Lainey Wilson Says She Has ‘Big Old Shoes to Fill’ as She Hosts the CMA Awards Solo for the First Time Ever
Her solo hosting debut places her in elite company alongside Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.
Lainey Wilson; Photo by Disney/Robby Klein
Lainey Wilson is stepping into one of the biggest weeks of her career as she prepares to host the CMA Awards solo for the first time and heads into the show as one of the most-nominated artists, earning six nods this year.
As someone who has watched the CMA Awards since she was a little girl, Wilson deeply understands the importance of the night and what it represents for country music. Thinking back to her childhood in Baskin, Louisiana, the superstar remembers the CMA Awards as a major tradition in the Wilson home.
“We were either watching bull riding or the CMA awards and we were just not going to miss it,” she shared during a Sunday afternoon press conference held between CMA Awards rehearsals. “I mean, it was like the Super Bowl of our house, and I just remember all of us coming together, my daddy would get off the tractor and it was like our night as a family to sit there and watch it together and see what everybody was wearing and watching the interactions between artists to see who were friends with who, and it was one of my favorite childhood memories with my family for sure.”
Last year, Wilson co-hosted “Country Music’s Biggest Night” alongside Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning. This year, she’s taking the reins on her own, and carrying forward some valuable lessons she picked up from her former co-hosts.
“Honestly, just to not take yourself too serious,” she shared of what she learned co-hosting alongside Bryan and Manning. “They got out there… I mean, they were just letting it loose and going into it, I kind of thought, ‘oh man, this might be a little stressful. You need to know where you’re going, where you’re at, what you’re saying, and what you’re doing’… and they just went with it and you could tell that they were themselves. And so just being able to be there with them last year just taught me a lot. I know, like I said, that this is a big deal, but it’s important for me to have fun while doing it, and so I’m going to try to remember that. I’m going to try to just not take myself too serious.”
Wilson is also making history as only the third woman ever to host the CMA Awards solo, following country icons Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. This is an honor she doesn’t take lightly.
“I texted Reba last night and I said, ‘if you had one piece of advice to give me going into this week, what would it be?’ And I thought she was just going to say something like, ‘just be yourself and have fun,” Wilson said. “She sent me a list. I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. One piece of advice. But yeah, it’s like I said, it’s a really big shoes to fill and I just feel so honored.”
On top of hosting duties, Wilson is also scheduled to take the stage for a performance. While she kept details mostly under wraps, she promised fans will get a glimpse of her “fiery” side.
“Like that sassy side,” she explained. “But a lot of the people who know me…know that I got that side. I got that little crazy side…so you’re going to see some sass and it’s going to be fun.”
The 59th Annual CMA Awards will also feature performances by BigXThaPlug, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Ella Langley, Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Patty Loveless, Riley Green, Shaboozey, Stephen Wilson Jr., The Red Clay Strays, Tucker Wetmore, and Zach Top.
“Country Music’s Biggest Night” broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday Nov. 19 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC and is available next day on Hulu.
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.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
