Disruptor Management no longer represents Stella Lefty, the agency that helped turn her from an unknown artist into one of 2026’s biggest breakthroughs. Her father, Eric Lefkofsky, who founded Groupon, is now handling her career, per a source. The duration of his involvement remains unclear.
The move comes as Lefty’s debut single “Boston” holds No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for a second consecutive week. The song also peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and her debut album Long Way Home reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200. She will embark on a sold-out tour in November.
The Numbers Behind “Boston”
“Boston” is the first solo-billed woman to have a debut single spend multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart since Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman” spent five weeks at No. 1 in 2004. The song’s credits include Noah Kahan, who received a songwriting credit for interpolating “Stick Season,” and writers Tia Sillers and Mark Selby, who are credited on “Summer You Were Mine” for its similarity to The Chicks’ 1998 hit “There’s Your Trouble.”
What Disruptor Built
Disruptor helped build Lefty’s fan base from the start. Zach Horowitz, Disruptor’s director of A&R and management, told Billboard in June that he found Lefty online while he was still in college, years ago, and she was a burgeoning singer-songwriter from Chicago.
“We’ve been building Stella’s fan base for years,” Horowitz said. “Support runs with [several acts], fan pop-ups in New York and L.A.” He added that the team always wanted to serve the fans who were there from day one. “Those fans became the foundation, and as the project has grown, it’s felt like a real community rather than just people streaming songs.”
The Backlash
Lefty’s success has not been quiet. She has faced vicious backlash online, including the label “nepo baby” because of her father’s wealth. Critics have questioned her country authenticity since she is from Chicago, and she has been criticized for her songs sounding too similar to other artists.
She addressed that criticism head-on. In August, she told Billboard she was grateful for being accepted by the country music community.
“It’s so crazy to be so embraced in a genre that I’ve always loved,” she said. “Country music has been such a huge part of my life. And I feel like it’s always scary when you start making music that kind of bleeds into a genre. Country is so specific about who they embrace and how they go about things, so to be accepted in that world is truly the greatest honor.”
Support From Randy Travis and Kelsea Ballerini
Not everyone has turned against Lefty. A country star named Randy Travis stepped forward to back her up, posting a supportive comment on her TikTok after she shared a video on Sept. 22 singing an unreleased song that mentioned him.
“Thank you for the nod, Stella! I’ve always thought you could stand toe to toe with the very best in Nashville. Keep believing … face to the sunshine and shadows fall behind you!” he wrote.
After Kelsea Ballerini chimed in following Lefty’s Grand Ole Opry debut, Lefty posted about a moment backstage where she was photographed with two young St. Jude cancer patients. The post drew criticism even though its nature was positive.
“Opry member chiming in!!… From different backgrounds and hometowns and generations, we can find ways to say and sing things that resonate with people that fill the seats… and that is always the goal, right?… [The Opry is] about celebration of all kinds of country music,” Ballerini wrote. “New, old, traditional, current, however you wanna say it. It’s all important.”
What Happens Next
Disruptor keeps a full slate of artists under both its management and label operations, including its joint venture with Sony. When Billboard reached out, Lefty’s attorney and her label Atlantic Outpost neither responded nor commented.
The remark from Horowitz points to a friendly bond between the two parties. He spoke warmly of the fan base they built together.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| “Boston” reaches No. 1 on Country Airplay | Second consecutive week |
| “Redneck Woman” spends five weeks at No. 1 | 2004 |
| Lefty tells Billboard about acceptance | August |
| Randy Travis posts on TikTok | Sept. 22 |
| Sold-out tour begins | November |
The Verdict
The departure of Lefty from Disruptor carries real weight, and the involvement of her father overseeing her career adds a layer of family intervention. Whether the arrangement is meant to be temporary or permanent remains unclear, according to the source.
The backing from Travis and Ballerini carries weight because it originates inside the business itself. Their remarks about her skill and her standing in country music hold particular significance, even as the wider online discussion around her continues to be unfriendly.
For now, the situation remains in flux.
Source material: “Stella Lefty Parts Ways With Management,” Billboard.
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