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When the nominations for the 2025 CMA Awards<\/a> came out, it was many mainstream country fans’ first introduction to Stephen Wilson Jr., who scored a New Artist of the Year nod.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s more to Wilson Jr. than meets the eye \u2014 and not just because, at 46, he\u2019s significantly older than the average contender in the category.<\/p>\n Wilson Jr. formed the indie rock group AutoVaughn during his senior year of college and spent about five years touring with the band.<\/p>\n After leaving the group, he stepped away from music entirely, pursuing a research and development career in a food science lab. Despite the sharp left turn \u2014 a move that provided financial security to raise his stepson \u2014 he never let go of his passion for songwriting.<\/p>\n He signed a publishing deal in 2016 and started releasing indie rock-flavored country singles in the late 2010s, as well as writing songs for artists like Dierks Bentley<\/a> and Lori McKenna<\/a>.<\/p>\n Much of the music Wilson was writing was inspired by his father\u2019s death in 2018, following emergency surgery.<\/p>\n In processing that loss, he also began to write about his upbringing with a single father, while his mother was often absent and involved in abusive relationships.<\/p>\n The result was S\u00f8n of Dad<\/em>, an album that explores grief, loss, and shifting identity.<\/p>\n Read More<\/em>: 30 Country Songs About Death<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The project came out in 2023, on the five-year anniversary of Wilson’s father’s death. It earned him a powerful grassroots fan base and cemented his status as an artist to watch in the Americana and indie country scenes.<\/p>\n Now, as he looks ahead toward the CMA Awards and beyond, Wilson is making his move into mainstream stardom.<\/p>\n Keep reading for Taste of Country\u2019s primer on the essential Stephen Wilson Jr. songs every new fan should hear.<\/p>\n Stephen Wilson Jr. first emerged onto many mainstream country fans’ radars when he scored a CMA New Artist of the Year nomination in 2025, but there’s more to this country newcomer than meets the eye. <\/p>\n He’s written songs for artists such as Dierks Bentley and Lori McKenna and, at 46 years old, is quite a bit more seasoned than your typical fresh-faced country music upstart. Keep reading for Taste of Country’s primer on Stephen Wilson Jr.’s music<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe 10 Best Stephen Wilson Jr. Songs Every New Fan Should Hear<\/h2>\n