Matt Stell
{{short description|American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Matt Stell
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|04|19}}
| birth_name = Matthew Neal Stell
| birth_place = Center Ridge, Arkansas, U.S.
| years_active = 2006–present
| genre = Country
| label = 124, Arista Nashville, Records Nashville
| website = {{url|http://www.mattstell.com/}}
}}
Matthew Neal Stell (born April 19, 1984) is an American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His song "Prayed for You" and his EP Everywhere but On were released in 2019.
Early life
Stell was born in Clinton, Arkansas, and raised in Center Ridge, Arkansas. He played basketball during high school in the Amateur Athletic Union summer league, and from 2002 to 2006, he played college basketball for Drury University for four years on an athletic scholarship.{{cite web |last1=Puryear |first1=Scott |title=Former Panther Matt Stell Continues Musical Dream With Return To DU For June 15 Concert With Country Star Josh Turner |url=https://drurypanthers.com/news/2012/6/7/MBB_0607121838.aspx |website=drurypanthers.com |publisher=Drury Athletics |date=August 27, 2019|accessdate=August 27, 2019}}{{cite web |url= https://www.aymag.com/matt-stell-opry-debut/ |title=A Dream Come True: Matt Stell Makes His Opry Debut |publisher=AY Magazine |last=Brosius |first=Jeanni |date=16 April 2019 |accessdate=1 May 2019}}
After college he worked farming and construction jobs while studying for a master's degree in communications at the University of Arkansas. A medical missions trip to Haiti inspired him to apply to a post-baccalaureate premedical program to complete pre-med coursework not taken as a religion and philosophy major.{{cite web|url=https://www.voxmagazine.com/music/preview-matt-stell-and-the-deep-roots/article_d488964d-ad32-5be1-b42a-7333e7f0827e.html|title=Preview: Matt Stell and the Deep Roots|last=Steffens|first=Beth|website=Vox Magazine|date=21 August 2013 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-31}} He applied to Harvard University's Extension School part-time pre-med program, and he was accepted. But in 2014, shortly before the program would have begun, he had the opportunity to sign a publishing deal with Wide Open Music, and he chose music over starting the part-time pre-med program.{{cite web |url= https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2019/05/09/matt-stell-opry-debut-prayed-for-you/1143975001/ |title=Matt Stell walked away from Harvard, earns hit song and Opry debut |publisher=Nashville Tennessean |last=Watts |first=Cindy |date=9 May 2019 |accessdate=24 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.extension.harvard.edu/academics/premedical-program/sample-course-path-premedical-program|title=Sample Course Path for the Premedical Program|last=grace_martin|date=2017-02-23|website=Harvard Extension School|language=en|access-date=2019-12-31}}
Music career
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Stell played as the lead singer of the band The Crashers.{{cite web|url=http://www.outhousetickets.com/Artist/Matt_Stell_and_The_Crashers/|title=Matt Stell and the Crashers|website=Outhouse Tickets|accessdate=December 24, 2021}} During this time, he released three albums independently: The Sound & the Story, Vestibule Blues, and in March 2013, A River Through It,{{cite web |url= https://103kkcn.com/matt-stell-a-river-through-it/ |title=Matt Stell, A River Through It |publisher=KKCN |last=Ryan |first=Ben |date=28 March 2013 |accessdate=1 May 2019}} the latter two of which were on the label 124 Records. He continued playing gigs, and opened for major artists including Luke Bryan and Eric Church. He also wrote for other artists, including Bart Crow, Casey Donahew, and the John D. Hale Band.{{cite web |url= https://talkaboutlasvegas.com/talking-with-matt-stell-april-4-2019/ |title=Talking With Matt Stell – April 4, 2019 |publisher=Talk About Las Vegas |author=Ira |date=3 April 2019 |accessdate=1 May 2019}} He moved to Nashville in 2014.
