Fans of country music have, at this point, heard a thing or two about Lainey Wilson. The finally-emerging artist has seen constant heaps of success in record time. Uh, can you name another country singer who can say they were nominated for six CMAs, while making their acting debut on America’s biggest TV show? (Check her out in Yellowstone season 5, if you haven’t already!) And now, she’s the most nominated artist at this years CMT Music Awards—covering over four categories! And after dabbling in the music industry for over ten years, we think it’s safe to say: It’s been a long time coming!
While Wilson made her acting debut in the current season of Yellowstone, fans might recognize her voice from previous episodes. The Louisiana native has had more than one original song featured on the Yellowstone soundtrack, including “Small Town, Girl,” which played during the season 3 finale. It’s no wonder Yellowstone music supervisor Andrea Von Foerster thought Wilson’s music matched the show’s spirit. “I grew up in the rodeo world and my daddy was a horse trader alongside being a farmer,” Wilson previously said in a press release. “My parents put me on a horse before I could walk. So when I sit down to watch this show, it reminds me so much of my childhood and the cowboy that raised me.”
Landing a guest role in season 5 must have been a dream come true, as Wilson was already a massive Yellowstone fan! But how does she fit in to the cast of characters? And what are some of her most recent songs that will be celebrated at the CMTs this year? Read on to find out more!
What CMT Music Awards is Lainey Wilson nominated for?
Not that we’re surprised, but Lainey Wilson is nominated for some big awards at the fan-voted ceremony. She snagged a nomination for Video of the Year, for her feature in “Wait in the Truck” by HARDY. She also earned a solo nomination for Female Video of the Year for her song, “Heart Like a Truck.” Her and HARDY were also nominated for Collaborative Video of the Year for their aforementioned song. And lastly, she was nominated alongside Cole Swindell for CMT Performance of the Year for their performance of “Never Say Never.”
Wilson will also be performing at the 2023 CMT Music Awards which are set to air live from Austin on Sunday, April 2 on CBS at 8 p.m. ET or stream on Paramount+.
Who is Lainey Wilson on ‘Yellowstone’ season 5?
Lainey Wilson and her character on Yellowstone have a lot in common. First and foremost, they’re both country singers. We’re first introduced to the local musician, Abby (played by Wilson), in the season premiere. When John Dutton hosts his inaugural celebration as the new governor of Montana at the Yellowstone ranch. This is when Abby and Ryan, one of the bunkhouse boys, spark up a relationship.
Abby tells Beth that she’d never date a cowboy because she knows she would always be second to his lifestyle. Unsurprisingly, Beth doesn’t feel the same but notes that she’s probably a bit biased (due to her marriage to Rip). Beth offers a different view on the matter: she prefers someone with a life apart from her own so they have something to share. It’s a fair point and may just be the reason why Abby changed her tune.
Despite this being Wilson’s acting debut, her music, including songs like “Small Town, Girl” and “Smell Like Smoke,” have been regularly featured on the show.
How did Lainey Wilson join the cast of Yellowstone?
Believe it or not, the role of Abby was written into the show specifically for Wilson. According to an interview with the New York Post, the singer met Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan after one of her songs was featured on the show. “He invited me out to Vegas to play a horse-riding competition. And we really kind of bonded over horses.”
The singer’s personal history and musical style must have resonated with Sheridan. “In February, he called me and just said, ‘I want to create a character specifically for you,” Wilson explained on The Bobby Bones Show.
Sheridan has a history of including musicians in his hit Western drama—Ryan Bingham, who plays Walker, frequently plays his own original music in the series. Luke Grimes, one of the series’ main stars, also has a separate country music career. At this point, the Yellowstone stars could release a whole album!