Texas Artist Tanner Usrey Arrested for DWI, Felony Possession
This story has been updated, including with a statement from Tanner Usrey (see below).
32-year-old Texas music, Southern rock, and country artist Tanner Usrey was arrested on March 30th in Collin County, TX, and charged with Driving While Intoxicated (called DWI in Texas), and two drug possession charges, according to Collin County Records.
The DWI is a second offense, which carries stiffer penalties, and the drug possession charges are felonies, with a law enforcement source telling Saving Country Music one of the charges is for fentanyl, or a drug laced with fentanyl. One of the three records for Usrey states “POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G”. The “1-B” penalty group was specifically made due to the rise of overdose deaths due to fentanyl.
Tanner Usrey has posted bond and has been released after being charged. Collin County Magistrate Lisa Bronchett presided over an initial hearing on March 30th, and set bond conditions and also ordered an ignition interlock device for Tanner’s vehicle. Usrey is currently awaiting his next court date.
Tanner Usrey has been a well-beloved member of the Texas music scene, making waves nationally with an appealing sound that combines Southern and classic rock influences, presenting them in a high energy stage show behind Tanner’s his bigger-than-life stage persona.
After a few years of strong touring, Tanner was signed to Atlantic Records, and released his debut album Crossing Lines in 2023. He released a follow up record These Days in 2025. From Aubrey, TX just north of Dallas, Tanner’s next scheduled appearances are at the Montgomery County Fair in Conroe on April 11th, Fiesta Oyster Bake in San Antonio on April 17-18th, and Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival on April 23rd.
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UPDATE: On Thursday evening (4-2), Tanner Usrey’s manager sent the following statement from Tanner. Saving Country Music will have further reporting coming from this matter subsequently.
This past Monday morning, after attending a birthday party, I was arrested for possession of drugs and a DWI. I know situations like this can be disappointing, and I take responsibility for putting myself in a position where this could happen.
There has been speculation that I was arrested for possessing fentanyl or fentanyl-laced substances. Because this is an ongoing legal matter, I’ve been advised to keep my comments limited. What I can say is that fentanyl is an extremely dangerous and deadly drug, and its impact on this country is undeniable.
At no time have I knowingly possessed or ingested fentanyl, and I would never condone that behavior. The substances involved are currently being tested, and their exact contents will be determined through that process. I have no reason to believe the results will show the presence of fentanyl, and I would be genuinely surprised if they did. That said, if fentanyl were to be detected, I would view this situation as a blessing in disguise, one that may have ultimately protected me from something much worse.I’m grateful for the support, prayers, and patience many of you have shown me. I don’t take that for granted. My focus right now is on learning from this, making better decisions, and coming out the other side a better man.
I truly appreciate you all, and I look forward to seeing you at the next show.
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This story has been updated with further information. More information on the arrest and the nature of the charges against Tanner Usrey will be added once it becomes available.
March 31, 2026 @ 10:19 pm
This was posted as a response to some comments posted on social media, and I will reposted it here to address some concerns.
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Whenever an artist signed to a major label gets arrested for a 2nd DWI and two felony possession charges, it’s going to be in hundreds of media outlets in a matter of hours. This story is no different, and was already going megaviral before it was reported here. The idea this wasn’t already a matter of public knowledge, or would have been kept under wraps if it wasn’t for this reporting is to be completely innocent to how information spreads in the internet age.
If Saving Country Music had been alerted to this matter by a dozen different sources like what happened Tuesday night and NOT reported on it, but reported on the arrests of Morgan Wallen, Sam Hunt, and other pop country stars, this would have been an unethical act of bias, and an active attempt to suppress information that was in the public interest due to personal musical tastes.
Saving Country Music has been a strong supporter of Tanner Usrey’s music over the years, and recently highlighted him as part of a recent festival appearance as one of the best performers of the event. Whatever is going on here is a tragedy whose ramifications reach far beyond stories published in the press.
I remain committed to getting to the bottom of this story, making sure that the legal process is fair to Tanner Usrey, and that he’s not the victim of this process as opposed to a perpetrator. I also hope that if necessary, Tanner gets the help he needs to get his personal life and/or career back on track.
These matters are approached and reported on with the most weighty sense of responsibility, and nothing but concern for all the parties involved. I also respect fans speaking up and wanting to protect their favorite artists.
–Trigger
April 1, 2026 @ 1:44 am
It looks like the majority of those social media commenters are fans of the artist who have never posted here before.
April 1, 2026 @ 8:45 am
I completely understand fans sticking up for an artist they love. And when you’re in the media, you’re gonna get hell, and I’m okay with that. It comes with the job. But what’s really frustrating about this situation is how many of those folks are giving into the idea that I have never mentioned or featured Tanner in the past, that I didn’t cover the death threats he faced when I wrote an entire article about it, and that I have never covered other artists being arrested when I have done this dozens of times. The idea that I have it out for Tanner Usrey is just ludicrous. Getting arrested for DWI and multiple felonies is definitely news, and instead of worry about what I’m doing, they should show meaningful concern for Tanner’s well-being. That is where this story heads next for me.
April 1, 2026 @ 10:54 pm
I have a favorite artist that I first met in 2002 but I still don’t have the urge to follow him all over the Internet to defend him against trolls. Some of these people need better hobbies.