Stell released an EP, Last of the Best, on March 16, 2018. He also released the single, "Prayed For You", which he co-wrote with Allison Veltz and producer Ash Bowers.{{cite web |url= https://theboot.com/matt-stell-prayed-for-you-lyrics/ |title=Story Behind the Song: Matt Stell, 'Prayed for You' |work= The Boot |date=April 11, 2019 |first=Carena |last=Liptak}} Rolling Stone named "Prayed For You" one of the "10 Best Country Songs to Hear Now".{{cite web |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/best-country-songs-blake-shelton-alice-wallace-815950/ |title=10 Best Country and Americana Songs to Hear Now: Blake Shelton, Alice Wallace |publisher=Rolling Stone |last=Crawford |first=Robert |date=1 April 2019 |accessdate=1 May 2019}} The song captured the attention of Barry Weiss, former president and CEO of Jive Records, who signed Stell to his label, RECORDS, in July 2018.{{cite web |url= https://www.allaccess.com/country/10-questions/archive/29567/10-questions-with-matt-stell |title=10 Questions with ... Matt Stell |publisher=All Access |date=3 March 2019 |accessdate=1 May 2019}} Keith Gale, president of Good Company Entertainment, signed on to promote the song to radio.{{cite web |url= https://bulletins.billboard.com/country/country_update_0304.pdf |title=Matt Stell Captures A Life-Changing Journey In 'Prayed For You' |publisher=Billboard |last=Roland |first=Tom |date=4 March 2019 |accessdate=1 May 2019}} Also in 2018, Stell was named a CMT Discovery Artist.{{cite web |url= http://www.cmt.com/news/1805291/how-matt-stell-keeps-the-faith/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190412192155/http://www.cmt.com/news/1805291/how-matt-stell-keeps-the-faith/ |url-status= dead |archive-date= April 12, 2019 |title=How Matt Stell Keeps the Faith |publisher=CMT News |last=Bonaguro |first=Alison |date=11 April 2019 |accessdate=1 May 2019}}
In February 2019, "Prayed For You" reached No. 36 on Billboard{{'}}s Hot Country Songs chart{{cite web |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8506942/records-ceo-founder-barry-weiss-interview-photos |title=Why RECORDS CEO Barry Weiss Is Betting on Country - and Unproven Talent - in His Latest Act |publisher=Billboard |last=Karp |first=Hannah |date=12 April 2019 |accessdate=1 May 2019}} and in March 2019 it reached No. 54 on Billboard{{'}}s Country Airplay chart.{{cite web |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8502319/country-streaming-data-debut-singles-radio |title=More Than a (Gut) Feeling: Streaming Data Changes Game For Country Artists Launching Debut Singles |publisher=Billboard |last=Roland |first=Tom |date=13 March 2019 |accessdate=1 May 2019}} The song received over 15 million plays on Spotify and 44 million altogether within just over a year. The official music video for the song starred reality TV star Savannah Chrisley and her fiancé, hockey player Nic Kerdiles. It premiered at People on July 9, 2018{{cite web |url= https://people.com/tv/savannah-chrisley-first-ever-music-video-todd-approval/ |title=Savannah Chrisley Stars in Her First Music Video (with Her Boyfriend!) After Dad Todd's Approval |publisher=People |last=Mizoguchi |first=Karen |date=9 July 2018 |accessdate=1 May 2019}} and received over 4.3 million views on YouTube in its first 10 months.
Matt made his Grand Ole Opry debut on April 27, 2019. The same month, Arista Nashville and Sony Music Nashville joined the team working to promote his career.{{cite web |url= https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/186022/matt-stell-benefits-from-new-partnership-with-aris |title=Matt Stell Benefits From New Partnership With Arista Nashville |publisher=All Access |date=29 April 2019 |accessdate=1 May 2019}}{{cite web |url= https://musicrow.com/2019/04/records-sony-music-nashville-announce-new-partnership-deal-with-matt-stell/ |title=RECORDS, Sony Music Nashville Announce New Partnership Deal With Matt Stell |publisher=Music Row |last=Nicholson |first=Jessica |date=29 April 2019 |accessdate=1 May 2019}} He makes a return appearance at the Grand Ole Opry on June 12, 2019, with Old Crow Medicine Show and the Del McCoury Band. In May, Taste of Country named him an Artist to Watch.{{cite web |url= https://tasteofcountry.com/country-artists-to-watch-may-2019/ |title=Who's Rising Now? 5 Artists to Watch in May 2019 |publisher=Taste of Country |last=Houghton |first=Cillea |date=1 May 2019 |accessdate=24 May 2019}}
His major label debut EP, the seven-song Everywhere But On, released May 24, 2019, on Records/Arista Nashville,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/matt-stell-prayed-for-you-new-music-everywhere-but-on-833977/|title='Prayed for You' Singer Matt Stell Details 'Everywhere but On' EP |first=Jon |last=Freeman |date=May 10, 2019 |magazine = Rolling Stone }} a week after the debut of the music video for the title track.{{cite web |url= https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Matt-Stell-Debuts-New-Music-Video-For-EVERYWHERE-BUT-ON-20190517 |title=Matt Stell Debuts New Music Video For EVERYWHERE BUT ON |publisher=Broadway World |date=17 May 2019 |accessdate=22 May 2019}} The EP includes a collaboration with Jimmie Allen.
