A rainy Monday night didn’t stand a chance against the energy inside the Dusty Armadillo as WQMX hosted The Healing Sanctuary charity concert, benefiting a cancer retreat for women. Jacob Hackworth opened the night with a voice reminiscent of Jason Aldean and plenty of personality. With his debut EP arriving October 23, Hackworth gave the Ohio crowd his first “OH-IO,” and showed off his songwriting credentials with Corey Kent’s “This Heart” and Bailey Zimmerman’s “Between a Rock and a Hard Place.” The latter had the room singing along, while Hackworth managed to break two guitar strings along the way. He closed with “What Took You So Long,” his first country radio song, as fans clapped and stomped along to send him off.
Tucker Wetmore took the stage and promptly threw the set list out the window. Opening with “Keep On Doing Me Wrong Now Baby,” followed by taking requests from the audience. Tucker built the entire set on the fly, creating a loose, hilarious and completely unpredictable performance. The Dusty Armadillo shook with synchronized clapping, and his reggae-style take on the final verse of “Which One Is Gonna Break First” was a standout. “Chicken Fried” brought a welcome surprise, while Tucker’s personality really came through as he joked with the audience and genuinely seemed to be having as much fun as everyone else. His piano skills took center stage with a “Great Balls of Fire” teaser before launching into Maroon 5’s “This Love” and “Drops of Jupiter,” proving he’s every bit as versatile as an instrumentalist as he is a vocalist.
By the time Tucker brought out “Sunburn,” the rainy night outside felt like an afterthought. Even while dealing with in-ear issues, he never missed a beat. He even took time during the show to sign a fan’s football, a fitting touch to a night built around connection. More importantly, the music gave fans a reason to come together for something bigger than a concert: supporting WQMX’s Healing Sanctuary, a retreat offering women with cancer a place to rest, heal and feel supported. With big voices, plenty of laughs and a whole lot of heart, the Dusty Armadillo was the place to be to start your week off right.
Tucker Wetmore – WQMX Charity Concert at Dusty Armadillo in Rootstown, Ohio (Sept. 21, 2026) Photos by Nathan Clapper
