Lainey Wilson, an American country music singer, songwriter, and actress, currently holds a net worth of $4 million. Over her career, she has earned two Grammy nominations. Her discography includes several studio albums: Lainey Wilson (2014), Tougher (2016), Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ (2021), and Bell Bottom Country (2022). She is known for hits like “Things a Man Oughta Know,” “Heart Like a Truck,” and “Watermelon Moonshine.” Wilson has also collaborated with artists like Jordan Rowe, Cole Swindell, Hardy, and Jelly Roll. In 2022, she had a recurring role as Abby on the hit series Yellowstone, where several of her songs were featured.
Lainey Wilson’s Early Life
Born on May 19, 1992, in Baskin, Louisiana, Lainey Denay Wilson grew up surrounded by country music. She is the daughter of Michelle, a schoolteacher, and Brian, a farmer. Lainey’s family enjoyed country music legends like Glen Campbell and Buck Owens. In an interview, Wilson recalled that country music was more than just sound—it was part of their life. Growing up on a farm in a town with only 250 people, Lainey was inspired at age 9 when she attended a performance at the Grand Ole Opry. This event pushed her to start writing songs and learning guitar.
At just 14 years old, Lainey released her EP Country Girls Rule on MySpace in 2006. During her teenage years, she worked as a Hannah Montana impersonator, performing at birthday parties and local festivals across Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. One memorable performance was for the children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she sang for kids battling cancer.
Lainey Wilson’s Journey to Nashville
After finishing high school, Lainey made the big move to Nashville in the summer of 2011. She settled in a camper trailer near a recording studio where the studio owner paid for her utilities. This humble beginning laid the groundwork for her future success. In 2014, Lainey released her debut self-titled album on Cupit Records, followed by Tougher in 2016, which charted at #44 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums list. Her 2018 self-titled EP helped her land a publishing deal with SONY/ATV. The same year, she signed a record contract with BBR Music Group and released Redneck Hollywood, which led to further opportunities.
Wilson’s 2021 album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ saw major success, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and #40 on the Top Country Albums chart. The album’s lead single “Things a Man Oughta Know” became a breakout hit, reaching #1 on the Country Airplay chart and earning Platinum certification in Canada and Gold in the U.S. That same year, Lainey teamed up with Cole Swindell for their hit “Never Say Never,” which also reached #1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and was certified Platinum in the U.S.
Collaborations and Continued Success
In 2022, Lainey’s career continued to soar with her involvement in Hardy’s hit single “Wait in the Truck,” which hit #2 on both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Canada Country chart. It also charted #3 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The song went 2× Platinum in the U.S. and reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, Lainey released Bell Bottom Country, which charted #51 on the Billboard 200 and #10 on the Top Country Albums chart. The album’s singles “Heart Like a Truck” and “Watermelon Moonshine” performed well, reaching #1 on the Canada Country chart and #7 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Lainey Wilson’s Hit Songs and Album Success
The song “Watermelon Moonshine” also reached #1 on the Country Airplay chart, while “Heart Like a Truck” peaked at #2 and earned Gold certification in Canada. In 2023, Lainey contributed to Jelly Roll’s “Save Me,” which became a massive success, reaching #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topping the Country Airplay chart. The song was certified Platinum in the U.S. and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Lainey’s personal life has also been an emotional journey. In May 2023, she attended the Academy of Country Music Awards with her boyfriend, Devlin “Duck” Hodges, a former NFL quarterback. The couple had been together for over two years. Wilson’s father, Brian, faced serious health battles in 2022, including a stroke and the loss of an eye to a fungal infection. Despite these struggles, Brian encouraged Lainey to continue her work on Yellowstone, even though she considered leaving to care for him. Brian went through nine surgeries in a short period, but he ultimately recovered and supported Lainey at the 2022 Country Music Association Awards.
Awards and Nominations
Lainey Wilson has earned numerous accolades in recent years. She received two Grammy nominations for the 2024 ceremony: Best Country Album for Bell Bottom Country and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for her collaboration on “Save Me” with Jelly Roll. Additionally, she has earned eight Academy of Country Music Award nominations. In 2022, she won New Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Things a Man Oughta Know.” She also won several awards in 2023, including Female Artist of the Year Album of the Year for Bell Bottom Country, and Music Event of the Year for “Wait in the Truck.”
In addition to her ACM success, Lainey won an iHeartRadio Music Award in 2022 for Best New Country Artist and received an American Music Award nomination for Favorite Female Country Artist. Wilson’s Country Music Association (CMA) Award nominations have also been impressive. She won New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year in 2022, and she repeated the Female Vocalist win in 2023. Additionally, Lainey was nominated for Entertainer of the Year and won several other CMAs in 2023, including Album of the Year for Bell Bottom Country, Musical Event of the Year for “Wait in the Truck,” and Music Video of the Year for “Hardy Feat. Lainey Wilson: Wait in the Truck.”
Through her remarkable rise in the country music scene, Lainey Wilson continues to gladden audiences with her authentic storytelling, emotional performances, and memorable collaborations, all while balancing her personal challenges and successes. Her hard work and dedication to both her craft and her family have made her one of the most admired figures in modern country music.
