Lainey Wilson Brings Her Nashville Journey Full Circle With Sold-Out Bridgestone Arena Debut
“I always believed that this would happen, but now that it’s here, it’s really blowing my mind…”
Lainey Wilson; Photo by Erick Frost
During her 14 years in Nashville, Lainey Wilson has played just about every stage Music City has to offer. From songwriter rounds at Live Oak to headlining Brooklyn Bowl and Ascend Amphitheater, she’s put in the work. On Thursday night, she added another milestone to her journey: her sold-out headlining debut at Bridgestone Arena.
Over the course of two hours, Wilson proved she was more than ready for this stage, delivering a seamless show that highlighted her songwriting, her command of an arena, and most importantly, her deep connection with fans.
Taking the stage just after 9 p.m., Wilson made a dramatic entrance under a giant horseshoe, with Western imagery flashing on the screens. Anticipation filled the arena as phones lit up, waiting for her silhouette, hat and bell bottoms and all, to rise from below. She launched into “Whirlwind,” setting the tone for the night, before jumping right into the high-energy “Hold My Halo.”
The setlist was stacked with radio favorites like “Watermelon Moonshine,” “Things a Man Oughta Know,” and “Heart Like a Truck,” along with fan-favorite album cuts including “Bell Bottoms Up” and “Yesterday, All Day, Every Day.”
In a breathtaking moment, “Somewhere Over Laredo” lifted the superstar into the air, surrounded by stunning, colorful visuals and a drape of silky fabric that transformed the stage into a dreamscape.
During “Peace, Love, and Cowboys,” Wilson crowned the “Cowgirl of the Night,” inviting a young fan named Harper on stage to repeat affirmations like, “I am beautiful. I am smart. I am talented. I can do anything.” It was a powerful moment that highlighted Wilson’s role as a true inspiration for the many young girls in the crowd. You couldn’t help but tear up watching.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Nashville show without special guests, and Wilson didn’t disappoint. Ella Langley joined her for “Good Horses,” ERNEST came out for “Would If I Could,” and Jelly Roll brought the house down with their powerful duet, “Save Me.” She also welcomed Muscadine Bloodline to reprise their collaboration, “Pieces.”
One of the night’s most special moments came when Wilson performed “Whiskey Colored Crayon.” Stepping to the front of the catwalk with just her guitar, she transformed the massive arena into what felt like an intimate space. Before the song, she reflected on her Nashville journey:
“This is really, really crazy. Like I said earlier, y’all, I’ve been in this arena a lot. Like I said, I’ve sat in almost every single corner of this place, and I’ve been here 14 years. I’ve been in Nashville since 2011. I always believed that this would happen, but now that it’s here, it’s really blowing my mind and it really just started sinking in right before I got on stage. And I’m like, ‘what in the world? Y’all sold out this entire tour? This is wild! Thank y’all so much. Thank you for spending your hard money to be here. That means the world to me I have the best in the world. I could talk about y’all all day.”
She went on to share how her small-town Louisiana roots shaped her storytelling as a songwriter:
“Because when you’re from a town of 157, there ain’t a whole lot to do except work and tell stories. And my parents would tell me these stories that got better every single time that I heard ’em. The ones that make you laugh and cry, the ones that make you want to drink a beer, are the ones that just make you feel something. And I really do think that that’s why I fell in love with country music because of the storytelling.”
“Whiskey Colored Crayon” brought the arena nearly silent, with fans hanging on every word and wiping away tears, one of those moments that reminded everyone what country music is truly about.
By the end of the night, Wilson was visibly emotional, soaking in the love from her hometown crowd. Her sold-out Bridgestone Arena debut wasn’t just another show, it was a full-circle moment, a testament to her resilience and steady climb, one Nashville stage at a time.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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