Lainey Wilson Wows Fans At CMA Fest With Captivating ‘Watermelon Moonshine’ Performance

Lainey Wilson took a break from her CMA Fest co-hosting duties to perform her latest single, “Watermelon Moonshine” on the Nissan Stadium stage. 

As the summer sun sank in the sky, Wilson took fans on a nostalgic journey of first love as she recalled a summer romance throughout the heartfelt lyrics. 

“Drinkin’ watermelon moonshine / Cut the burn with a little lime / Parkin’ back in them kudzu vines / I was his and every bit of that boy was mine / Too young to know what love was / But we werе learnin’ on a sweet buzz / There’s never nothin’ like the first time / And mine’s always gonna taste like / Watermelon moonshine,” Wilson sang, while donning colorful sequin bell bottoms and a crop top and picking her acoustic guitar. 

The reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year had the stadium in the palm of her hands throughout her entire performance, which also featured “Heart Like A Truck,” “Things A Man Oughta Know,” and more.  

“I mean the energy and the fans at CMA Fest, there ain’t nothing like it. They feed off of each other. It’s literally like they all get to come together and they get to see the artists who have written the songs that have changed their life, whether it makes you want to drink a beer or it makes you want to cry. It’s a very special thing to be a part of,” Wilson shared backstage ahead of her performance. 

The superstar recently brought the song to life with a cinematic music video. Directed by Stephen and Alexa Kinigopoulos, the video flawlessly captures the essence of young love and beautifully portrays the raw emotions and innocent vulnerability that come with it. 

Click below to watch. 

The three-hour CMA Fest special was hosted by Dierks Bentley, Elle King, and Lainey Wilson and aired on ABC on Wednesday, July 19. 

Dubbed “the music event of summer,” the special featured 30+ performances and surprise collaborations from some of Country music’s hottest stars, including Alabama, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Leon Bridges, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, HARDY, Tyler Hubbard, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Avril Lavigne, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker, Tanya Tucker, Keith Urban, and Lainey Wilson.  

CMA Fest marked its 50th Anniversary with a record-breaking celebration in Nashville, June 8 through June 11. 

The four-day event hosted an estimated daily attendance of over 90,000, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the Country Music Association. Additionally, the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium saw 10% growth from 2022.

The festival also hosted fans from all 50 states as well as a record-breaking 51 countries.

“What a weekend! As we’ve spent the past year reflecting on this milestone celebration, one theme has persisted—the incredible connection between Country Music fans and the artists,” Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, shared in a statement. “It’s magical because it still matters after all these years. From first-timers to legends, so many artists started as fans—some as far back as Fan Fair. Almost every artist who performs during the festival has had their own experience as a fan, so for many of them, taking the stage at CMA Fest is a full-circle moment. We only get the chance to celebrate our 50th anniversary once, and to do so in such an impactful way has meant the world to us. Thank you, Country Music!”   

More than 300 acts took part in CMA Fest this year, including performances at the Chevy Riverfront Stage, Dr Pepper Amp Stage, Chevy Vibes Stage, Maui Jim Reverb Stage and the Hard Rock Stage as well at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center.