CMAT is the Irish singer who just recorded a new version of “Step Into Christmas” with Elton John, and she is one of the most exciting pop stars to come out of Europe in years. Her 2025 album Euro-Country went to No. 1 in Ireland and No. 2 in the UK, she stole the show at Glastonbury and Coachella, and she won the 2026 Ivor Novello Award for Best Album. This CMAT biography covers her real name, age, hometown, albums, awards and the story behind her rise.
CMAT Quick Facts
| Real name | Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson |
| Born | February 23, 1996 (age 30) |
| Hometown | Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland |
| Lives in | Hackney, London |
| Genre | Country-pop, indie pop |
| Label | AWAL |
| Albums | If My Wife New I’d Be Dead (2022), Crazymad, for Me (2023), Euro-Country (2025) |
| Biggest songs | “Take a Sexy Picture of Me,” “Euro-Country,” “Stay for Something,” “I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby!” |
Where Does the Name CMAT Come From?
CMAT is simply her initials. Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson was born in Dublin on February 23, 1996. Her family moved to Clonee when she was three and then to Dunboyne, a town in County Meath, when she was twelve. Her mother is a nurse and her father works in computers.
Early Life: Church Choir and Dolly Parton
CMAT grew up in a Catholic household, sang in the church choir and fell in love with Dolly Parton as a child. She started writing songs at twelve, inspired by Taylor Swift. After school in Dunboyne, her family moved to Copenhagen for a while, and she later returned to Dublin to study at Trinity College, although she dropped out.
Bad Sea, Manchester and a Fresh Start
In 2016 she formed a band called Bad Sea with her then-boyfriend. The band played Irish festivals, but it did not last. CMAT moved to Manchester in 2017 and went through a difficult period. A chance meeting with Charli XCX in 2018 helped push her to go solo. She returned to Dublin and wrote “I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby!”, the song that would become her breakthrough.
“Another Day (KFC)” and the YouTube Years
During the pandemic in 2020, CMAT self-released “Another Day (KFC)” and began posting weekly acoustic videos on YouTube. The videos found her a manager and earned airplay on RTÉ and BBC Radio 6 Music. In October 2021 she signed with AWAL, the label she still records for today.
Albums and Chart Success
- If My Wife New I’d Be Dead (February 2022): Her debut went straight to No. 1 in Ireland and won the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year.
- Crazymad, for Me (October 2023): Another Irish No. 1, a UK top 25 entry, a Mercury Prize shortlist and an Ivor Novello nomination.
- Euro-Country (August 2025): Her biggest album yet. It reached No. 1 in Ireland and No. 2 in the UK, won the Choice Music Prize and the 2026 Ivor Novello Award for Best Album, and produced the hits “Take a Sexy Picture of Me,” “Euro-Country” and “When a Good Man Cries.”
Glastonbury, Coachella and the Big Stages
CMAT’s 2025 Glastonbury set on the Pyramid Stage earned rave reviews and turned her into a festival favourite. In 2026 she played Coachella, where she led political chants from the stage, and she was nominated for International Artist of the Year at the BRIT Awards for the second time. She has never been afraid to speak her mind, including in her BRIT Awards remarks in 2026.
“Step Into Christmas” With Elton John
In November 2026, CMAT teamed up with Elton John for a new version of his 1973 classic “Step Into Christmas,” released as an Amazon Music Original. The track combines Elton’s original recording with new strings and CMAT’s vocals. It is one of the biggest new holiday songs of the year, as we covered in our list of new Christmas songs 2026.
CMAT Best Songs
- “Take a Sexy Picture of Me”
- “Euro-Country”
- “Stay for Something”
- “I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby!”
- “When a Good Man Cries”
- “Step Into Christmas” (with Elton John)
Personal Life
CMAT lives in Hackney, London, with a roommate and her pit bull, Paris. She has spoken openly about her large LGBTQ+ fanbase in Ireland and about the pressures of body image in the music industry, which inspired “Take a Sexy Picture of Me.”
Want more European stars? See our list of popular European female singers and the top 30 female singers in the world.
FAQ
What does CMAT stand for?
It stands for her initials: Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson.
How old is CMAT?
She was born on February 23, 1996, so she is 30 years old.
Where is CMAT from?
She is from Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland, and now lives in London.
Did CMAT record a song with Elton John?
Yes. In November 2026 they released a new version of “Step Into Christmas” as an Amazon Music Original.
Photo: CMAT performing in Brooklyn, March 2022 by Collin Knopp-Schwyn via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Cropped and text added by MusiccStar.