Kelly Clarkson Admits She’s ‘Obsessed’ With Lainey Wilson

Lainey Wilson and Kelly Clarkson couldn’t help but gush over each other while catching up on The Kelly Clarkson Show. At one point, Clarkson even went as far as to say she is “obsessed” with the CMA Entertainer of the Year winner. 

Showing Support For Each Other’s Performances

The clip shared to YouTube on Tuesday (Mar. 5) opens with Clarkson calling out Wilson’s upcoming Country’s Cool Again Tour and declaring that she doesn’t want to miss the chance to see her perform on the run, even if it means she has to fly somewhere to make it happen. The pair of artists went on to compliment the other’s outstanding performance abilities and the energy they generate while on stage.

“Your whole body is moving and into the song, everything is singing,” Clarkson said in reference to Wilson’s showstopping delivery of her song “Grease” during the 2023 ACM Awards.  

The Louisiana native then returned the favor as she told the songstress across from her, “Well, I got to go see a show of yours the other night in Vegas, and you’re the same way. You can feel it from the top of your head to the tips of your toes with every ounce of you.”

Clarkson Shines With Impressive Delivery Of ‘Heart Like A truck’ In Vegas

Wilson then noted Clarkson’s renowned ability to cover other artist’s songs, including several of her own. While on stage during her Las Vegas residency back in August, Clarkson treated the audience to a cover of “Heart Like A Truck,” a song that appears on Wilson’s latest album, Bell Bottom Country.

“I know that you covered ‘Heart Like a Truck,’” Wilson said before adding, “I just want to tell you this, and this is coming straight from my heart, even when you’re up here just covering everybody else’s songs, it’s not just like you just learned the words and you got up there. I mean, you were feeling it for everything that it is…I just want to say thank you for doing that. That means so much to me that you got up there and sang ‘Heart Like a Truck.’”

“It means a lot to me that you’re writing music that inspires, especially a jaded, like ‘90s country fan, you know what I’m saying?” Clarkson said as she explained how Wilson’s unique voice and warm personality has stolen the hearts of fans everywhere. 

Not The Only Lainey Wilson Song She’s Covered

“Heart Like A Truck” isn’t the only Lainey Wilson song that Clarkson has covered. During previous episodes of her talk show, the three-time GRAMMY winner also put her own spin on the history-making hit, “Watermelon Moonshine” and most recently, the GRAMMY-nominated hit with Jelly Roll, “Save Me.”

At the time, Jelly Roll took to social media to share his thoughts on Clarkson’s delivery of the song that appears on his Whitsitt Chapel album. 

“I would’ve never believed you if you would’ve told me that I’d write a song so impactful that incredible Kelly Clarkson would deem it worthy to cover,” he wrote. “Thank you, Kelly- wow – I’m honored in a way I can’t even describe – I cried watching it.”

With each song that Clarkson covers, no matter what the genre, she makes sure to honor the original artist by pouring her heart and soul into every note and channeling her raw emotions through the story at hand. Many fans and fellow artists have commended Clarkson on her incredible performance ability and have agreed with Wilson’s belief that she’s “singing everybody’s songs better than they sing them.”

“No, I’m not,” Clarkson responded before applauding Wilson for her incredible voice that is somehow both reminiscent of musical greats and yet sounds completely unlike any other artists at the same time.  

“You open up your mouth and…I say like, a musical baby of Dolly and LeAnn, but it’s still your sound. No one sounds like you. That’s so cool. I love it. And I’m obsessed with you.”

Wilson Is Heading Overseas

Fans will soon get to see Lainey Wilson light up the stage throughout her upcoming headline run that’s named after her latest release, “Country’s Cool Again.” On March 17, she will make her debut in Australia and then in April, she’s been booked to head back overseas for shows across the UK. 

While speaking about her upcoming trip to Europe, Wilson shared, “I started going in 2018, and the truth is I had more fans over there at one point than I did here. But we’re going over there for a month too. We’re going to be out of the country for six weeks and then we’re coming back and then we are kicking off the Country’s Cool Again Tour here in the US and we are going everywhere.”

Her upcoming U.S. trek will launch with back-to-back shows on May 31 and June 1 at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater and run through November 15. Along the way, she will also make a handful of festival appearances.

Joining Wilson on select dates of the trek are special guests Ian Munsick, Zach Top and Jackson Dean.