Lainey Wilson
American country singer (born 1992)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lainey Denay Wilson (born May 19, 1992[1]) is an American country singer-songwriter and actress. She performed at an early age, before going to Nashville to pursue a career as a pop music performer. In 2014, she released her first album on Cupit, followed by a second on Lone Chief in 2016. Wilson secured a publishing deal and later released an extended play (EP) in 2019 which included the song "Things a Man Oughta Know". In 2020, it was issued as a single through the BBR Music Group and eventually reached number one on the American country songs chart.
May 19, 1992
- Singer-songwriter, actress
Lainey Wilson | |
|---|---|
Wilson performing at the Ascend Amphitheatre in Nashville, Tennessee, June 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Lainey Denay Wilson May 19, 1992 Baskin, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation |
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| Instruments |
|
| Works | |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels |
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Partner(s) | Devlin "Duck" Hodges (2021–present, engaged) |
| Website | laineywilson |
Wilson has received nine Country Music Association Awards, including winning their top honor Entertainer of the Year in 2023 and 2025. She has also received a Grammy Award and sixteen Academy of Country Music Awards.
In 2022, she made her TV series debut in Yellowstone playing the part of Abbey. In 2024, she was in the country music documentary Rebel Country. In 2026, she made her film debut in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book Reminders of Him, where she played Amy Matthews.
Early life
Lainey Wilson was raised in Baskin, Louisiana, a town of 170 people. Her father, Brian, was a farmer while her mother, Michelle, was a schoolteacher. She also has a sister, Janna. She became interested in music at a young age.[2] Her family often listened to classic country music by Buck Owens and Glen Campbell. "Country music for me and my family, it was more than music. We lived the words to those songs," she told The Advocate, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana newspaper.[3]
At age nine, she attended a performance of the Grand Ole Opry and was drawn to the music. "I just remember looking up there, being like, ‘Man, I wanna do that'," she recalled.[4] Wilson's father taught her a couple of chords and she was soon writing songs by her pre-teen years.[2] In 2006, she released an extended play (EP) on Myspace titled Country Girls Rule.[1] In high school, Wilson took a job impersonating Hannah Montana. Often booking her own shows,[4] she performed as Hannah Montana at birthday parties, fairs, and festivals across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, even once performing for child cancer patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[2]
Career
2011–2018: Early years in Nashville and independent releases
Wilson graduated from high school[2] and moved to Nashville in August 2011.[3] She first lived in a camper trailer outside of a recording studio in Nashville. The studio owner paid for Wilson's water and electricity to help make ends meet.[5] In 2021, Wilson said that her early years in Nashville were difficult: "It taught me that this thing was not going to be easy. It taught me perseverance."[3] For several years, Wilson played a variety of small shows and worked on her songwriting.[2] In 2014, she released a self-titled album on the Cupit label.[6] It was followed in 2016 by Tougher, on the Lone Chief label.[7] The project garnered an audience and made the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.[8] In 2018, she released her second EP, a self-titled collection that was self-released. It led to her signing a publishing deal[2] with Sony/ATV in 2018. Also in 2018, she also signed a management deal.[9]
2019–present: Breakout success with "Things a Man Oughta Know"
In 2018, Wilson signed a major-label recording contract with the BBR Music Group.[10] Her first major-label release was her third EP Redneck Hollywood (2019). Her debut major label single was also released in 2019: "Dirty Looks".[11] Off the Record UK praised the EP, highlighting Wilson's songwriting and the production from producer Jay Joyce. The publication said, "The EP is raw and real, pushing the country music genre wider than ever and bringing it back to the traditional while still reinventing it to its modern surroundings."[12] Next she received attention from Country Music Television, who included her in their "Listen Up" Class of 2019[13] and on their "2019 CMT Next Women of Country" tour.[14] She also toured with Morgan Wallen in 2019.[11] During this same period, several of her songs were featured in the Paramount Network show Yellowstone.[15]
In August 2020, the BBR label issued Wilson's next single to radio: "Things a Man Oughta Know".[16] The track gained heavy media attention from sites like YouTube, Apple Music,[17] iHeart Radio,[18] Spotify,[19] and Pandora.[20] By 2021, "Things a Man Oughta Know" became her breakout single, reaching number one on Billboard Country Airplay and number three on Hot Country Songs.[21] It was included on her third studio album Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' (2021). The disc was her first full-length album issued on BBR and contained 12 tracks.[22] It was her second to reach the Billboard country albums chart, peaking at number 40.[8] The disc received positive reviews. "Beyond writing and recording songs that satisfy country music fans, she succeeds at introducing her whole self through the music," concluded Taste of Country's Billy Dukes.[23] Entertainment Focus commented, "The rising star knocks it out of the park with her new album."[24]
Wilson appeared as a supporting act on Jason Aldean's "Back in the Saddle Tour" in 2021.[25] The same year, Wilson collaborated with Cole Swindell on his single "Never Say Never".[26] The duet was released as the second single from Swindell's fourth studio album Stereotype, and became Wilson's second single to top the Billboard country chart.[27] It was followed by her 2022 solo single titled "Heart Like a Truck", then the album Bell Bottom Country.[28] Wilson received a leading six nominations at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards, becoming the fourth artist to receive six or more nominations as a first-time nominee.[29] Wilson also joined the cast of Yellowstone in 2022, with some of her songs also being featured in the series.[30] She was a co-writer on the 2023 single "Chasing Tornadoes" by fellow country artist MacKenzie Porter.[31]
Wilson received a leading nine nominations at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2023, winning five including the top honor Entertainer of the Year. She was the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year since Taylor Swift in 2009. In 2024, she featured on Keith Urban's song "Go Home W U".[32]
On May 9, 2024, Wilson announced that her fifth album Whirlwind was released on August 23, 2024.[33] "Hang Tight Honey" was released as its lead single to country radio on May 20, 2024.[34] That same month, Wilson was featured on a new version of "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" with Terri Clark, from Clark's album Terri Clark: Take Two.[35] In 2024, Whirlwind was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Country Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, to take place in 2025.[36] Wilson's "Out of Oklahoma" won Best Music Video at the 15th Hollywood Music in Media Awards.[37] In 2026, Wilson made her feature film acting debut in Reminders of Him, a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name.[38] On April 17, 2026, she released "Younger You" with Miley Cyrus, a duet version of Cyrus's single.[39]
Influences
Wilson's musical style is rooted in country music, but also incorporates elements of pop, southern rock, contemporary country, and classic country.[2][40] In describing her music, AllMusic's Mark Deming commented, "Wilson's voice is clear and strong, with an unapologetic Southern accent, and her songs are tough but heartfelt contemporary country with an edge that has its roots in vintage Southern rock and classic rock, as well as a dash of modern-day pop."[2] In describing her own musical style, Wilson characterized it as "bell-bottom country", which Taste of Country called "a cross between easy listening and hard truths."[4] Wilson has been heavily influenced by Dolly Parton, paying tribute to her in the self-composed track "WWDD" (What Would Dolly Do).[41] Wilson credits Lee Ann Womack as an influence on her career and music.[42]
Personal life
In 2022, Wilson's father, Brian Wilson, experienced severe health issues including a stroke and a fungal infection which resulted in the removal of his left eye. This all occurred while she was filming her first season on Yellowstone. Wanting to be closer to him, she considered quitting the show. However, her father encouraged her to continue filming regardless of his health outlook. He eventually recovered and was seen accompanying her on the red carpet at the 56th CMA Awards.[43][44][45]
In late 2022, Wilson became the subject of a viral trend that occurred on social media, predominantly on TikTok. A video of her performing at a concert spread very quickly on the platform. As a result of the angle of the camera and the leopard print pants Wilson was wearing, users felt the video was very flattering to the size and shape of her buttocks. The resulting trend saw users posting additional videos, pictures, and comments expressing admiration for Wilson's figure. For her part, Lainey acknowledged the trend and has largely responded to it with good humor. She made several jokes about it and also expressed hope that many people who only knew about her because of the posts would be inspired to listen to her music and become fans.[46][47]
In May 2023, Wilson was confirmed to be in a relationship with former NFL quarterback Devlin "Duck" Hodges.[48] Wilson later revealed in an interview with The Bobby Bones Show that she and Hodges had been dating for over two years prior to the public knowing about it.[49] Both Hodges and Wilson support the Pittsburgh Steelers, because Hodges used to play quarterback for them. In February 2025, Wilson and Hodges announced their engagement.[50]
On May 31, 2024, Wilson opened Bell Bottoms Up, a three-story bar, Cajun restaurant and music venue in downtown Nashville.[51][52][53][54]
Wilson is a long-time supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. [55]
Discography
Studio albums
- Lainey Wilson (2014)[6]
- Tougher (2016)
- Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' (2021)
- Bell Bottom Country (2022)
- Whirlwind (2024)
Tours
Headlining
- Country with a Flair Tour (2023)
- Country's Cool Again Tour (2024)
- Whirlwind World Tour (2025)
Supporting
- Back in the Saddle Tour (2021) with Jason Aldean
- Beers on Me Tour (2022) with Dierks Bentley
- Ain't Always the Cowboy Tour (2022) with Jon Pardi
- Dangerous Tour (2022) with Morgan Wallen
- Luke Combs World Tour (2023) with Luke Combs
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Yellowstone | Abby | TV series; season 5 | [30] |
| 2024 | Rebel Country | Herself | Country music documentary | [56] |
| 2026 | Reminders of Him | Amy | Film debut | [38] |
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) / Work(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of Country
Music Awards |
2022 | Song of the Year | "Things a Man Oughta Know" | Won | [57] |
| New Female Artist of the Year | Herself | Won | |||
| 2023 | Album of the Year | Bell Bottom Country | Won | [58] | |
| Female Artist of the Year | Herself | Won | |||
| Single of the Year | "Heart Like a Truck" | Nominated | |||
| Music Event of the Year | "Wait in the Truck" (with Hardy) | Won | |||
| Visual Media of the Year | Won | ||||
| Tex Ritter Film Award | Yellowstone | Honored | |||
| 2024 | Entertainer of the Year | Herself | Won | [59] | |
| Female Artist of the Year | Won | ||||
| Song of the Year | "Heart Like a Truck" | Nominated | |||
| Music Event of the Year | "Save Me" (with Jelly Roll) | Won | |||
| 2025 | Entertainer of the Year | Herself | Won | [60] | |
| Female Artist of the Year | Won | ||||
| Artist-Songwriter of the Year | Won | ||||
| Milestone Award | Honored | ||||
| Triple Crown Award | Honored | ||||
| Album of the Year | Whirlwind | Won | |||
| Song of the Year | "4x4xU" | Nominated | |||
| Visual Media of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| 2026 | Entertainer of the Year | Herself | Pending | [61] | |
| Female Artist of the Year | Pending | ||||
| Single of the Year | "Somewhere Over Laredo" | Pending | |||
| Song of the Year | Pending | ||||
| Visual Media of the Year | Pending | ||||
| Music Event of the Year | "Trailblazer" (with Reba McEntire
and Miranda Lambert) |
Pending | |||
| American Music Awards | 2022 | Favorite Female Country Artist | Herself | Nominated | |
| 2025 | Nominated | ||||
| 2026 | Best Female Country Artist | Pending | |||
| Billboard Music Awards | 2023 | Top Country Female Artist | Herself | Nominated | |
| 2024 | Nominated | ||||
| CMT Music Awards | 2021 | Breakthrough Video of the Year | "Things a Man Oughta Know" | Nominated | |
| 2022 | CMT Digital-First Performance
of the Year |
Nominated | |||
| 2023 | Video of the Year | "Wait in the Truck" (with Hardy) | Nominated | ||
| Collaborative Video of the Year | Won | ||||
| Female Video of the Year | "Heart Like a Truck" | Won | |||
| CMT Performance of the Year | "Never Say Never" (with Cole Swindell) | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | Female Video of the Year | "Watermelon Moonshine" | Won | ||
| Collaborative Video of the Year | "More Than Friends" (with Lukas
Nelson & Promise of the Real) |
Nominated | |||
| Country Music
Association Awards |
2022 | Album of the Year | Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' | Nominated | |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Herself | Won | |||
| New Artist of the Year | Won | ||||
| Song of the Year | "Things a Man Oughta Know" | Nominated | |||
| Music Video of the Year | "Never Say Never" (with Cole Swindell) | Nominated | |||
| Musical Event of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| 2023 | Entertainer of the Year | Herself | Won | ||
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Won | ||||
| Album of the Year | Bell Bottom Country | Won | |||
| Song of the Year | "Heart Like a Truck" | Nominated | |||
| Single of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| "Wait in the Truck" (with Hardy) | Nominated | ||||
| Music Video of the Year | Won | ||||
| Musical Event of the Year | Won | ||||
| "Save Me" (with Jelly Roll) | Nominated | ||||
| 2024 | Entertainer of the Year | Herself | Nominated | ||
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Won | ||||
| Single of the Year | "Watermelon Moonshine" | Nominated | |||
| Music Video of the Year | "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" | Won | |||
| 2025 | Entertainer of the Year | Herself | Won | ||
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Won | ||||
| Album of the Year | Whirlwind | Won | |||
| Single of the Year | "4x4xU" | Nominated | |||
| Song of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Music Video of the Year | "Somewhere Over Laredo" | Nominated | |||
| Grammy Awards | 2024 | Best Country Duo/Group Performance | "Save Me" (with Jelly Roll) | Nominated | |
| Best Country Album | Bell Bottom Country | Won | |||
| 2025 | Whirlwind | Nominated | |||
| 2026 | Best Country Solo Performance | "Somewhere Over Laredo" | Nominated | [62] | |
| Best Country Song | Nominated | ||||
| Best Country Duo/Group Performance | "Trailblazer" (with Reba McEntire
and Miranda Lambert) |
Nominated |