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 Billboard Hot 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.

Runaway June
Runaway June performing at Jugfest in June 2017
Background information
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry
Years active2015–present
Labels
Spinoff of
Members
  • Jennifer Wayne
  • Natalie Stovall
  • Stevie Woodward
Past members
  • Hannah Mulholland
  • Naomi Cooke
Websitewww.runawayjune.com

Background

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Runaway June performing at the Camp Schwab Festival in March 2023

Jennifer Wayne, a granddaughter of John Wayne, grew up in southern California, and Hannah Mulholland grew up in Los Angeles, California, while Naomi Cooke is from Cedar Key, Florida. Cooke co-wrote Tyler Farr's top 40 hit "Better in Boots". Wayne was originally one-third of the group Stealing Angels, and co-wrote Eric Paslay's top 20 hit "She Don't Love You" and Keith Urban's 2021 hit "Wild Hearts".[1] Under this lineup, Cooke was the lead vocalist, Mulholland was the low harmony vocalist and mandolin player,[2] and Wayne the high harmony vocalist and guitar player.[1]

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]

Personal lives

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On January 9, 2021, Wayne married Austin Moody in a private ceremony.[16] She first confirmed in November 2021 that she was pregnant with her first child.[17] Lily Maria Moody was born on April 18, 2022.[18]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
Sales
US
Cou.

[19]
US
Hea.

[20]
US
Ind.

[21]
Blue Roses 36 2 10
Title Details
Runaway June[23]
  • Released: September 7, 2018
  • Label: Wheelhouse
  • Formats: CD, music download
When I Think About Christmas[24]
  • Released: October 16, 2020
  • Label: Wheelhouse
  • Formats: CD, music download
Backstory
  • Released: May 16, 2021
  • Label: Wheelhouse
  • Formats: CD, music download

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing relevant details
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[25]
US
Cou.

[26]
US
Cou.
Air.

[27]
CAN
Cou.

[11]
"Lipstick" 2016 37 28 Non-album single
"Wild West" 2017 47 36 Runaway June
"Buy My Own Drinks" 2018 88 17 8 15 Blue Roses
"Head over Heels" 2019 41
"We Were Rich" 2020 37
"Make Me Wanna Smoke" 2023 57 TBD
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other charted songs

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List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing relevant details
Title Year Peak
chart
positions
Album
US
Country
Airplay

[27]
"Sleigh Ride" 2020 45 When I Think About Christmas

Music videos

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Year Video Director
2016 "Lipstick" Peter Zavadil
2017 "Wild West" Traci Goudie
2019 "Buy My Own Drinks" Peter Zavadil
"Buy My Own Drinks" (live) Justin Key
2020 "We Were Rich" Patrick Tracy
"Sleigh Ride" Cody Heckber

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2018 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year Themselves[29] Nominated
2019 CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year "Buy My Own Drinks" [30] Nominated

Tours

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Supporting

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Who's New: Runaway June". Nash Country Daily. June 6, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  2. ^ Dauphin, Chuck (August 30, 2016). "Country Trio Runaway June Talks Football Fandom, Family Ties to John Wayne & Those Inevitable Dixie Chicks Comparisons". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  3. ^ Dukes, Billy (May 20, 2016). "Runaway June - 'Lipstick'". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  4. ^ Despres, Tricia (23 August 2018). "Runaway June Announces Plans for Their Self-Titled Debut EP". Taste of Country. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  5. ^ Konicki, Lisa (June 29, 2018). "[Listen] Runaway June's Catchy New Single "Buy My Own Drinks" Will Leave You Feeling Empowered". One Country.
  6. ^ Kaufman, Gil. "Carrie Underwood Announces The Cry Pretty Tour 360 With All-Female Bill: See the Dates". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  7. ^ Krol, Jacklyn (23 May 2019). "Runaway June Announce Sophomore Album, 'Blue Roses'". Taste of Country. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  8. ^ Casey, Jim (31 May 2019). "Runaway June Announces Release of Debut Album, "Blue Roses"". Nash Country Daily. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Top Country Albums". Billboard. July 13, 2019.
  10. ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. July 13, 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Runaway June - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  12. ^ Jim Casey (May 14, 2020). "Hannah Mulholland Departs Runaway June: "It Is Bittersweet, But I Am Excited to Continue to Evolve & Grow"". Nash Country Daily. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  13. ^ Stefano, Angela (May 15, 2020). "Natalie Stovall Joins Runaway June to Replace Hannah Mulholland". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  14. ^ "Stevie Woodward Joins Runaway June As Lead Singer". Music Row. April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  15. ^ "Runaway June Signs with Quartz Hill Records & Brown Sellers Brown Management". 10 May 2023.
  16. ^ Black, Lauren Jo (January 10, 2021). "Jennifer Wayne Marries Austin Moody in Intimate Beach Wedding". Country Now. Retrieved Jan 25, 2022.
  17. ^ VanHoose, Benjamin (Nov 5, 2021). "Jennifer Wayne Pregnant With First Baby". People. Retrieved Nov 5, 2021.
  18. ^ "Jennifer Wayne welcomes Baby Girl". April 22, 2022.
  19. ^ "Top Country Albums". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Independent Albums". Billboard.
  22. ^ Bjorke, Matt (October 21, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: October 21, 2019". RoughStock. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  23. ^ "Runaway June – EP by Runaway June on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  24. ^ "RUNAWAY JUNE RELEASES FIRST CHRISTMAS EP WHEN I THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS OUT TODAY | Runaway June". www.runawayjune.com. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  25. ^ "Runaway June – Chart history (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  26. ^ "Runaway June – Chart history (Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Runaway June – Chart history (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  28. ^ "American certifications – Runaway June". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  29. ^ "2018 Nominees - Academy Of Country Music Awards - CBS.com". CBS. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  30. ^ Mitchell, Amanda. "Everything to Know About the CMT Awards, Country Music's Biggest Night". Oprah Mag. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  31. ^ Liptak, Carena (6 March 2019). "Runaway June: Why All-Women Tour Lineups Shouldn't Be a Novelty". The Boot. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
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