Who is Lainey Wilson? Everything to know about the 2024 ACMs Entertainer of the Year
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From a spot in a Coors Light Superbowl commercial to a Grammy Award to being named the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year, Lainey Wilson has had a busy year so far.
The award-winning musician is not a newcomer to the country scene, but she has made a big splash in recent years with her bell bottom country flair and strong work ethic. But before she was a star, who was this bell-bottom and wide-brimmed hat wearing musician?
Here's a look at Wilson's roots and just how the 31-year-old singer, songwriter became one of the biggest names in country over the last few years.
Where is Lainey Wilson from?
Wilson has spent the last decade producing albums in Nashville, but her roots have more of a bayou flair to them.
She was born in Baskin, Louisiana, a small village in the Franklin Parrish on May 19, 1992. The town has only around 200 people.
“Y’all, I remember being a little girl, and I would climb out on the top of our roof... and I would count all the stars,” Wilson said during her May 16 acceptance speech at the ACM Awards. “I would look up, and I would see the planes flying over my little town of 200 people, and I’d dream about being up there in one of those planes. And it’s so crazy because this year we have already toured the U.K., Europe, and Australia, and we’re about to start our American leg.”
She left Louisiana when she was 19 to make her way in Nashville, according to Biography.com.
When did Lainey Wilson record her first album?
In 2014, Wilson released her self-titled debut album. It didn't get much notice, but it did land her a manager, Mandelyn Monchick.
Lainey Wilson's big break? 'Yellowstone'
It would be awhile before the country musician reached that star status she had hoped to achieve as a little girl. And her fame didn't come from acclaim from the music industry, it came by way of television.
Her songs started to be featured on the popular television drama "Yellowstone" in 2019.
According to Biography.com, Wilson songs first appeared on the Paramount show in season 2 with “Working Overtime". From there, series co-creator Taylor Sheridan featured Wilson’s singles “Straight Up Sideways” and “Small Town Girl” in Season 3, and “Smell Like Smoke" in Season 5.
The television show also allowed her to build some acting chops as re-occurring character Abbey, who is an aspiring country musician, for four episodes in 2022.
Her ascent to country music fame climbed from there.
What awards has Lainey Wilson won?
Wilson has come a long way from her days as hopeful country musician.
Her win as ACMs Entertainer of the Year, is just one of the many awards that Wilson has snagged over the last two years.
“The past two years for us have been a whirlwind for us,” she said, grasping her award on Thursday night. “I’ve been after it for 13 years doing this.”
In 2023, she was named the ACMs Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year. And was one of the most-nominated and most-awarded artists over the course of the 2022 CMA Awards and 2023 CMT Music Awards. Here's a look at just some of the awards she has won since 2021:
2021 Academy of Country Music Awards
New Female Artist of the Year
Song of the year- "Things a Man Oughta Know"
2022 Country Music Association Awards
Female Vocalist of the Year
New Artist of the Year
2023 Academy of Country Music Awards
Album of the Year- "Bell Bottom Country"
Female Artist of the Year
Musical Event of the Year – "Wait in the Truck" (with Hardy)
Visual Media of the Year – "Wait in the Truck" (with Hardy)
2023 Country Music Association Awards
Entertainer of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year
Album of the Year – "Bell Bottom Country"
Musical Event of the Year – "Wait in the Truck" (with Hardy)
Video of the Year – "Wait in the Truck" (with Hardy)
2024 Grammy Awards
Best Country Album – "Bell Bottom Country"
Becoming a strong woman of country music
Wilson's country roots run deep and when asked about her success, she points to the women of country music that came before her.
"They have paved the way," Wilson said of the support she's received from Tucker, Shania Twain and Wynonna Judd in a 2023 interview with The Tennessean. "They are strong country women. They tell it like it is. That's what I want to be."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who is Lainey Wilson? From small town girl to Entertainer of the Year
