Lainey Wilson

Lainey Wilson was born on May 19, 1992, in Baskin, Louisiana. Her early life in a town of 170 people cultivated her interest in music, with influences drawn from classic country artists and her exposure to the Grand Ole Opry at age nine. She learned guitar from her father and began writing songs as a pre-teen. In 2006, she released an EP titled “Country Girls Rule” on MySpace, and during high school, she worked as a Hannah Montana impersonator, performing at various events across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In August 2011, Wilson relocated to Nashville to pursue her musical aspirations, initially living in a camper trailer outside a recording studio, a period that instilled perseverance.

Wilson’s career began with independent releases, including a self-titled album in 2014 on Cupit and “Tougher” in 2016 on Lone Chief, which charted on Billboard’s Top Country Albums. After signing a publishing deal with Sony/ATV and a management deal in 2018, she secured a major-label contract with BBR Music Group. Her breakout arrived with the 2019 EP “Redneck Hollywood” and the single “Dirty Looks.” The song “Things a Man Oughta Know” released in 2020 became her first number one on Billboard Country Airplay in 2021, leading to her third studio album, “Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’.”

Her career further diversified with an acting debut as Abby in the TV series “Yellowstone” in 2022, a role that also featured her music. In the same year, she released “Bell Bottom Country,” which earned her leading nominations at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards. Wilson’s accolades include winning Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards in 2023 and 2025, and a Grammy Award for Best Country Album for “Bell Bottom Country” in 2024. Her fifth album, “Whirlwind,” was released in August 2024, and she made her film debut in a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book “Reminders of Him” in 2026. On May 10, 2026, she married former NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges.