Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr. know how to put on a show! But before they hit the stage together at the 59th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 19, Wilson threw down a solo cover for the ages.
Performing Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”, King delivered bone-chilling vocals that will stick with country fans for a long time.
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Ahead of the show, Wilson Jr. told ABC why the song, which he’s long covered, has a special meaning to him.
“That song’s been haunting me my whole life, since I was a little kid, from this movie called Stand By Me based off a Stephen King book,” he says. “And ever since that day I watched it, it’s been running through my head.”
“So when my dad died, I just started playing it in my living room. And it just took this new form because it haunted me so bad,” Wilson Jr. added. “I just starting singing it like a hymn. And it seemed to bring him closer to me. And I just sang it in this guy’s basement one day and it just went crazy online.”
Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr.’s 2025 CMA Awards
Later in the show, Wilson Jr. is set to take the stage again, this time to perform “Took A Walk” with Shaboozey. The men—along with Stephen Musselman, Connor Sullivan, Sean Cook, and Nevin Sastry—penned the song for Francis Lawrence’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s book, The Long Walk.
“I’m so thrilled that Francis thought of us to close out his film,” Shaboozey said in a statement, per Rolling Stone. “I really felt for these characters. These guys seemingly have no future, but hold on tight to the idea of hope—a better life, a better world. It felt familiar. The movie feels timeless and soulful, so I thought Stephen’s guitar would be the perfect complement to leave fans with a song that feels timeless.”
Wilson Jr. added, “As a fellow Stephen spelled with a ‘ph’, it’s no secret I’m a fan of Stephen King. When I was approached to write a counterpart to this song with Shaboozey, knowing it was based on Mr. King’s work, I was honored and humbled to be invited into the portrayal of such a storyline.”
“I’m such a fan of Shaboozey and his authenticity, and jumped at the opportunity to sonically dance with this visceral but hopeful film and try to highlight the beauty in the most adverse moments,” he added.
Both Shaboozey and Wilson Jr. are also nominees this year. They were competing against each other—as well as Ella Langley and Tucker Wetmore—in the New Artist of the Year category. However, the trophy ultimately went to Zach Top, who accepted the prestigious honor with a beer in his hand.
Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the 2025 CMA Awards are airing live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The ceremony will stream next day on Hulu.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
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