Lainey Wilson Honors Tim McGraw in Full-Circle Moment at Country Music Hall of Fame Ceremony

Lainey Wilson had the opportunity to honor one of her longtime musical heroes, Tim McGraw, during his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 18. Wilson was among the artists who took the stage at the annual Medallion Ceremony to celebrate McGraw, alongside Lady A and Parker McCollum, who each performed a hit from the country star’s catalog.

The star-studded event was held in the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Wilson sang 1997’s “Just To See You Smile,” a song that became a major moment in McGraw’s career as it made history setting a record for the longest-running country single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the 90s.

In addition to the performance, Wilson also reflected how the experience of getting to honor the same artist who inspired her to pursue a career in country music long before she became a star herself truly felt so full circle. She particularly spoke about the letter she had written to her fellow Louisiana native back when she was just 18 years old, in a desperate effort to make her dreams of being a singer/songwriter come true.

The letter went unanswered until this summer when the pair met for the first time and McGraw finally got to not only read it, but finally give his long-awaited response to Wilson.

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. Tim McGraw,

My name is Lainey Wilson from Franklin Parish, Baskin, Louisiana. I am 18 years old and have just entered my first semester at Louisiana Delta Community College of Monroe to pursue a nursing degree. 

I have been writing songs since I was 9 years old. When you listen to my CD, I want you to know that this is a sample of what I write. I have many others and they are just as good.

Please consider meeting with me and my family. Singing, writing and performing are the most important things in my life. All I need is the opportunity and I can do the rest.

Sincerely, Lainey Wilson

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During her speech at Sunday’s event, Wilson admitted that even though it took 15 and a half years before McGraw received the letter, it was “well worth the wait.”

“My gosh, I’m so thrilled to be here. I’m glad you finally got your letter… A lot of people say don’t meet your heroes and you and Faith are both more than I could have ever imagined. You are who you say you are,” Wilson continued.

She went on to reminisce about growing up listening to McGraw’s music, recalling how she and her sister would make up dance routines to “every single one” of his songs, even the ones didn’t require a dance.

The “Phone, Keys, Wallet” singer also remembered her very first McGraw concert as a young girl, explaining how that night sparked her own dreams of one day standing on stage and making people feel the way he made her feel.

“But it was just crazy for me being a little girl in Baskin, right down the road from Start, Louisiana. You were my very first concert down on the farm tour, and my mama took me and my sister in a double stroller. And I’ll tell you what, I will never forget it. And I feel like a seed was planted that night. And I just want to say thank you. Thank you for making me feel like I could do it too,” she added in conclusion.

McGraw took his time at the podium to thank all the country stars who took the stage in his honor and stated, “Hearing my songs come back in your voices is such a strange and beautiful thing.”

He added, “Especially in Lainey’s case, finding a letter you wrote a long time ago and learning that it got to where it was going. And I want to thank you for that.”

The memorable Medallion Ceremony celebrated Tim McGraw alongside his fellow new inductees, Paul Overstreet and The Stanley Brothers. Throughout the night, each of the honorees were celebrated for their impressive career, respective accomplishments, and lasting impact they each had on country music.