QHMG / Quartz Hill Records’ Runaway June announced that the Gold-selling trio will celebrate the release of their sophomore album, New Kind of Emotion, this Friday (9/19) with a Friday-night iHeartCountry Instagram Stories takeover, live from the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival presented by Capital One, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fans can follow along @iHeartCountry as Runaway June (Jennifer Wayne, Natalie Stovall and Stevie Woodward) share exclusive backstage and onstage content, chat with performers from the festival’s star-studded line-up, and surprise one lucky fan with free tickets. The Instagram Stories takeover is sponsored by Impossible Foods.
“Our new record is a party album, and the iHeartRadio Music Festival is one of the biggest parties of the year, so we’re super excited to spend our album-release night in Vegas,” says Jennifer.
“What happens in Vegas will stay in Vegas, except if we put it on iHeartCountry’s Instagram!” jokes Natalie.
“The Instagram takeover is going to be so much fun, and if you’re not lucky enough to be at this year’s iHeart festival, our goal is to try and bring the party to you,” says Stevie.
Gleaming with country-pop sheen yet anchored by traditional down-home fiddle, mandolin and pedal steel, Runaway June’s New Kind of Emotion is a modern country celebration of good times and girl power, friendship and independence, and romantic love that’s wanted but not needed. The result is an uplifting and empowering album, of which Jennifer says, “Even the sad songs are fun!”
Runaway June band members co-wrote 11 of the 13 tracks on New Kind of Emotion, which is available now for pre-save / pre-add. The musically adventurous trio pooled the talents of five separate Nashville producers for the project – multiple-GRAMMY winners Kristian Bush (Sugarland) and Ron Fair (Christina Aguilera) as well as Mickey Jack Cones (Joe Nichols), Stone Aielli and Austin Moody.
Previously released album highlights include the title track and current radio single, “New Kind of Emotion,” a feel-good ode to falling in love that was a Top 5 Most Added Song at U.S. Country Radio (Mediabase) upon its official impact date. The track was lauded by Billboard as a “Must-Hear New Country Song,” and Runaway June performed a live acoustic version on iHeartRadio’s The Bobby Bones Show.
Unreleased album focus track “Drink Champagne” is a Latin-flavored celebration that argues champagne shouldn’t just be reserved for special occasions. The song reflects Jennifer and Stevie’s Latin heritage, and Runaway June’s backstage pre-show tradition of popping open a bottle of bubbly.
