Lainey Wilson Qualifies For Coveted ACM Triple Crown Award Following Entertainer Of The Year Win

Lainey Wilson went into the 59^th Academy Of Country Music Awards a five-time nominee and came out with three new wins under her belt, including Entertainer of the Year. 

At the very end of the show held in Frisco, TX, members of the country band Alabama made an appearance to present the Louisiana native with the highest honor of the evening. Wilson was understandably overcome with emotion as she made her way to the stage to accept her trophy.

“These past few years for us have just been a complete ‘whirlwind,’” she said, referencing the title of her upcoming album. “I’ve been in Nashville for 13 years doing this, and first of all, I just want to say thank you so much, Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you to my team who fights for me every single day, who work so hard, my band, they show up, WME for booking me all the time everywhere.”

Wilson went on to recall a significant moment in her childhood when all her dreams that are now coming true felt so far out of reach at the time. 

“I mean, y’all, I remember being a little girl and I would climb out on the top of our roof. I’d open my window and climb out, and I would count all the stars. I would look up and I’d see the planes flying over my little town of 200 people and I’d dream about being up there in one of those planes,” she said with tears forming in her eyes. “It’s so crazy because this year we have already toured the UK, Europe, and Australia, and we’re about to start our American leg. The funny thing is I still feel like that little girl. I really do. I feel like I still climb out on the roof and I look at the stars, except I feel like I’m a little more eye level with ’em now.”

Honored Her Fellow Nominees

To conclude her speech, the female powerhouse shared an abundance of gratitude for her fans as well as her peers who were also vying for Entertainer of the Year win including Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson and Jelly Roll. 

“Everybody in this category has loved on me and believed in me, took me out on the road, sang songs with me, wrote with me, encouraged me every step of the way and I love y’all for that. I have the best fans in the world. Thank you so much. God bless y’all.”

Wilson Now Qualifies For Triple Crown Award

The “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” singer certainly left her mark on this year’s star-studded event. She kicked off the show with a red-hot performance of “God Blessed Texas” and her newest release, “Hang Tight Honey,” which found her moving from one end of the venue to the other, delivering her catchy lyrics and dancing along with the members of the audience. 

Later on in the night, she took home two awards in the categories of Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year for her collaboration with Jelly Roll on the hit single, “Save Me.” With each win, Wilson humbly thanked her fans, family members, and her team for supporting her on this “Whirlwind” of a journey she’s experienced over the past few years. 

This marked Wilson’s first time taking home the ACM Entertainer of the Year trophy, and her win now qualifies her for the ACM Triple Crown Award. The coveted honor celebrates artists who have won New Female/Male Artist/Duo or Group of the Year, Female/Male Artist/Duo/Group of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year, and Wilson has officially met that quota with her wins for 2021 ACM New Female Artist of the Year, 2022 & 2023 Female Artist of the Year, and 2023 Entertainer of the Year.

Additionally, she is the first woman to achieve the ACM Triple Crown Award in three years. Her three wins bring her overall ACM Awards count to 10.

Hosted by Reba McEntire, the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards aired exclusively on Prime Video on Thursday, May 16 live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas at 8 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. PDT.