On September 16, 2019, Stell was presented with a RIAA Gold certification for "Prayed for You".{{cite web|url=https://www.kix921.com/music/matt-stell-earns-first-gold-single/|title=Matt Stell Earns First Gold Single|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921143744/https://www.kix921.com/music/matt-stell-earns-first-gold-single/|archivedate=September 21, 2019|accessdate=December 24, 2021}}
On October 8, 2021, Stell released the song "Boyfriend Season."{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4GTPxpOF0M|title=Matt Stell - Boyfriend Season (Audio)|location=YouTube|date=October 8, 2021}} The song is slated for inclusion alongside the Better Than That EP tracklist on an upcoming album, set to be released in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://countrynow.com/matt-stell-sets-the-record-straight-on-new-track-boyfriend-season-teases-forthcoming-record/|title=Matt Stell Sets The Record Straight On New Track, 'Boyfriend Season,' Teases Forthcoming Record|first=Tiffany|last=Goldstein|website=Country Now|date=24 November 2021|accessdate=December 24, 2021}} In 2022, he released the single "Man Made" as well as the promotional single "One of Us".{{cite web|url=https://countrynow.com/matt-stell-shares-a-taste-of-whats-to-come-on-his-new-album-with-one-of-us/|title=Matt Stell Shares A Taste Of What's To Come On His New Album With 'One Of Us'|first=Madeline|last=O'Connell|work=Country Now|date=September 30, 2022|access-date=November 30, 2022}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="width:12em;"| Title
! style="width:20em;"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row"|The Sound & the Story
|
|
| scope="row"|Vestibule Blues
| |
| scope="row"|A River Through It
| |
| scope="row"|Born Lonely
| |
=Live albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="width:12em;"| Title
! style="width:20em;"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row"|Live at the Snorty Horse
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| EP details !| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:45px;"| US |
| scope="row"| Last of the Best{{cite web |url=https://www.thecountrynote.com/in-the-news/country-singer-songwriter-matt-stell-releases-debut-ep-last-of-the-best/ |title= Country Singer/Songwriter Matt Stell Releases Debut EP, 'Last of the Best'|date=March 17, 2018|work=The Country Note}}
|
| — |
| scope="row"| Everywhere but On
|
| 32 |
| scope="row"| Better Than That
|
| 43 |
| scope="row"| One of Us
|
| — |
| colspan="6" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:9em;"| Sales ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album/EP |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! scope="col" style="width:45px;"| US ! scope="col" style="width:45px;"| US Country ! scope="col" style="width:45px;"| US Country Airplay ! scope="col" style="width:45px;"| CAN Country |
| rowspan="2"| 2019
! scope="row"| "Prayed for You" | 36 | 2 | 1 | 23 | |
| rowspan="2"| Everywhere but On |
| scope="row"| "Everywhere but On"
| 48 | 11 | 1 | 6 | |
|
| 2021
!scope="row"| "That Ain't Me No More" | — | 47 | 35 | — | | | {{Non-album single}} |
| 2022
!scope="row"| "Man Made"{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/country/future-releases|title=Future Releases for Country Radio Stations|website=AllAccess|accessdate=April 26, 2022}} | — | — | 36 | — | | | One of Us |
| 2023
!scope="row"| "Breakin' In Boots"{{cite web | url=https://musicrow.com/single-track-releases/ | title=Single/Track Releases }} | — | — | 21 | 48 | | | Born Lonely |
| colspan="9" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a release that did not chart |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stell, Matt}}
Category:American country singer-songwriters
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:Singer-songwriters from Arkansas
Category:Country musicians from Arkansas
Category:20th-century American male musicians