Lainey Wilson Is "Bringing the Heat" With Her ACM Awards Performance

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

It's already been a banner year for Lainey Wilson, with a sold-out headlining tour, stadium events with Luke Combs, and an acting turn on TV's most popular show (not to mention her viral Tik Tok moment). But the "Bell Bottom Country" singer isn't slowing down any time soon. This week, Lainey is the most-nominated female artist at the ACM Awards with six nods for Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Visual Media of the Year, and Music Event of the Year.

For the Female of the Year honors, she's up against Carly Pearce, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, and Kelsea Ballerini. Lainey said of her competition, "It's wild to think that these are a lot of the ladies who have inspired me, influenced me, and to think that they're my friends now is really crazy. I can pick up the phone and call them and get advice and guidance. You know, this journey is wild, and it's important to have those kinds of people in your corner. So I look up to them in different ways and I think they're all just amazing, beautiful, talented women who have a story to tell. And I'm so glad that they're letting me be a part of the crew."

What to Expect from Lainey at the ACM Awards

Lainey is taking the stage to perform during the show, and fans might be surprised by what they see from the "Heart Like a Truck" singer. She said, "I'm getting to show a side that I don't normally get to show on televised performances. We're bringing it out. We're bringing the heat and I'm so excited. If you come to a live show of mine, you see that I like to move around and cut up and dance and have a good time, and that's what I'm gonna be doing." When asked if she has any new dance moves, she said, "Oh, heck yeah. I'm ready."

Lainey on Her Partnership with HARDY

Lainey joked that she's been giving HARDY a hard time for having more ACM Awards nominations than her. HARDY has seven to Lainey's six, and the two share three nominations for their collaboration on the certified platinum hit "Wait in the Truck," a dark ballad about domestic abuse. The duo already took home the award for "Visual Media of the Year" in an early announcement.

Lainey explained, "When HARDY sent me the song, I knew immediately that I needed to be a part of it. It reminded me of why I fell in love with country music to begin with. It took me back to the nineties, to 'Whiskey Lullaby,' 'Thunder Rolls,' and 'Goodbye Earl.'" She continued, "It's real life and it happens behind closed doors a lot, so I think it's important to sing about things that are hard to talk about. I didn't know if country radio would ever play it."

Lainey on Her Trademark Style

In addition to her music and acting, Lainey has become a fashion icon. For the ACM red carpet, she'll be wearing her trademark bellbottoms, of course, paired with "shoulder pads and sleeves that drag the ground." She said, "We're figuring out ways to kind of dress up the whole bellbottoms thing. I don't think you'll catch me in a dress, so we're trying figure out ways to fancy it up."

Lainey is taking her fashion sense to a partnership with Wrangler. She's becoming a face of the brand and will launch a capsule collection in 2024. Lainey said teaming up with the historic brand was a no-brainer for her. She said, "Wranglers make me feel at home. I grew up on the back of a horse in a pair of Wranglers. My daddy still wears Wranglers every single day of his life."

You Might Also Like

• 70 Impressive Tiny Houses That Maximize Function and Style

• 30+ Paint Colors That Will Instantly Transform Your Kitchen