Wiley & Kelsey Rae:
Ready for Christmas
Christmas looks a little different for Wiley Grant this year – in the best possible way.
For the first time, fans are seeing Wiley not just as the guy in the cowboy hat and shades, but as one half of a real country couple, standing shoulder to shoulder with his wife, Kelsey Rae and heading into the holidays together.
The new photo of the two of them in front of the tree feels exactly like where Wiley’s story is right now: boots on, warm light, a quiet room, and two people who are just thankful for what this year has brought.
“This year’s been wild in all the right ways,” Wiley says. “To be able to stand here with Kelsey Rae, look back at everything that’s happened, and say thank you… that’s a blessing.”
Looking Back on “Santa Is a Cowboy”
This Christmas also marks the first holiday season with Wiley’s single “Santa Is a Cowboy” out in the world. What started as a fun idea for a country Christmas song has turned into something fans are playing in their homes, their trucks, and their Christmas videos.
“I’ve seen your posts, your stories, your playlists,” Wiley says. “Knowing Santa Is a Cowboy is part of your Christmas this year… man, that means more than I can put into words.”
Ready for a Quiet, Grateful Christmas
Wiley and Kelsey Rae are keeping Christmas simple: time together, some good food, and a chance to slow down after a long year. No big speech, no big show – just two people who are grateful to have each other and the support of everyone listening.
“We’re ready for Christmas,” Wiley smiles. “Tree’s up, boots are by the door, and I’ve got Kelsey Rae by my side. I don’t need much more than that.”
From that little room with the glowing tree to wherever you are in the world, Wiley just wants fans to know they’re part of this, too.
“Thank you for riding with me,” Wiley says. “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and I can’t wait to share more music with you in 2026.”
Wiley to release first Christmas song with "Santa is a Cowboy"
Real country Christmas is arriving early this year with the release of “Santa Is a Cowboy”, the brand-new festive single from country artist Wiley Grant, landing on Friday 21st November.
Where most Christmas songs lean on sleigh bells and city snow, Wiley takes the holidays out to the arena lights and backroads. “Santa Is a Cowboy” paints a picture of Saint Nick trading in his sleigh for a dusty pickup, swapping chimneys for front porches and small-town main streets. It’s warm, nostalgic, and rooted in the same storytelling heart that runs through Wiley’s music all year long.
Musically, the track leans into steel guitars, steady drums and a singalong chorus that feels built for December nights – fairy lights on the porch, boots by the door, and family crammed into the kitchen. It’s less shopping mall soundtrack, more “Christmas after the rodeo” – the kind of song you can imagine rolling out of a radio somewhere between Abilene and Fort Worth.
Wiley Grant has been steadily carving out his own lane in modern country: a digital-era artist with a sound anchored in Texas roads, working hands and faith-tinged reflection. “Santa Is a Cowboy” continues that thread, bringing the same storytelling perspective to the holidays without slipping into novelty or cartoonish parody.
“Christmas has always felt like a small-town thing to me,” Wiley says in the single’s announcement. “Family, cold night air, and trucks lined up outside the house. I just wanted to write the kind of Christmas song you’d play with your boots still dusty.”
“Santa Is a Cowboy” will be available on all major streaming platforms from Friday 21st November, giving fans plenty of time to add it to their Christmas playlists before the decorations go up in earnest.
Whether you’re in a high-rise flat or out on a back road, this is one for anyone who thinks Christmas sounds best with a little steel guitar and a pair of worn-out boots by the tree.
Dust Trail Stories: Wiley Grant on Love, Life, 'Tailgate Theology'
By Dust Trail Records
Inside a quiet, sun-lit barn somewhere in Texas, Wiley Grant leans forward on a wooden stool, hat brim casting a soft shadow across his eyes.
It’s not a staged setup — just a man, a microphone, and a lifetime of songs that tell the truth a little slower than the world spins.
In the first episode of Dust Trail Stories, host Abbie Walker sits down with the rising country storyteller to talk about his debut record, Tailgate Theology — a project that’s already turning heads for its heart, honesty, and faith-filled grit.“This one’s special,” Wiley says with a small nod. “It’s about life, love, and faith — the kind you find out on the backroads, not just in church pews.”For Wiley, Tailgate Theology isn’t a sermon — it’s a conversation.“It’s them deep talks you have sittin’ on the back of a pickup,” he explains. “When the sun’s down, and it’s just you, a friend, and the truth.”
Across songs like The Last Amen, Letters in the Glovebox, and Gravel in My Boots, Wiley blends storytelling and reflection with an easy southern drawl that feels both classic and new. When asked which song means the most, he doesn’t hesitate:“‘The Last Amen,’ hands down,” he says. “That one hits home every time — it’s quiet, but it says everything I needed to say.”
As the interview winds down, Wiley tips his hat and smiles.“I’ll keep tellin’ stories, ma’am,” he says. “Long as there’s dirt on my boots and a song in my heart.”Dust Trail Stories captures these unfiltered moments — the heart behind the songs, the road behind the man, and the dust that still clings to every chord.
🪶 Watch “Dust Trail Stories: Wiley Grant” this Sunday on YouTube — available on social media Monday.
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