Runaway June is an American country music group consisting of Stevie Woodward (lead vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, autoharp), Jennifer Wayne (guitar, vocals), and Natalie Stovall (guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, vocals). Wayne co-founded the group in 2015 with Hannah Mulholland (mandolin, vocals) and Naomi Cooke (lead vocals). Wayne was a former member of Stealing Angels and had co-written singles for other singers prior to the group's foundation. Signed to BBR Music Group's Wheelhouse imprint in 2015, the group charted two singles on the BillboardHot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts prior to their breakthrough hit "Buy My Own Drinks" in 2018. This was the first of three singles from their 2019 studio album Blue Roses. Mulholland quit the group in 2020 and was replaced by Natalie Stovall, former lead singer of Natalie Stovall and the Drive; Cooke quit in 2022 and was replaced by Stevie Woodward.
Background
Runaway June performing at the Camp Schwab Festival in March 2023
The three met in Nashville and wrote their debut single "Lipstick" with assistance from Rebecca Lynn Howard, Caroline Hobby (also a former member of Stealing Angels), and Elisha Hoffman.[1] The song was released in 2016 via Broken Bow Records' Wheelhouse Records imprint. An uncredited review from Taste of Country praised the "original premise" and vocal harmonies.[3] They released their self-titled debut EP in September 2018,[4] which featured the singles "Wild West" and "Buy My Own Drinks".[5]
The group was a supporting act for Carrie Underwood on her Cry Pretty Tour 360, which ran from May 1, 2019, to October 31, 2019, alongside Maddie & Tae.[6] On May 23, 2019, the group announced their debut album Blue Roses, which was released on June 28, 2019.[7] "Buy My Own Drinks" which served as the lead-off single, is included on the album alongside three other songs from their previous EP release.[8] The album debuted at No. 36 on the Top Country Albums chart,[9] and No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.[10] After "Buy My Own Drinks", the band also charted two more singles from the album: "Head over Heels" and "We Were Rich".[11]
On May 14, 2020, Mulholland announced that she was leaving the group.[12] The next day, the other two members confirmed that she was replaced by Natalie Stovall, former lead singer of Natalie Stovall and the Drive, who also plays the fiddle for the group.[13] This was followed in February 2022 by Naomi Cooke's departure from the band; she was replaced by Stevie Woodward two months later.[14]
In 2023, Runaway June signed with Quartz Hill Records and released "Make Me Wanna Smoke" as their first single under the new label.[15]
Discography
Studio albums
List of albums, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