April 1, 2026 @ 6:07 am
Here’s to hoping this young man finds sobriety. He’s got too much talent to throw it all away for temporary fixes from illicit substances. I know there’s a line of thinking out there that says creativity is heightened by substance use for some artists, but I think we need to collectively reject that nonsense, moving forward. There are many examples in recent years of artists who have thrived while sober. Hopefully Tanner Usrey finds that he has some of those figures reaching out to him to offer support, guidance, and inspiration.
April 1, 2026 @ 7:53 am
Fentanyl?!? Man the day after I mixed adderall and alcohol I wanted to swear off drinking, buy some sweater vests and a golden doodle and go full square.
April 1, 2026 @ 8:47 am
For the record, we don’t know if he was found with fentanyl, or with a drug LACED with fentanyl, which so many drugs are these days. And unfortunately, we might not have that clarification for a while. I’ve been on the phone with the county and the city all morning, and they are not being forthcoming with further information. It might bee a week or more before we learn more.
April 1, 2026 @ 8:06 am
Its the same stuff jte died off too,so stupid isnt it when you know what it can do too people
April 1, 2026 @ 8:48 am
Exactly, Justin Townes Earle died of an accidental fentanyl overdose, and Luke Bell very well might have as well. This is a very serious issue beyond the salacious nature of the information.
April 1, 2026 @ 9:48 am
I’m commenting strictly on the alcohol aspect here.
You may drink. You may drive. You may NOT drink and drive..
April 1, 2026 @ 9:50 am
Outlaw country is back!
April 1, 2026 @ 12:03 pm
I hope he gets the help I got when I was around his age, which was back in 1988.
There is a much better life out there awaiting him.
April 1, 2026 @ 5:59 pm
Just saw him at Billy Bobs on 3-14 for his birthday bash! He put on one hell of a show and sounded great live man does he have soul in his voice! He was pretty tipsy by the end of the night! That being said im not gonna stand on a soapbox and bash him, hopefully he overcomes this setback because he is very talented!
April 1, 2026 @ 9:41 pm
When I saw “Usrey,” my first thought was that the guy was arrested for loansharking.
April 2, 2026 @ 7:45 am
Holy crap! According to one of the other articles I saw, that fentanyl possession charge is a felony that could put him away for 20 years! That’s no joke. I hope that this helps him stay away from fentanyl, we already lose too many talented artists to drugs.
April 2, 2026 @ 8:25 am
Taste of Country did some surprisingly good reporting on the fentanyl aspects of the charges. Not here, but on Facebook, this is one of the the things people are trying to assassinate me for because they say there’s no evidence of that. My sources in law enforcement are insisting that fentanyl charge is legit, and Taste of Country came to the same conclusion with their own independent research. Again, we don’t know the nature for the fentanyl charge, if it was just a drug laced with fentanyl, or fentanyl proper, or even something like a misreading or clerical error. But that is part of the charges for sure. OPen records requests have been made, and hopefully we’ll have more information soon.
What I will say is I don’t think there’s any universe where Tanner Usrey gets 20 years in prison. That’s the maximum sentence, and not going to happen. That said, he very well could serve prison time here. Even a second DWI in Texas is very serious business. Add two felony charges with a fentanyl add-on, he very well could be facing very serious legal jeopardy.
April 2, 2026 @ 8:07 am
I’d like nothing better than to be enjoying this fine Spring day, listening to a new Kylie Rae Harris album.
But I’m not. And I won’t ever be. Bro, decide to drink and quit driving or decide to drive and quit drinking – like so few things in life are this black and white.
The fentanyl thing idek, seems like everything but the fentanyl has fentanyl in it these days… hope he finds a way forward.
April 2, 2026 @ 8:29 am
I have been blown away by the lack of reaction to the seriousness of the charges against Tanner Usrey from many of his fans. There is no moral reckoning coming from them. All the ire is on the media for reporting on it. People die every day in drunk driving accidents. Fentanyl killed Luke Bell and Justin Townes Earle. Instead of being concerned about what the media is or isn’t reporting, how about showing a little concern about where Tanner Usrey is in his life, making sure he’s okay, and thanking God nobody got hurt or killed in this situation.
April 2, 2026 @ 9:24 am
Rough, man.
Having no context on what was actually found, I would assume it’s pressed pills that tested positive for Fent.
He’ll skate on the charges, but that s**t is playing with fire. One bad batch and you’re outta here.
Hope he gets deferred under the stipulation that he reports and pees in a cup regularly. Gotta kick that stuff and quit the hard s**t by your mid 30s, brother.
April 2, 2026 @ 2:21 pm
Love his music, but if he’s driving around drunk and high, he needs to do some jail time.
April 3, 2026 @ 1:54 am
I’m old enough to remember going to see Elvis or Waylon back in the 70s knowing any concert could be the last because both of them were so heavily addicted. Since then I’ve seen the friends, families and fans of troubled acts enable them all the way into the grave. I know talk is cheap, especially on the Internet, but if it’s well known among an artist’s circle that they have problems, the fans aren’t doing them any favors by running all over defending them.
April 7, 2026 @ 8:29 pm
dude you got to put down the bottle, the fork & the feelgoods or else you’ll never get that guitar closer than two feet away. even if they put it in the box with you
just sayin…