Age: 23
Hometown: Willow Bend, Tennessee
Genre: Country / Americana

Early Life

Born and raised in the small farming town of Willow Bend, Tennessee, Matthew “Mat” Ry grew up surrounded by open fields, church picnics, and Saturday night bonfires — the kind of place where everybody knows your name and a handshake still means something. The son of a diesel mechanic and a schoolteacher, Mat learned early about hard work, humility, and community.

He was an all-around kid — a varsity baseball player and honor roll student, known as much for his good nature as his fastball. But while his friends dreamed of college ball or factory jobs, Mat found himself drawn to a different rhythm — the one coming from his dad’s old ’78 Martin D-28 that sat in the corner of their living room.

Musical Beginnings

Music wasn’t a profession in the Ry household, but it was always present. His mom played piano at church, and his dad strummed along to Merle Haggard and George Strait after supper. When Mat was 13, his parents gave him that same beat-up Martin — the one with a crack down the side and a story in every scratch — and he started teaching himself chords by ear.

By high school, Mat was writing songs of his own — mostly about small-town heartbreak and big-time dreams — and playing at local diners, fairs, and open mics. He says, “I didn’t know what I was doing half the time, but when people started singing along, I figured I must be doing something right.”

Influences

Mat’s musical roots run deep into classic country, but his sound branches wide. He grew up on Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, and Brad Paisley, but also found inspiration in John Mayer’s guitar work and the storytelling of Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers.

“I love that space where old-school country meets something a little more honest and rough around the edges,” Mat says. “That’s where real stories live.”

The Journey

After graduating high school, Mat turned down a college baseball scholarship and moved to Nashville with nothing but his guitar, an old Ford Ranger, and a head full of songs. He spent the next few years working odd jobs — bartending, loading gear, and playing wherever he could — from backroom songwriter rounds to honky-tonks off Broadway.

Word spread fast about the tall kid with the weathered voice and natural charm. His breakout moment came when a live video of his original song “Backroads Don’t Forget” went viral, racking up hundreds of thousands of views overnight. The song’s mix of nostalgia, grit, and heart put Mat on the radar of both fans and industry insiders.

Sound & Style

Mat Ry’s music blends traditional country storytelling with modern production and honest emotion. His voice is warm and soulful — equal parts front porch and stadium stage. Lyrically, he writes about the real stuff: first loves, long drives, faith, family, and the kind of heartache that makes you grow up fast.

Critics have called his sound “authentically southern with a modern spark.”

What’s Next

Now, at just 23, Mat Ry is carving his place in the next wave of country music. His debut EP, “Name yet to be determined,” is set to release later this year — a collection of songs that feel like home yet reach far beyond it.

When he’s not touring or in the studio, you’ll still find Mat back in Willow Bend — fishing with his old man, helping his mom around the house, or sitting on the tailgate, guitar in hand, chasing another song before the sun goes down.

Mat Ry isn’t trying to be a superstar. He’s just trying to be honest.
And in country music, that’s what lasts.