Runaway June Singer Naomi Cooke Johnson Announces Solo Career

Country trio Runaway June has lost another member, with lead singer Naomi Cooke Johnson revealing on social media that she is “taking a new musical journey as a solo artist.”

Johnson announced on Tuesday, February 26 that after spending seven years as part of Runaway June, she will be parting ways with bandmates Jennifer Wayne and Natalie Stovall.

She wrote, “I am beyond excited to share new stories and music with you. It has been 7 wonderful years as the lead singer of Runaway June, and I am so grateful for the memories and time well spent with my bandmates, Hannah, Jen and Natalie. It has been extremely hard to keep quiet about what I’ve been up to, and I cannot wait to share everything with you all very soon!!”

Johnson, Wayne and Hannah Mulholland formed Runaway June in 2015 and released two Top 40 singles, 2017’s Lipstick and 2018’s Buy My Own Drinks. Mulholland left the trio in early 2020, and Natalie Stovall joined, making the line-up Johnson, Stovall and Jennifer Wayne.

The group’s last social post featuring the most recent line-up was on New Year’s Eve. Johnson was absent from photos taken at Wayne’s recent baby shower and hasn’t appeared on her former bandmate’s social accounts since early November.

Johnson — who married Boys Like Girls frontman Martin Johnson in July — told PEOPLE last year that during the pandemic, the trio grew even closer as they worked together on new music.

She said, "At a time when we didn't know what was going to happen next, we concentrated on what we knew, and that was the fact that we loved each other, and we absolutely love making music together. So, we put our heads down and got to work."

In January, Wayne announced she had opened a custom hat store in Nashville with Big Plan Holdings' Tara Joseph and celebrity stylist and designer, Tyler Minor. American Paint sell Western-inspired hats and add on customisations such as vintage scarves, pins, feathers, leather bands and letter or logo branding.

Wayne, who is the granddaughter of Western actor John Wayne, said, “my grandfather was the epitome of a classic American icon. American Paint brings the rugged, adventurous spirit of my grandfather to life. I can’t wait to see everyone channel their inner John Wayne.”

Wayne is also due to give birth to her first child, a daughter, with husband Austin Moody in April.

A year after their self-titled EP, Runaway June dropped their debut album, Blue Roses in 2019. They went on to release their holiday EP When I Think About Christmas in 2020. In August, Runaway June released their EP Backstory through BBR Music Group and then parted ways with the label group soon after. Wayne posted video of herself and Stovall making music in late February, although no statement was made about the future of Runaway June.

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Keep up to date with Runaway June on their Facebook page here. 

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