One of the most successful R&B vocal groups of the 1990s is heading to Music Row. Boyz II Men have signed with Warner Records Nashville and are preparing a country album for release in 2027, according to announcements on Monday, October 26.
No title or exact release date has been set. When it arrives, the project will be the Philadelphia trio’s first new album in ten years, following 2017’s Under the Streetlight.
Why country, and why now
Speaking to The Tennessean, Shawn Stockman explained that the group has long admired country’s storytelling and felt the moment was right to try it themselves, describing the sessions as a learning experience for artists who still consider themselves students after three decades. He, Nathan Morris and Wanyá Morris wrote with a number of award-winning Nashville songwriters, though their names have not been disclosed. Nathan pointed to the melodic and emotional overlap between R&B and country, saying the group feels at home in the genre, and Wanyá added that the harmonies and inflections of both styles are closely related.
The move is not entirely out of the blue. Boyz II Men played the Grand Ole Opry in 2018, sang with Chris Stapleton on the 2021 CMT Artists of the Year special and joined Cody Johnson at Stagecoach this April. Earlier this year they also teamed with Lady A on “I Love the One,” a song set to appear on an upcoming musical project inspired by the series The Chosen.
The label’s view
Warner Records Nashville chair and president Cris Lacy said the group’s influence on today’s country artists runs deeper than many might expect, and that learning how much they grew up listening to singers like Randy Travis convinced her to sign them. She framed the album as a chance for Boyz II Men to make music alongside some of the artists they inspired.
Since their 1991 debut Cooleyhighharmony, Boyz II Men have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide on the strength of songs such as “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “On Bended Knee,” “Water Runs Dry,” “One Sweet Day” and “A Song for Mama.” Their honors include four Grammy Awards, nine American Music Awards, nine Soul Train Awards, three Billboard Music Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Photo: Gilmar Smith, via Rolling Stone (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/boyz-ii-men-country-album-2027-1235647926/).
Source: Rolling Stone; additional details from MusicRow.