
Crystal Wise
Koe Wetzel
Every year, when the best country albums are tallied up, it’s a safe bet that Texas will have left its indelible mark. Rolling Stone’s “The 30 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2024” proves that point again, with a lineup that’s as much about tradition as it is about boundary-pushing innovation. From the storied sounds of North Texas to the iconoclastic spirit of the Lone Star State in general, this list showcases the soul of country music — and two North Texas artists are in the mix.
This year in country music, the headlines were bigger than ever: pop superstars like Beyoncé turned their sights to Nashville with releases like Cowboy Carter, and Texas’s own Charley Crockett continued to make waves with $10 Cowboy, his 13th studio album. But beyond the marquee names, 2024 was defined by its stories from the heartland. Country singles smashed all-genre records, and artists who once seemed destined for regional fame crossed into the national consciousness.
Miranda Lambert: A Postcard from Texas

North Texas’s own Miranda Lambert is no stranger to lists like these. With a career built on both bold reinvention and respect for the classics, her ninth studio album, Postcards from Texas, lands comfortably at #23 on Rolling Stone’s roundup. The album, as critics have noted, is quintessential Lambert: it’s playful, heartfelt, and full of attitude.
From the cheeky swagger of “Bitch on the Sauce” to the poignant “Way Too Good at Breaking My Heart,” Lambert paints a sonic landscape that’s as rich and varied as her home state. And then there’s “Dammit Randy,” a wry, blistering takedown of a too-smooth ex, and “Alimony,” a track that’s as sharp as it is laugh-out-loud funny. Lambert remains a genre-defying powerhouse, but this album’s stripped-down honesty reminds listeners that her roots are still firmly planted in Texas soil.
Koe Wetzel: 9 Lives

Coming in at #5 is another North Texas original, the inimitable Koe Wetzel. Known for his rowdy, rough-edged style, Wetzel has spent the better part of a decade crafting an image as country music’s resident outlaw. With 9 Lives, he finally made the leap from Lone Star State icon to national sensation.
Produced by Gabe Simon, who’s worked with artists like Noah Kahan, the album is a raucous celebration of Wetzel’s signature sound — part country, part rock, and all rebellion. Tracks like “9 Lives (Black Cat)” channel a defiant energy, while “Damn Near Normal” offers a candid look at life on the road, complete with nods to sleep aids and a trusty bag of ... well you get the picture. And then there’s “Casamigos,” a tequila-soaked anthem so infectious its the anthesis of Steve Goodman’s “How Much Tequila (Did I Drink Last Night?)”.
What sets Texas country apart in 2024 is the way its artists continue to honor tradition while refusing to be boxed in. Lambert’s Postcards from Texas and Wetzel’s 9 Lives are emblematic of this spirit. Both albums capture the heart of the genre while pushing its boundaries — proving that the future of country music is as big, bold, and unpredictable as the Lone Star State itself.