Lainey Wilson Is Taking Country Music Wherever She Wants to Go

Lainey Wilson has never been particularly interested in standing still.

From the small-town Louisiana girl who packed up and headed for Nashville to one of country music's biggest stars, she's built a career on doing things her own way. Her latest single, Kinda Love It, finds her stretching the boundaries again, this time with a little help from John Mayer and a sound that takes her somewhere new without leaving her country roots behind.

There's something about Lainey Wilson that makes her success feel a little different. Maybe it's the Louisiana drawl, the bell-bottoms or the fact that, despite everything that's happened over the past few years, she still comes across as someone who'd be just as comfortable sitting around a campfire with a guitar as she is walking onto a stadium stage. Whatever it is, Wilson has managed to take country music into some pretty big places without losing much of what made people fall for her in the first place.

Her new single, Kinda Love It, is another example of that balancing act. Written with John Mayer, Kid Harpoon and Jon Decious, it's a bright, infectious song about the excitement of falling into a romance that doesn't come with any guarantees. There's a playful energy to it, a little unpredictability and the feeling of someone enjoying the ride rather than worrying too much about where it might end up. It's a step into different musical territory for Wilson, but that's hardly surprising from an artist who seems increasingly comfortable following a good song wherever it takes her.

The single follows a run of releases that have shown just how broad Wilson's musical world has become. Phone, Keys, Wallet and Can't Sit Still lean into her restless, free-spirited personality, while Younger You, a collaboration with Miley Cyrus, brings together two artists who have found their own ways of moving between country and mainstream music. There's a common thread running through it all: Wilson might be exploring different sounds, but the storytelling remains at the centre.

It's been quite a journey for someone who grew up in the small Louisiana town of Baskin, dreaming about Nashville and the possibility of making a living writing and singing country songs. Her rise didn't happen overnight. There were years of hard work, writing sessions, small shows and the usual disappointments that come with trying to break into a town full of people chasing the same dream. When the breakthrough finally arrived, Wilson had already spent enough time finding her feet to know exactly what she wanted to say.

Songs like Heart Like A Truck, Watermelon Moonshine, Wildflowers And Wild Horses and 4x4xU helped establish her as one of the most recognisable voices in contemporary country. They also revealed something that has become increasingly important to her success — an ability to make big, radio-friendly records without losing the everyday details that give country music its heart. Whether she's singing about love, growing up, hard times or getting back on your feet, there's usually something in there that feels familiar.

And the past year has taken things to another level. Wilson headlined Stagecoach, shared stadium stages with Chris Stapleton and became the subject of the Netflix documentary Lainey Wilson: Keepin' Country Cool, offering a closer look at the person behind the increasingly recognisable hats, bell-bottoms and sold-out shows. She's also made her film debut in Universal's adaptation of Colleen Hoover's Reminders of Him, adding another chapter to a career that already includes an appearance in Yellowstone.

Then there's the CMA Awards. Wilson will return to host the 60th annual ceremony at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on November 18, her third consecutive year in the role. She's also nominated in three categories, including Entertainer of the Year, which says plenty about where she now sits in the country music landscape. Not so long ago, she was another songwriter trying to get a foot in the door. Now she's hosting one of the biggest nights on the country music calendar.

Along the way, she's become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, collected major awards and worked with an impressive range of artists, including Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, Jelly Roll, HARDY and Cole Swindell. Her collaborations have introduced her to audiences well beyond traditional country radio, while her fashion partnerships with Wrangler, Golden West Boots and her own jewellery collection have turned that unmistakable personal style into another part of the Lainey Wilson story.

But what makes Wilson interesting isn't simply how much she's achieved. It's how she's navigating the space between the country music she grew up loving and the much bigger world now opening up around her. Country music has always borrowed from rock, blues, folk and pop, and some of its most enduring artists have been the ones willing to push against expectations while keeping a connection to the songs and stories that started it all.

Kinda Love It feels like another step along that road. Working with someone like John Mayer might raise a few eyebrows among the traditionalists, but good music has never paid much attention to fences, and Wilson seems happy enough to leave the gate open.
For a woman who once headed to Nashville with a dream and a determination to make something of it, the view from where she's standing today must be something else.

And judging by the new music, she isn't planning on slowing down to admire it just yet.