Stephen Wilson, Jr.

A singer/songwriter from rural Southern Indiana, Stephen Wilson, Jr. pairs Americana and Nashville country with an outlaw aesthetic rooted in grunge and indie rock. Debuting in 2019 with the single "The Devil," he released his first long-player, Søn of Dad, in 2023. The LP was reissued in 2025, alongside the covers EP Blankets.

Hailing from Seymour, Indiana, Wilson, Jr. was raised by a single father and professional boxer. He spent his formative years in the ring and eventually became an Indiana State Golden Gloves finalist. A self-taught guitarist, Wilson was drawn to artists like Willie Nelson, Kurt Cobain, Bruce Springsteen, the National, Glen Campbell, Randy Travis, and hometown hero John Mellencamp. He co-founded the indie rock outfit AutoVaughn after completing his degree in Microbiology at Middle Tennessee State University. Wilson spent the next five years touring as the band's lead guitarist before landing a job as a food scientist at Mars, Inc. During this time, he started writing songs, resulting in a publishing deal with BMG Nashville and a string of tracks cut by Caitlyn Smith and Old Dominion, Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Chase Bryant, Mackenzie Porter, Kameron Marlow, Sixpence None the Richer, and wife Leigh Nash. In 2019, Wilson issued his debut single, "The Devil," which he followed up with "Year to Be Young." Both cuts appeared on the 2023 EP Bon Aqua, which also included the Hailey Whitters-assisted "American Gothic." Later that year, he issued the full-length Søn of Dad, a tribute to his father that featured six songs from Bon Aqua and 16 new cuts, including the rousing "Holler from the Holler" and the moving title track. He was nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 2025 CMA Awards, the same year he released a deluxe edition of Søn of Dad and the covers EP Blankets, which featured his interpretations of songs by Nirvana, Temple of the Dog, the Postal Service, and the Smashing Pumpkins. In 2025, he also collaborated with Noah Cyrus on "If There’s a Heaven," included on the deluxe edition of her album I WANT MY LOVED ONES TO GO WITH ME. That same year, he contributed the Shaboozey-assisted "Took a Walk" to the soundtrack for the horror film The Long Walk and closed out the year with the release of his deeply felt, blue‑collar anthem "Gary." ~ James Christopher Monger