Koe Wetzel likes an album that tells a story, and The Night Champion might be one of his most personal projects yet.
The country music star recently joined the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast to talk about how becoming a dad has changed his life for the better, how Koe Wetzel Day came to be, new music that’s on the way, and his upcoming album being written before he became a father.
The Texas native also discussed his friends not recognizing him anymore because he’s a truly changed man, how he and Parker McCollum have been back in the studio together, and growing closer to God during this time of his life… and how excited his grandma would be for him to make a gospel album.
But arguably the biggest piece of Koe Wetzel news that came from our sit down with him was the name of his upcoming album. For quite some time, fans have been guessing what it might be. Considering his upcoming tour is called The Night Champion Tour, many put two and two together and assumed that’s what the album would be named as well.
When we asked Wetzel, he told us that it will, in fact, be called The Night Champion… and it was inspired by some hunting that he did with his family when he was young:
“It’s called ‘The Night Champion.’ My grandad, he raised hunting dogs and coon dogs and stuff. So that’s what I grew up on, going to coon hunting tournaments and hunting tournaments and stuff like that. It was kind of my and my cousin’s job to take care of the dogs, and feed them every morning. Our treat was to get to go hunting with pawpaw every night.”
Those familiar with hunting tournament and coon dog competitions might recognize that Wetzel changed the spelling up a bit. To be clear, that wasn’t an accidental move. Koe is very much aware that dogs that win “nite hunts” are crowned “nite champions,” and made sure to tell us a bit about it – and his memories from those hunts:
“The nite champion – N-I-T-E champion – is awarded at hunting tournaments for the dog who win so many categories out of the night hunt, or whatever it is. My grandad only had one nite champion. Her name was Blue Misty, she was a blue tick dog. She was like my baby. She was the one that I really got to grow up with and take care of.
It was kind of an ode to him and everything that he taught me. I switched it from nite to night, but it kind of goes back on everything that I’ve been through… making music and the party era and the rough, rowdy life that I’ve lived so far. Then kind of coming out on the back end of it now to where I’m a father.”
@whiskeyriff @Koe Wetzel #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff
And if you were thinking that The Night Champion could be referring to someone that has conquered the art of the night life, that right there is why Koe changed the spelling… so it could have a couple of different meanings. Obviously, the entire project was inspired by the nite hunts he accompanied his grandad to when he was a kid. But this album – which drops on June 12 – is also coming at a time where Koe is possibly crowning himself as a “Night Champion,” partially so that he can appreciate his rough and rowdy persona and graduate from his “party era.”
That being said, all of the hunters out there are recognizing the reference of the album’s title, and they are apparently very happy that Wetzel is shining a spotlight on nite champions everywhere:
“There’s a few different meanings on it for sure, that’s what we named the tour. I think this might be the actual first time that I’m letting people know that it’s ‘The Night Champion.’ I’ve had a lot of people say, ‘Hey you want to come to (this hunt?)’ Not a lot of people are coon hunting and in the coon tournaments… it’s not a dying art, but it’s not as popular as it used to be. I’ve had a lot of people hit me up and say, ‘Hey, come on if you want to see some real nite champions.'”
You can hear more from Koe Wetzel by checking out the interview on YouTube or making sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or by clicking here.
We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts.
Cheers, y’all.
