Did You Know That CMA New Artist Of The Year Nominee, Stephen Wilson Jr., Is 46-Years-Old?

Stephen Wilson Jr. is no spring chicken… but he is new to the country music scene.

The “Holler from the Holler” singer has lived a couple of different lives in his lifetime. Hailing from Southern Indiana, Wilson Jr. has certainly made waves in country music over the past couple of years. Wilson Jr. first introduced himself with his EP Bon Aqua in 2023, and then really established himself with his masterful Son of Dad album he released later that same year.

And he’s finally being recognized for his musical contributions, as the CMA Awards announced him as a “New Artist of the Year” nominee, alongside Ella Langley, Shaboozey, Zach Top, and Tucker Wetmore:

The #CMAawards New Artist of the Year nominees are …
@EllaLangleyMsic
@ShaboozeysJeans
@ZachTopMusic
@TuckerWetmore
Stephen Wilson Jr. (@SWJMusic) pic.twitter.com/AH10j9WTYv

— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) September 8, 2025

What the difference between Wilson Jr. and the rest of the “New Artist” nominees? Well… almost two decades.

Other than Stephen Wilson Jr., Shaboozey is the oldest of the group of nominees at the age of 30 (the others are all in their mid-to-late 20s). As for Wilson Jr., he’s 46-years-old, and let me be very clear… there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s just that you don’t see a lot of “new artists” that are closer to 50 than they are 30. In fact, if Wilson were to win this fall, he’s be the oldest artist to ever take home the New Artist of the Year award since it first started in 1981. At first glance, he appears to be the oldest nominee ever, but I didn’t double check every single nominee ever. For reference, Darius Rucker was 43 when he won in 2009, but was also already a music superstar at that point in his career, and Jelly Roll was 39 when he won in 2023.

At that to say… it’s never too late to chase your dreams.

Wilson Jr., who has previously been called “Death Cab for Country” (since he draws inspiration from indie rock, grunge and then obviously country music), has worn many hats throughout his lifetime. At first, he was a boxer – as his father had trained him to be. Then, he went to Middle Tennessee State University and studied microbiology. After he graduated with his bachelor’s degree, he went to work for the MARS company.

Unaffiliated with space… rather, the MARS company that makes candy and pet food.

Throughout Wilson Jr.’s entire life, he was writing poetry and songs. He even taught himself how to play guitar, and was in a band during college, but he left that side project as he entered into his professional years as a product development scientist. He also briefly worked as a vet tech. However, the career of music always enticed him, and he was often writing and thinking of music while he was on the job.

At one point, Wilson Jr. finally decided that his life was meant to be used doing something else. Though his father’s passing in 2018 is often listed as a catalyst to changing his career path to music, it certainly seems like the country music artist was headed towards writing and performing in music before that moment. So in his late 30’s and early 40’s, when others are settling into their jobs or even prematurely dreaming about retirement, Wilson Jr. started freshly paving his own way in the music industry.

And now? He’s among a group of other country music artists on the rise that are nominated for “New Artist of the Year.” Though he might be older than the rest, Wilson Jr. is just as worthy of the title… and one could argue he’s more deserving. Obviously, some of the other nominees would be considered “bigger names,” so a win in the category could be unlikely. You have to think this is a two-horse race between Zach Top and Ella Langley.

But I’d say that Wilson Jr. being nominated in the first place – when he could be wasting his talent as a scientist (wild to say that) – is a win in itself.

“American Gothic (feat. Hailey Whitters)”

“Grief is Only Love”

“Father’s Son”

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