Lainey Wilson’s Husband, Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges, Says His Friends Keep Asking Him to Set Them Up With Ella Langley
“…I felt bad because I gave all these guys false hope that if I did it, they can do it.”
Devlin Duck Hodges, Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley; Photos Courtesy Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson‘s husband, Devlin “Duck” Hodges, has become a familiar face in country music circles, and apparently, some of his friends are hoping his connections can help their own love lives.
During a recent appearance on the Game Runs Deep podcast, Hodges revealed that his buddies have been asking him to set them up with Wilson’s close friend and fellow country star Ella Langley.
“Some of my friends, they’ll get with me and they’ll be like, ‘Dude, set me up with Ella.’ And I felt bad because I gave all these guys false hope that if I did it, they can do it,” Hodges explained.
The former NFL quarterback also joked about his own newfound fame in the country music world, sharing that Wilson likes to tease him about getting “famous twice” thanks to his time playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers and his marriage to the country star.
However, Hodges was in Wilson’s life long before she became one of country music’s biggest names. He first became interested in her after hearing one of her songs on the radio.
“I had heard her on the radio, which kind of sparked my interest to like, ‘man, let me see what this girl looks like’ and whatnot. And then when I just went to her social media and saw that she was from Louisiana and she rides four wheelers and this and that, I was like, man, ‘I need to find a way to ask this girl out on a date,’” Hodges recalled.
As it turned out, the two had mutual friends, which gave Hodges a way to make his move. More than five and a half years later, the couple is still going strong and officially tied the knot in May.
“Got married in May and it’s been great ever since,” he shared.
Hodges went on to reveal that he knew Wilson was the one from the very beginning. In fact, their first meeting included a moment that seemed especially promising to the avid hunter.
“I was pulling in her driveway and there was like four or five deer that had just skirted out of the front yard..And so I was like, ‘dang, she might be the one’ just off the deers,” he said.
Beyond their shared life together, Hodges also enjoys being the inspiration behind some of Wilson’s music. He admitted that the songs she writes about him are often among his favorites.
“I mean, they’re typically my favorite songs out of the batch. It’s cool that just by being myself and whatnot, I’m not trying to inspire her. She just gets inspired and it’s cool because I know that she loves me and she’s got my back and it’s cool to give them stuff to write about. And I love when a song about me is her biggest song,” he proudly stated.
Life alongside Wilson has also given Hodges the opportunity to experience some memorable moments, including spending Christmas with Snoop Dogg and taking part in an NFL halftime show dressed as Santa Claus.
When asked about some of his favorite experiences, Hodges pointed to that Christmas spent with the rapper.
“So that’s going to be my coolest one. It’s not even me dressing up as Santa Claus, but to spend Christmas and eat dinner with Snoop, Snoop Dogg, I mean, that’s pretty cool. And Lainey saw him the other day and he’s like, ‘How’s little Ducky doing?’ So the fact that I played in the NFL and then I’m Santa Claus at a halftime show in the NFL, you’re like, ‘What?’ My life’s crazy, man.”
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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