The CMA Awards are held each year in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, and celebrate the top achievements in country music.
Rising country-rock artist Stephen Wilson Jr. is fast becoming one of Nashville’s most compelling new voices, blending heartland storytelling with a gritty edge he calls “Death Cab for Country.”
On November 6, he announced he was “honored” to be performing at this year’s CMA Awards.
Born and raised in Seymour, Indiana, Wilson’s path to music has been anything but ordinary. The son of a boxer, he grew up surrounded by Midwestern values. Before launching his music career, he trained as a scientist and even competed as a Golden Gloves boxer.
Wilson first caught attention with his 2023 debut album, søn of dad, a 22-track, deeply personal project dedicated to his late father. Released on Big Loud Records, the album combines grunge, Americana, and modern country, landing at the top of several “Best of 2023” lists, including Holler’s Album of the Year.
“Everything I write comes from where I’ve been,” Wilson said in a recent interview. “My dad taught me how to fight — in the ring and in life. These songs are just me trying to live up to that.”
Stephen Wilson Jr. Delivers Raw Performance At The CMA’s
Stephen Wilson Jr. took the center stage at the 2025 CMA Awards, opening with a guitar solo and leading into “Stand By Me.”
Sporting his classic trucker hat and casual attire, Stephen delivered a passionate performance, tributed to his late father.
“Stand By Me” was later included on the deluxe edition of his debut double album søn of dad, a deeply personal project dedicated to his father.
The song, according to Wilson Jr., reminds him of his late father and has became a touchstone in his grieving process. He has shared he would sing the track in his living room and has become a place of sacred healing.
Watch Stephen Wilson Jr. perform at the CMA Awards below.