
Lainey Wilson discovers that the little things give her a sense of groundedness.
“I’m making sure that I feel like Lainey: the sister, the friend, the daughter, the aunt, the dog mom, and all of those things,” the singer of “Heart Like a Truck” says. “I can be the best version of the artist I strive to be as long as I can accomplish that.”
Her latest album released in August, Whirlwind, is aptly named. It reflects the country music artist’s riveting career over the last year.
“Country’s having its moment, and I’m proud to be a part of the movement,” Wilson, 32, says.
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The star recently wrapped up her Country’s Cool Again Tour with over 35 shows. Last month, she cohosted the 2024 CMA Awards with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning days before a Thanksgiving NFL halftime performance for a packed crowd in Dallas and millions of viewers at home.
“I get nervous before everything, whether I’m singing for 20 people, 200 [or] 40 million households tuned in for the Dallas Cowboys game,” Wilson says. “If I stop getting nervous, I got something to worry about.”
And her year isn’t over. On Dec. 14, her Wildflowers and Wild Horses Tour will stop at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. T-Mobile, the show’s official wireless partner, is giving customers exclusive access to preferred tickets — even at sold-out shows. The company’s Magenta Status customers get VIP access to artists and events, like Wilson’s Magenta Saloon pop-up this weekend.
For the Bell Bottom Country musician, this upcoming performance will be a full-circle moment.
“We are bringing out Mae Estes and Tracy Lawrence, which is really cool to think that Tracy Lawrence is going to be on my show bill,” the “Watermelon Moonshine” singer says. “He took me out on the road with him about three years ago and I remember he stood side stage and watched every single one of my performances.”
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Lainey Wilson in February 2024.Billboard via Getty But there’s one recognition that “takes the cake,” according to Wilson.“When I got invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry this past year, that is better than any award I could ever get,” she says. “The Grand Ole Opry is a magical place. My parents took me there when I was nine years old.”She adds: “I remember where I was sitting and who I was watching and feeling like so much of the history of country music has happened in that place and so many people have walked through that door that have paved the way for me.”For 2025, Wilson has a lot more in store. She’s already got a head start on a new batch of music, and she kicks off her Whirlwind European tour on March 4 with a stop in Zurich.“We’re going back to London and Germany and Scotland and all the great spots,” Wilson says.