Anna J: Rising Country Star with Big City Charm

About Me – Anna J

Rising songwriter Anna J Stamato is making her official debut in country music as she fuses country’s rhythmic storytelling with pop’s catchy melodies. Drawing inspiration from Randy Travis, Taylor Swift, and Alan Jackson, the 26 year old Frederick, MD native has her footings in the classic country sound while making it distinctively her own. In 2016, Anna was accepted into the esteemed Songwriting program at Belmont University, where she studied with Grammy award winning professors, producers, and mentored under Marcus Hummon (co-writer of “Cowboy Take Me Away” by The Chicks and “Bless The Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts).

Since graduating in May of 2020, Anna has been performing both in Nashville, TN and Charlotte, NC while releasing music as an Independent artist. Her latest single ‘Frustrated’ was recorded and produced at the legendary Blackbird Studios in Nashville, TN. In May 2023, she concluded a 3+ month run on aBreaks Music’s radio playlist with her song “Better Than That” at #3 as the only Country artist in the top 10. Her single “Frustrated” also premiered on the aBreak radio chart in the summer of 2023 and made it to the top 5 as well, concluding its run at #4.

In June of 2024, her 2022 debut single ‘Nobody with Nobody’ hit #1 on the aBreak 58 chart. In September of 2024, she performed a the Randy Travis Music Festival in Marshville, NC. Her next single ‘If You Don’t Like Country (Then You Don’t Like Me)’ was debuted at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN and also hit #1 on the aBreak Music Station in January 2025.

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How to Connect with Anna J

• • Instagram: @AnnaJMusic
  • Website: AnnaJStamato.com (soon changing to AnnaJMusic.com)
    
  • Also available across YouTube, Spotify, and other platforms under “Anna Jay.”
    

“Like a tomato… but more Italian.” 🍅 🇮🇹

On this episode of Local Music Somewhere, host Terry Hudson welcomes rising country artist Anna J to the rBeatz studio in Charlotte, North Carolina. What begins as a lighthearted conversation quickly becomes a deep dive into Anna’s music journey, creative drive, and fan-first mindset.

The two first met at a Charlotte Music Community Hang, a quarterly networking event showcasing the region’s fast-growing music scene. Right away, Terry knew Anna’s name could work in both country and hip-hop — “just say it with a twang.”

From Suburbs to Songwriting

Anna grew up in Urbana, a suburb of Frederick, Maryland. Her love for music sparked early with a Hannah Montana guitar in 4th grade, turning childhood poems into songs. Influenced by the lyrical storytelling of Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift, she knew from a young age she was called to create.

At 16, she told her parents she was moving to Nashville. She later attended Belmont University’s acclaimed songwriting program, where she honed her skills under Grammy-winning mentors like Marcus Hummon — co-writer of “Bless the Broken Road” and “Cowboy Take Me Away.”

A Community-Fueled Career

After college, Anna’s family relocated to Charlotte. The city’s growing music community, combined with easier Nashville access, gave her the perfect base to launch a full-time music career. Her father encouraged her to “go all in,” and she’s been doing exactly that for the past three years — writing, recording, performing, and building her brand with intention and heart.

She credits her hometown and family for giving her the confidence to chase big dreams. “I still hear from old neighbors when I put something new out,” she shares with a smile.

More Than Music: A Brand That Connects

Anna stands out not just for her voice but for her bold, smart, and funny social media presence. From her 12 Days of Christmas video series to character-driven reels featuring “CEO Anna,” she showcases the behind-the-scenes hustle of indie artist life with transparency and humor.

She regularly collaborates with her sisters to test content ideas, mixing personality with strategy. It’s a style the host compares to the best of radio promotion — modern-day repetition that gets your music stuck in people’s heads in all the right ways.

“You’re not just collecting views,” says Terry. “You’re building a tribe.”

Anna also wins major points for having an email list — something the host insists every serious artist needs. More personal than social media and more direct than streaming platforms, email gives her control, valuable metrics, and a loyal fan base that sticks.

Music That Tells the Truth

Anna’s recent single “In Your Heart” dropped just before Valentine’s Day and quickly resonated. It’s a “sad girl anthem” for the broken-hearted — about liking someone who picks someone else. Vulnerable yet catchy, the song is a raw reflection on emotional duality: “I’m happy for you… but this really blows for me.”

Her debut single “Nobody With Nobody” was equally personal, written in her parents’ living room after moving back from Nashville. “I was super single, unemployed, and living at home,” she says. “I felt like a loser — but that feeling became a great song.”

Both tracks reflect Anna’s strength as a storyteller and the honesty that defines her songwriting.

A Voice Made for Radio… and the Stage

Though the industry continues to shift, the host emphasizes that country music still lives on the radio — and Anna is the kind of artist built for both stage and station. She performs 3–5 live shows per week and makes it a point to personally respond to fans online. “Whether it’s a restaurant gig or a DM,” she says, “people want to be seen and heard.”

Closing on a High Note

Anna wraps the episode with a live acoustic performance of “In Your Heart” on her autographed Randy Travis guitar — the perfect ending to a conversation full of laughter, honesty, and plenty of twang.

As Terry puts it best:

“Even if you don’t like country… you’re gonna love Anna J.”