Lainey Denay Wilson is a country singer-songwriter from the United States who was born on May 19, 1992. Before moving to Nashville, Tennessee, to seek a career as a country musician, she gave performances at a young age. Her debut album was published on Cupit in 2014, and her second album was released on Lone Chief in 2016. “Things a Man Oughta Know” was featured in Wilson’s extended play, which was published in 2019 after he landed a publishing deal. The BBR Music Group released it as a single in 2020, and it finally peaked at number one on the American Country Songs list.
Wilson has won seven awards from the Country Music Association, including Entertainer of the Year in 2023. Six Academy of Country Music Awards and a Grammy Award have also been given to her.
Lainey Wilson was raised in Baskin, Louisiana, a small town with a population of just 250 people. Her father, Brian, was a farmer, while her mother, Michelle, worked as a schoolteacher. She has one sister, Janna. Lainey developed an interest in music at a young age, as her family often listened to classic country artists like Buck Owens and Glen Campbell. “For me and my family, country music was more than just music; we lived the words to those songs,” she shared with The Advocate.
At the age of nine, Lainey attended a performance at the Grand Ole Opry, where she felt a strong connection to the music. “I just remember looking up there and thinking, ‘Man, I want to do that,’” she recalled. Her father taught her a few chords, and by her preteen years, she was writing her own songs. In 2006, she released an extended play (EP) on Myspace titled “Country Girls Rule.”
During high school, Lainey took on a job impersonating Hannah Montana. She often booked her own shows, performing as Hannah Montana at birthday parties, fairs, and festivals across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Notably, she even performed for child cancer patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
2011–2018: Early Years in Nashville and Independent Releases
After finishing high school, Wilson moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in August 2011. Initially, she lived in a camper trailer outside a recording studio, where the studio owner helped by covering her water and electricity bills. In 2021, Wilson reflected on her early years in Nashville, stating, “It taught me that this thing was not going to be easy. It taught me perseverance.” Over the following years, she performed at various small shows and focused on honing her songwriting skills. In 2014, she released a self-titled album under the Cupit label, followed by another album titled Tougher in 2016, released on the Lone Chief label. This project garnered attention and made it onto the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. In 2018, she released her second EP, a self-titled collection, which she self-released. This led to her signing a publishing deal with Sony/ATV in the same year, along with a management deal.
2019–Present: Breakout Success with “Things a Man Oughta Know”
In 2018, Wilson signed a major recording contract with BBR Music Group. Her first major-label release was her third EP, Redneck Hollywood, in 2019, which included her debut major-label single, “Dirty Looks.” Off the Record UK praised the EP for Wilson’s songwriting and producer Jay Joyce’s work, concluding that “The EP is raw and real, pushing the country music genre wider than ever, while bringing it back to its traditional roots and reinventing it for modern audiences.” Wilson gained further attention from Country Music Television, which featured her in their “Listen Up” Class of 2019 and included her on their “2019 CMT Next Women of Country” tour. She also toured with Morgan Wallen that same year. During this time, several of her songs were featured on the Paramount Network show Yellowstone.
In August 2020, BBR released Wilson’s next single, “Things a Man Oughta Know,” to radio. The track received significant media attention from platforms like YouTube, Apple Music, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and Pandora. By 2021, “Things a Man Oughta Know” had become her breakout single, reaching number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and number three on the Hot Country Songs chart. It was included in her third studio album, Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ (2021). This was her first full-length album released under BBR, containing 12 tracks. The album received positive reviews, with Taste of Country’s Billy Dukes noting, “Beyond writing and recording songs that satisfy country music fans, she succeeds at introducing her whole self through the music.” Entertainment Focus commented, “The rising star knocks it out of the park with her new album.”
In 2021, Wilson served as a supporting act on Jason Aldean’s “Back in the Saddle Tour.” That same year, she collaborated with Cole Swindell on the duet “Never Say Never,” which was released as the second single from Swindell’s fourth studio album, Stereotype. It became Wilson’s second single to top the Billboard country chart. She followed this success with her 2022 solo single, “Heart Like a Truck,” and the album Bell Bottom Country. Wilson received a leading six nominations at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards, becoming the fourth artist to earn six or more nominations as a first-time nominee. She also joined the cast of Yellowstone in 2022, with several of her songs featured in the series. Additionally, she co-wrote the 2023 single “Chasing Tornadoes” by fellow country artist MacKenzie Porter.
In 2023, Wilson garnered an impressive nine nominations at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards, winning five, including the top honor, Entertainer of the Year. She became the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year since Taylor Swift in 2009. In 2024, she collaborated on Keith Urban’s song “Go Home W U.”
On May 9, 2024, Wilson announced the upcoming release of her fifth album, Whirlwind, scheduled for August 23, 2024. “Hang Tight Honey” was released as its lead single to country radio on May 20, 2024. The album Whirlwind received a nomination for Best Country Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, set to take place in 2025. Additionally, her music video “Out of Oklahoma” won Best Music Video at the 15th Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
Pop, southern rock, modern country, and classic country are all included into Wilson’s music, which has its roots in country music. In describing her style, 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.” Wilson defined “bell-bottom country” as her unique musical style, which Taste of Country described as “a cross between easy listening and hard truths.” Wilson’s self-composed song “WWDD” (What Would Dolly Do) pays homage to Dolly Parton, who has had a significant effect on Wilson. She also acknowledges the impact Lee Ann Womack has on her career and music.
In 2022, Lainey Wilson’s father, Brian Wilson, faced severe health issues, including a stroke and a fungal infection that led to the removal of his left eye. These challenges occurred while she was filming her first season of “Yellowstone.” Wanting to be closer to him, she considered quitting the show, but her father encouraged her to continue filming regardless of his health situation. Fortunately, he eventually recovered and was seen accompanying her on the red carpet at the 56th CMA Awards.
Later in 2022, Wilson became the subject of a viral trend on social media, particularly on TikTok. A video of her performing at a concert gained rapid popularity on the platform. Due to the camera angle and the leopard print pants she was wearing, users found the video to be particularly flattering to her figure, especially her buttocks. This led to a trend where users posted additional videos, pictures, and comments expressing admiration for Wilson’s shape. In response, Lainey acknowledged the trend with good humor, making several jokes about it, and expressed hope that those who discovered her through the posts would be inspired to listen to her music and become fans.
In May 2023, Wilson confirmed her relationship with former NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges. During an interview on “The Bobby Bones Show,” she revealed that they had been dating for over two years before the news became public. Both Wilson and Hodges are fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Hodges previously played quarterback for the team.
On May 31, 2024, Wilson opened Bell Bottoms Up, a three-story bar, Cajun restaurant, and music venue in downtown Nashville.