Find Out The Surprising Career CMA Nominee Stephen Wilson Jr. Had Before Country Music
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Stephen Wilson Jr. Surprising Career Before Country Music
Country singer Stephen Wilson Jr. is continuing to make a name for himself in Nashville, blending heartland storytelling with a gritty edge he describes as “Death Cab for Country.”
He captured even more attention last year with a moving performance at the CMA Awards, where he paid tribute to his late father.
Born and raised in Seymour, Indiana, Wilson Jr. took an unconventional path before finding his place in the music industry. The son of a boxer, he grew up with strong Midwestern roots and developed a passion for the sport.
Before pursuing music full-time, Wilson competed as a Golden Gloves boxer. He introduced himself to a wider audience with his 2023 debut album, søn of dad.
The 22-track collection, released through Big Loud Records, was a deeply personal tribute to his late father. The project earned widespread critical recognition, landing on several year-end best-of lists, including Holler’s Album of the Year.
“Everything I write comes from where I’ve been. My dad taught me how to fight — in the ring and in life. These songs are just me trying to live up to that,” he once shared in an interview.
Wilson Jr. has earned himself four CMA nominations this year, including New Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, among others. He will also perform during this year’s show, which airs on November 18.
What many fans may not know, is that in addition to his roots in boxing, Wilson Jr. also pursued a career in science.
Before becoming a singer-songwriter, the Indiana native studied microbiology and chemistry at Middle Tennessee State University.
He later put that education to use as a food scientist at Mars, working in research and development. During his time there, Wilson Jr. helped create Dentastix Fresh, a dental chew for dogs, along with other products from the company behind Pedigree.
In 2016, he decided to leave his career in science behind and take a chance on music. Wilson Jr. moved into songwriting, eventually securing a publishing deal with BMG Nashville, and the rest is history!
