Get to know country superstar Lainey Wilson

She's a GRAMMY and CMA Award-winning superstar; she's the reigning CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year - so it's no surprise that Lainey Wilson headlined Country to Country Festival on Saturday 15th March.

Performing at the three-day music event - which hosted a rotating line-up of country’s biggest music stars across London, Glasgow and Belfast - Lainey was on the roster alongside Dylan Gossett, 49 Winchester, Tucker Wetmore and Wyatt Flores!

From her incredible albums, to hit songs and blossoming career, here's everything you need to know about the country star as we prepare for another huge year for country music.

Who is Lainey Wilson?

Lainey Wilson is a highly-acclaimed American country singer-songwriter.

When and where was she born?

Wilson was born on 19th May 1992 in Baskin, Louisiana, U.S.

How old is Lainey Wilson?

At the time of writing, she is 32-years-old.

Lainey Wilson’s early life

Lainey grew up alongside her parents and younger sister, Janna, in Baskin, Louisiana.

She became interested in music at a young age, attending the Grand Ole Opry at age nine furthering her interest. She began writing songs in her preteens, releasing her first EP on MySpace in 2006 titled 'Country Girls Rule'.

In high school, she took up her very first job impersonating Hannah Montana at birthday parties, fairs and festivals across Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.

First years in Nashville

Wilson moved to Nashville, Tennessee in August 2011 after finishing high school to chase her dreams of becoming a country music artist.

Trying to make her own way, she lived in a camper trailer outside of a recording studio in Nashville, while performing a variety of small shows.

In 2014, she released a self-titled album on the Cupit label that was followed by her 2016 album 'Tougher'. The second record release helped her gain traction on the American country albums chart making its way to the Billboard Top Country Albums play - and even led to her signing her first publishing deal with Sony/ATV.

Lainey's breakout years in country music

Signing a major-label recording contract with the BBR Music Group in 2019 saw the beginning of her breakout success, with her major label single ‘Dirty Looks’.

As a result of her growing success, Wilson toured with Morgan Wallen in 2019, with her songs also being featured in the Paramount Network show Yellowstone that same year.

Her third studio album ‘Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ included her two breakout singles ‘Dirty Looks’ and ‘Things a Man Oughta Know’. The tracks gained heavy media attention, reaching Number 1 on Billboard Country Airplay and Number 3 on Hot Country Songs.

Making her ongoing mark, Lainey appeared as a supporting act on Jason Aldean’s ‘Back in the Saddle Tour’ in 2021 and collaborated with Cole Swindell on his single ‘Never Say Never’, which was released as the second single from Cole’s fourth studio album 'Stereotype'.

This was followed by her 2022 single 'Heart Like a Truck' and then came the 'Bell Bottom Country' album in the same year.

She received a groundbreaking six nominations at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards, becoming the fourth artist to receive six or more nominations as a first-time nominee. She also joined the cast of Yellowstone in 2022 where she portrayed a local musician, Abby.

Her success continued into 2023, receiving a leading nine nominations at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2023, winning five - including the top honour Entertainer of the Year, making her the first woman to win the gong since Taylor Swift in 2009.

Her latest album release

Lainey Wilson released her fifth studio album 'Whirlwind' on 23rd August 2024. The album included 'Hang Tight Honey' as the lead single, peaking at Number 13 on the US Billboard Country Airplay charts.

The album was a huge success, hitting Number 2 on Billboard's The 10 Best Country Albums of 2024, as well as Number 8 on Rolling Stone's The 30 Best Country Albums of 2024 and Number 5 on The 10 Best Country Albums of 2024.

Undoubtedly a woman of many talents, Lainey co-wrote all 14 tracks on 'Whirlwind'.

In 2025, the album even bagged a nomination for Best Country Album at the GRAMMY Awards. Despite losing out to Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter', Lainey lit up the stage as she performed the track 'Let the Good Times Roll' - in a tribute to the late Quincy Jones.

Take a look through upcoming country tours and festivals in the UK:

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