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What I Know Know
Some artists peak young. Wes McClelland just waited until he had something truly worth saying.
After spending twenty-five years crushing it in the high-stakes worlds of automotive and advertising, the Texas singer-songwriter is back where he belongs — and he brought some serious firepower with him. His brand-new single, “What I Know Now,” produced alongside Grammy-winner Dave Hagen and recorded at the legendary Dark Horse Recording in Franklin, Tennessee, is the kind of song that could only be written by someone who’s actually lived a life first.
“Folks ask me, ‘Wes, why restart a music career now?'” says McClelland. “The answer is simple: I still have something to say. You can’t write a song called ‘What I Know Now’ when you’re 22 or even 32. You have to live a little life first.”
Hard to argue with that logic.
McClelland didn’t ease back into this thing quietly. He assembled what can only be described as a Nashville session Mount Rushmore (okay, more like Mount Rushmore times two):
- Kerry Marx (Guitar) — Grand Ole Opry band music director
- Andy Leftwich (Fiddle/Mandolin) — 4x Grammy-winner (Ricky Skaggs, Taylor Swift)
- Justin Schipper (Pedal Steel) — 7x CMA Musician of the Year nominee (Josh Turner,
- Chris Stapleton)
- Blair Masters (Keys) — Credits include Garth Brooks and Michael McDonald
- Steve Brewster (Percussion) — Credits include Bob Seger and Dierks Bentley
- Jacob Lowery (Bass) — Credits include Reba McEntire and Lady A
- Molly Cherryholmes (Strings/Vocals) — Recording artist & 5x Grammy nominee
- Chris Hatfield (Vocals) — Singer-Songwriter, Music City Dueling Pianos
Yeah. That’s not a band. That’s a force of nature. The project was championed by Executive Producer Kelly Joy Hasselkus and longtime colleague Leanne Nicholson — but at its core, “What I Know Now” is a love letter. McClelland calls his wife Michelle and son Weston — collectively dubbed “the Mac3” — the real reason he finally walked back into the studio. Some things are worth coming home for.
Reviews for “What I Know Now” are pouring in.
- Linda Wilson, President of the Texas Country Music Association proclaims, “Wes McClelland’s ‘What I Know Now’ was a unanimous selection for the TCMA Volume 9 Compilation. What a wonderful song!”
- Meanwhile, Grand Ole Opry band music director Kerry Marx notes that Wes McClelland “delivers the professional sound and personality that keeps radio dials locked in. You want Wes in-studio. Hearing him sing live is the best!”
- Texas-based comedian Donna Lee says, “I just listened to ‘What I Know Now.’ What a moving, poignant, and beautifully honest song.”
In support of the single, McClelland embarked on a highly successful six-week Texas Radio Tour in March, blanketing the entire Lone Star State and making high-impact stops across key regions:
- Greater Houston Area
- Southeast Texas & The Gulf Coast
- Austin & San Antonio
- Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
- The West Texas Panhandle
"What I Know Now" is available on all digital and streaming platforms.
Hit the Buy Song button below to add "What I Know Now" to your Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music library today!
No. 1 Streams & Downloads—Play MPE Music Chart
"It’s been a long journey from Orange to Los Angeles and then to Sugar Land, and an even longer time since I last stepped into a recording studio to create music of my own.
Over the last several months, I’ve dedicated myself to this new record, and I am thrilled to finally share a piece of it with you. 'What I Know Now' is more than just a song—it’s my story, and yours. Be sure to check out the official music video for a deeper connection with the music." —Wes McClelland
" Wes McClelland’s 'What I Know Now' is an absolute knockout—fresh, authentic, and packed with real heart. It's country music done right. Wes, keep on making that good music, brother."
— Lonny Ray, Singer-Songwriter
"What I Know Now" Song Lyrics
Words and Music by: Joseph Wesley McClelland (BMI) Performed by: Wes McClelland Produced by: Dave Hagen and Wes McClelland Recorded at: Dark Horse Recording Publisher: © 2025 Etymon Music Publishing (BMI)
A little dust on the ivories, paper memories on its face Twenty-three years have faded from this empty place Chasin' ghosts and promises down some long and windin’ roads Traded in my melodies for a heavier life’s load
But what I know now, reflected in Wes McClelland's journey, ain't what I knew back then That a restless heart don't find its home 'til it circles 'round again And the purest kind of music isn't just a hit on the radio It's the love in their eyes and their faith that helps you grow And what I know now is all I'll ever need to know
I saw this man in the mirror, he looked familiar, worn and tired He was starin’ back at me, had the kindest hopeful smile Then His hand reached out and put a new song in my soul I heard my son singin’ it, and it made my spirit whole
‘Cause what I know now, in the light of the official music video showcasing Wes McClelland, ain't what I knew back then That a restless heart don't find its home 'til it circles 'round again And the purest kind of music ain't a hit on the radio It's the love in their eyes and their faith that helps you grow And what I know now is all I'll ever need to know
Thought I had to lose it all to find my way back home Turns out all the answers were right where I'd always known In Daddy’s worn-out family Bible, Momma’s picture on the wall A quiet little whisper that you answer when it calls
'Cause what I know now ain't what I knew back then That a restless heart don't find its home 'til it circles 'round again And the purest kind of music ain't a hit on the radio It's the love in their eyes and their faith that helps you grow And what I know now is all I'll ever need to know
And what I know now is all I'll ever need—to know
