Stephen Wilson Jr. Releases ‘Gary’ (Live From CMA Fest 2026)

Stephen Wilson Jr. Releases 
‘Gary’ (Live From CMA Fest 2026)

Watch His Performance From ‘CMA Fest
Presented By Sofi’ Primetime Special on ABC

 October UK Headline Tour
Including O2 Academy Brixton

Credit: Kayla Schoen/CMA
June 26, 2026 – Today, Stephen Wilson Jr. released a live version of his single ‘Gary’, which was recorded during his Nissan Stadium performance at CMA Fest 2026. Last night, his powerful solo performance aired during the ABC primetime special ‘CMA Fest Presented By SoF’.

‘Gary’ (Live From CMA Fest 2026) follows the release of Wilson Jr.’s latest single ‘Preacher’s Kid’ which was released earlier this month. The song was named a Song You Need To Know by Rolling Stone and was featured in Billboard’s New Music Friday Guide, with All Country News proclaiming, “[the] sprawling, electrifying new track that arrives as both a statement and a reminder of why Wilson remains one of the most fascinating storytellers working today.”

Wilson Jr. premiered ‘Gary’ late last year with an electrifying performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and also performed it on This Past Weekend with Theo Von and The Howard Stern Show. In March, he released the official video for “Gary,” which stars award-winning actor Gary Sinise (Forrest GumpApollo 13). The song is currently in the Top 40 on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart.

The video marked his ninth collaboration with director Tim Cofield who also directed his official video for ‘Cuckoo’, which took home the ACM Award for Visual Media of the Year in May.

Throughout the rest of the year, Wilson Jr. will tour the US and Europe on his headline Gary The Torch Tour that will culminate with two shows at The Truth in Nashville, TN on December 11 and 12. He will also tour as part of the Outlaw Music Festival this summer, and will support Dave Matthews Band on September 4 at the Gorge Amphitheater and Brandi Carlile on September 11-13 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit his website.

2026 UK Tour Dates:
6/30 – Dublin, IE – Summer Series
10/15 – Belfast, UK – SSE Arena
10/17 – Sligo, IE – Sligo Live Festival
10/19 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow SOLD OUT

10/20 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow 
10/22 – London, UK – O2 Academy Brixton
10/23 – Bristol, UK – The Prospect Building
10/25 – Manchester, UK – O2 Victoria Warehouse 

Keep up with Stephen Wilson Jr.
Website – Instagram – TikTok – Facebook – YouTube
ABOUT STEPHEN WILSON JR.                           
Stephen Wilson Jr.’s journey from the hollers of southern Indiana to Nashville, Tenn. has been a winding road that’s taken many detours: He’s been an Indiana State Golden Gloves boxing championship finalist, a scientist, and a lead guitarist and songwriter in an indie rock band.In 2016, he ditched his laboratory 9-to-5 and signed a publishing deal with BMG Nashville where his alchemic songcraft immediately made waves, leading to cuts from Caitlyn Smith, Old Dominion, Tim McGraw, Sixpence None the Richer, Leigh Nash and more.2023 proved to be Wilson Jr.’s breakthrough year, signing with Big Loud Records and releasing his critically-acclaimed debut double album søn of dad: a triumphant, genre-spanning set of 22 songs dedicated to his late father and given to the world on the five-year anniversary of his passing.In 2024, Stephen’s star grew as he made his network television debut on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, followed by performances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s #LateShowMeMusic series and Later…with Jools Holland. Ahead of the one-year anniversary of søn of dad, Wilson Jr. was also profiled in an extensive feature for CBS Saturday Morning, and last year, he released a deluxe edition of the album which featured a moving interpretation of ‘Stand By Me’ that has been streamed tens of millions of times. Last November, he earned his first CMA Award nomination for New Artist of the Year and played twice on the broadcast – a moving performance of his song ‘Took A Walk’ from the film The Long Walk with Shaboozey and a star-making rendition of ‘Stand By Me’.

To close out the year, he released new single ‘Gary’, which he debuted on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and is currently climbing the country radio charts. Fresh off his first ACM Award win for Visual Media of the Year for the video for his song ‘Cuckoo’, Stephen is currently in the midst of his Gary The Torch Tour headline tour that extends through December across the US and Europe/UK. This year, he will also share the stage with Dave Matthews Band at The Gorge Amphitheatre and Brandi Carlile for 3 nights at Red Rocks. He’ll also perform at Nissan Stadium at this year’s CMA Fest before playing Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic.