You may love country music but still ask who is lainey wilson. She found fame on the TV show Yellowstone and snagged the Entertainer of the Year award at the ACM Awards in 2025. This post will share her journey from a camper in Nashville to a white cowboy hat icon, and her hit songs.
Keep reading.
Key Takeaways
- Lainey Wilson was born on May 19, 1992, in Baskin, Louisiana, to farmer Brian Wilson and teacher Michelle Wilson. She moved to Nashville in August 2011 at age 19 and signed with BBR Music Group in 2014.
- Her 2020 single “Things a Man Oughta Know” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart by September 2021 and earned her a key spot on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
- Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ (2021) hit No. 40 on the Billboard 200, Bell Bottom Country (2022) won Best Country Album at the 2024 Grammy Awards, and Whirlwind (2024) climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and received a Grammy nomination.
- At the 2025 ACM Awards, she won Entertainer of the Year (her second), Album of the Year for Whirlwind, Female Artist of the Year, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year, bringing her ACM total to 20 awards.
- She acted as Abby in Yellowstone Season 5 in 2022 and got engaged to former NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges on Instagram Live in February 2025.
Early Life and Background
Lainey Wilson took her first breath on May 19, 1992, in Baskin, Louisiana, a town with fewer than 300 souls. Her dad, Brian Wilson, ran their farm as a fifth-generation farmer. Her mom, Michelle Wilson, taught at the local school.
Her older sister, Janna, joined her for chores, songs, and barn dances.
She fell for country music early, and Dolly Parton topped her list of heroes. Wilson learned every lyric and melody, spinning Dolly’s tales around the kitchen table. That childhood spark led her to release WWDD in 2021, the single titled What Would Dolly Do?
Lainey Wilson’s Music Career
She drove into Nashville with her six-string, chasing stage lights and songwriting gigs. She grabbed every mic she saw and spun her small-town truth into catchy, down-home anthems.
Beginnings in Nashville (2011–2018)
At age 19 Lainey Wilson moved to Nashville in August 2011 to chase a country music career. Her Flagstaff camper served as her tiny home for three years near Broadway bars. Wilson carried a guitar and a notebook to every open mic.
Producers noticed her raw voice in those small studios. BBR Music Group signed her in 2014, and her debut record dropped that year. Tougher came out in 2016 and climbed to No.44 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
Breakout Success: “Things a Man Oughta Know”
She dropped “Things a Man Oughta Know” in summer 2020, backed by BBR Music Group. Country music fans latched on fast. By September 2021 the track topped the Country Airplay chart.
Radio pros spun it on FM bands and streaming platforms, boosting her redneck Hollywood rep.
The tune cut deep, with a plain guitar riff paired to honest lyrics. It hit streaming playlists and gave her clutch moments on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Lainey grabbed a wireless microphone and lit up every room.
It proved her star power, and set the stage for Bell Bottom Country fame.
Hit Albums: “Bell Bottom Country” and Others
Lainey Wilson rose fast in country music. Her albums drove her up the charts.
- Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ (2021) climbed to No 40 on the Billboard 200 under BBR Music Group. It carried raw lyrics that echoed her Louisiana roots.
- Bell Bottom Country (2022) drove two smash hits, “Watermelon Moonshine” and “Heart Like a Truck.” The first topped Country Airplay and the second peaked at No 2; that record won her a Grammy.
- Whirlwind released in August 2024 and shot to No 8 on the Billboard 200 and No 3 on Top Country Albums. It snagged a Grammy nomination and showed her growth as a writer.
Major Achievements
She snagged a big music prize, took home a country award and climbed streaming platform rankings, so read on.
Grammy Win for “Bell Bottom Country”
In February 2024, Lainey Wilson took home the Best Country Album trophy at the Grammy Awards for Bell Bottom Country. The record rolled out on bbr music group, and its raw vocals and twangy guitar struck a chord across country music airwaves.
It earned two nods at the 2023 Grammy Awards, one for Best Country Album and another for Best Country Duo-Group Performance for Save Me.
ACM Awards Recognition (2025)
Lainey Wilson walked onto the stage and won four titles at the 2025 acm awards. Her second Entertainer of the Year trophy joined 19 others. She picked Album of the Year for Whirlwind.
She also swept Female Artist of the Year and Artist-Songwriter of the Year. She now holds 20 ACM Awards in her career.
Fans screamed as she lifted each trophy under bright stage lights. She held the microphone close and smiled wide. Production crews ran the soundboard, as Nashville buzzed online. Country music insiders hailed her win.
That night cemented her place at the top of acm awards history.
Role on Yellowstone
Country singer Lainey Wilson saw a big turn in 2019 when Yellowstone featured her song. Scenes played Things a Man Oughta Know on the series. That plug sent her country music streams skyrocketing.
She played Abby in Season 5, hitting screens for four episodes in 2022. Fans watched her share scenes with Ian Bohen’s John Dutton at the ranch. The stint gave her a taste of screen work beside her music hustle.
Personal Life
She shares behind-the-scenes life with Devlin “Duck” Hodges, a pro football athlete, and she cracks jokes to lighten heavy moments. She opens up on an audio show about her mental wellness, and she drops candid snaps on a photo app.
Relationship with Devlin “Duck” Hodges
Lainey Wilson got engaged to former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges in February 2025. She shared the news on Instagram Live using her smartphone, flashing a guitar-pick diamond band.
Fans in her country music world went wild. He cheers her on at recording studio sessions and on stage, grinning as she strums her acoustic guitar.
Devlin Hodges played for the Steelers in 2020, but now he trades touchdowns for backstage passes. They hit the red carpet at ACM Awards and CMA Awards side by side. He holds her hand as she steps up to the microphone.
Their bond feels real, like a good country verse.
Overcoming Challenges and Dark Times
Her dad, Brian Wilson, fought a fungal infection and a stroke in 2022. Doctors ran nine surgeries to save him. Lainey paused tours and flew from Nashville to Baskin, Louisiana every week.
She cried in her trailer and wrote songs about fear and hope. She leaned on Duck Hodges and her band at BBR Music Group for support.
Viral TikTok clips in December 2022 showed her Year of Health weight loss of about 70 pounds. She mixed brisk walks, simple yoga, and steelers shirts for gym days. Fans praised her honesty and grit.
Short workouts and laughs kept her moving. Hard times shaped her Bell Bottom Country spirit.
Does Lainey Wilson Have Kids?
Fans often ask about her family. She confirms she has no children. She pours energy into stage shows and songwriting, rather than parenthood. She builds her brand with redneck Hollywood flair and country music roots.
Her Instagram feed shows behind-the-scenes life, not baby bump updates. She treats her guitar like a little one, singing lullabies on tour. Devlin Duck jokes his dog gets more cuddles than any baby.
Influences and Style
Lainey Wilson admired Dolly Parton, and she paid tribute with her 2021 single WWDD. Her music pulls in Reba McEntire grit and Miranda Lambert edge. Jerry Cupit shaped her songwriting style; he mentored her in studio sessions until his death in 2014.
This gave her songs strong hooks and real emotion.
She mixes country music honky tonk beats with modern pop sounds. Rhinestone fringe and bell bottom country outfits add a redneck Hollywood vibe. Crowds spot her at the Grand Ole Opry and on Country Music Television.
Her roots in Baskin, Louisiana shine through in her lyrics.
Discography and Notable Songs
Wilson stacked hits like Bell Bottom Country, Watermelon Moonshine and Heart Like a Truck on her latest disc, and you can stream them on any streaming service—read on to find every track.
“Watermelon Moonshine”
Lainey Wilson pours old-school charm into the title track “Watermelon Moonshine.” She laid down six-string guitar riffs in a Nashville recording studio. The tune blends twang and her husky voice.
Lyrics nod to her redneck Hollywood roots in Baskin, Louisiana. Fans hear a sun-soaked story and recall a mason jar of sunset juice.
Her 2022 album Bell Bottom Country featured this standout track. It climbed to No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart. The song won cheers at the Grand Ole Opry and on Spotify. It shows why she earned female artist of the year nods.
Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan praised it online.
“Heart Like a Truck”
The track taps into country music grit and grace. It rides down country roads, like a big rig. It comes from the 2022 album Bell Bottom Country. Bold vocals meet acoustic guitar riffs.
A tough heart meets a tough truck. Fans nod along at Grand Ole Opry shows, and they stream it on Spotify, Apple Music.
It climbed to number 2 on Billboard Country Airplay, a clear sign of fans’ love. bbr music group sent it to radio, and it landed major playlist spots. The tune shows raw strength, shows raw pride.
Tours and Performances
Lainey Wilson hit the road hard. She logged 160 shows in 2023.
- The Countrys Cool Again Tour covers over 35 dates through mid-December 2024.
- She made her Grand Ole Opry debut early in 2023.
- Fans packed honky tonks from Nashville to Oklahoma every night.
- Bell Bottom Country songs rang out at festival stages in Texas and Louisiana.
- Redneck Hollywood shows sold out arenas under lights and smoke.
- BBR Music Group backed a winter indoor run at major concert halls.
- Heart Like a Truck became a live staple, earning cheers and chants.
- Cole Swindell invited her to open his stadium dates in fall 2023.
- Baskin, Louisiana fans gave her a homecoming on a summer Saturday.
Awards and Nominations
Here is a quick look at her top honors and nods.
| Year | Organization | Nominations | Wins | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Country Music Association | 6 | 2 | New Artist of the Year; Female Vocalist of the Year |
| 2023 | Academy of Country Music | – | 4 | Album of the Year for Bell Bottom Country; Female Artist of the Year |
| Nov 2023 | Country Music Association | 9 | 5 | Best Female Vocalist; Entertainer of the Year |
| 2024 | Country Music Association | – | 1 | Third straight Female Vocalist of the Year |
Takeaways
As a fifth-generation farm girl, she turned Nashville label life into a dream. Fans adore her red top and raw lyrics. She won a Grammy and ACM statue for Bell Bottom Country. Her Spotify streams jumped past ten million.
She earned CMA trophies and a top spot at the iconic Opry stage. Her journey proves grit pays off in country music.
FAQs
1. Who is Lainey Wilson?
Lainey Wilson is a country singer from Baskin, Louisiana, who cut her teeth as a Hannah Montana impersonator, then moved to Nashville, and signed with BBR Music Group.
2. What are her hit songs?
She wrote Things a Man Oughta Know, and it hit the top of the charts. Heart Like a Truck packs a punch. Watermelon Moonshine makes you tap your foot. Out of Oklahoma shows her roots. Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ feels like a heart-to-heart. Never Say Never and Hang Tight Honey round out her fan favorites.
3. What awards has she won?
Lainey brings in trophies from ACM Awards, CMA Awards, also known as Country Music Association Awards. She has snagged Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, and even Entertainer of the Year.
4. What EPs and albums has she released?
She dropped the Redneck Hollywood EP, and it sold fast. She also released the album Bell Bottom Country, and fans can’t get enough of it.
5. Where has she performed and does she act?
Lainey graced the stage at the Grand Ole Opry, she said it felt like coming home. She also plays Pearl on the show Yellowstone, where she shares scenes with Ian Bohen.
6. Who has she toured with and who inspires her?
She has rubbed shoulders with Morgan Wallen, Cole Swindell, Jelly Roll, and Luke Bryan. She calls Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert her heroes, and yes, she cheers for the Pittsburgh Steelers every Sunday.
