The country singer is heavily influenced by Nineties alt-rock and stood in for the Britpop honorees when they chose not to attend the ceremony
At first glance, Stephen Wilson Jr. may look like a left-field choice to sing for Oasis at the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. But the Nashville singer-guitarist has carved out a unique lane for himself by blending alt-rock with country music for a sound he often describes as “Death Cab for Country.” Even some of that era’s defining voices have taken notice: In September, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder joined Wilson onstage to perform Temple of the Dog’s “Hunger Strike.”
On Saturday, however, he had the unenviable task of performing one of the most over-performed songs of the modern era, “Wonderwall.” Armed only with his acoustic guitar and pedalboard, Wilson put his own spin on the ballad, off Oasis’s 1995 U.S. breakthrough (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, offering a growling, deep-voiced version that was in stark contrast to Liam Gallagher’s keening whine. It may not have been what the Oasis faithful were expecting, but it reinforced Wilson’s skill in interpreting classic songs (see: his viral version of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me.”)
Neither Liam nor Noel Gallagher chose to attend Oasis’s induction, joining other no-shows like Sade and Iron Maiden. The Britpop kings will, however, return to the road in 2027, playing dates across the U.K., Europe, and two select cities — Las Vegas and Boston — in the U.S.
Wilson, meanwhile, is gearing up for a big week in Nashville. He’s a multiple nominee at Wednesday’s CMA Awards, including nominations for New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for his solo composition “Gary.” Wilson is also set to perform, taking the stage with Chris Stapleton to presumably recreate their collab “I’m a Song,” the studio version of which drops on Monday.
