Stephen Wilson Jr. and the Heart of the Beast | Country Music News

Stephen Wilson Jr.’s haunting, soulful rendition of “Stand By Me” has officially become the heartbeat of the Heart of the Beast trailer — a major Hollywood film starring Brad Pitt set for theaters in September 2026. The song, steeped in personal grief after his father’s death in 2018, became his artistic awakening and went viral with over 18 million views before its 2024 release. Now, years after his breakout CMA Awards performance, Wilson’s version is echoing through the Alaskan wilderness of a blockbuster film — echoing Ben E. King’s original, which itself was revived by the 1986 movie. For the artist who once lived behind the scenes as a scientist and songwriter, this cinematic spotlight feels like destiny. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ffa0d6d1fd1b0e11