career in music, and I truly believe it was a God thing. I have always felt deep down that if I really gave music a shot, I could make it happen in some fashion. So, having the success from the first one really gave me that boost of confidence to keep trying no matter how hard this road gets!

What’s the most unexpected thing that’s happened in your career since releasing your debut single?

The most unexpected thing was opening for Megan Moroney, and how quickly I did. I was in a spot where I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep releasing music right away and really focus on writing and building a really good catalog of songs. I got a random message from Jessi saying she was on a writing retreat with Meg and that she needed a few openers and suggested my name. Sure enough, I got a call to open up for her on her “Am I Okay?” Tour in 2025. From there, it has been off to the races with releases and hitting the road as much as possible. Other artists such as Hudson Westbrook have really taken a chance on me and given me opportunities that I am beyond grateful for! 

Take us into the writing room for your latest release, “10 & 2.” The story is so creative, talk about where the idea came from and what it was like seeing the narrative unfold?

My cowriters, Logan Maggio and Mia Mantia, helped write this one! Mia actually had the title ‘10 & 2’. She threw out the idea and Logan and I both loved it off the bat. We knew it could definitely be a fun and very colorful song.  

Did you always envision it as an upbeat track, or did it start off differently in the writing room?

I think we all saw it as a more upbeat and playful love song. This song sort of fell out of us because we just wanted fun and unique ways of saying the cliche feeling that we all can relate to.

You’ve been releasing songs steadily. Are these leading up to a bigger project in the near future?

An album is definitely something we are working towards, but right now we are releasing singles and finding what works and what my fans want the most. Feeding the listeners with consistent singles has been building traction and growing steadily! However, I for sure have enough songs to build a pretty extensive record! 

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You’ve opened for Megan Moroney and Hudson Westbrook—what did you learn from those experiences?

From touring with Megan Moroney and Hudson Westbrook, I’ve learned to be flexible and ready for any sort of obstacles that may come your way. The crowd is as eager to listen just as much as you are to play, so being prepared to put on a show and keep an audience’s attention is imperative. The most important thing is that I LOVE every second of it and want to keep writing, making, and playing music for as long as I live!

What are your touring plans for the remainder of the year?

With success from my song ‘City Girl’ and mentioning a sorority, we’ve lined up a few shows to go to some sororities and play for them. They seem to be loving the buzz about it and we get asked to come play for them all the time!

Fans can follow Tommy Acker on Instagram.