Lainey Wilson’s ‘Watermelon Moonshine’ Rockets to No.1, Setting A New Chart Record

Lainey Wilson earned her fifth No.1 at country radio this week as “Watermelon Moonshine” secured the top spot on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. 

According to radio insider Chris Owen, “Watermelon Moonshine” took 18 weeks to reach No.1, making it the fastest climb to No.1 for a solo female song at country radio since Carrie Underwood’s “Church Bells” in 2016. 

Fast Climb To The Top

Co-written by Wilson alongside Jordan Schmidt and Josh Kear, “Watermelon Moonshine” serves as a nostalgia-filled ballad that finds the reigning ACM Female Artist Of The Year and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year reflecting on the innocence of young love. 

“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 sings on the track’s chorus.

This summer, the superstar brought the song to life through a cinematic music video that beautifully portrays the raw emotions and innocent vulnerability of the song. 

The clip follows actress Rachel Lynn Matthews as she reminisces about her past and the boy who stole her heart, played by Sam Sherrod. Throughout the video, Lainey Wilson’s soulful voice narrates the story, her lyrics echoing the emotions felt by the characters on screen.

Music Video

“This song is about the young, wild, crazy love that we all hope to experience,” Wilson shared in a statement. “From locking eyes for the first time, to playing spin the bottle with an Ole Smoky mason jar, to being too crazy about each other to tame it, I am so happy with how Rachel Lynn Matthews and Sam Sherrod brought the vision to life through their portrayal of their innocently passionate characters.”

“Save Me” Currently Climbing The Charts

Additionally, Wilson is climbing the country radio charts with “Save Me,” her current collaboration with Jelly Roll. The buzzed-about song is already sitting inside the Top 20. 

Lainey Wilson previously topped the charts with “Heart Like A Truck,” “wait in the truck” with HARDY, “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell, and “Things A Man Oughta Know.” 

Big Wins

This chart-topping news comes just after Wilson took home three wins at the first-ever People’s Choice Country Awards on Thursday evening (Sept. 28).   

The Bell Bottom Country queen was one of the evening’s top winners securing the title of The Female Artist of 2023 as well as wins in The Collaboration of 2023 (for “Save Me” with Jelly Roll) and The Music Video of 2023 (“Wait in the Truck” with HARDY). 

Historic CMA Awards Nominations

Next up, the Louisiana native will take on the CMA Awards, where she is nominated for a whopping nine nominations, including the coveted Entertainer Of The Year, Single Of The Year (“Wait In The Truck” with HARDY & “Heart Like A Truck”), Album Of The Year (‘Bell Bottom Country’), Song Of The Year (“Heart Like A Truck”), Female Vocalist Of The Year, Musical Event Of The Year (“Save Me” with Jelly Roll and “Wait In The Truck” with HARDY) and Music Video Of The Year (“Wait In The Truck” with HARDY).   

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The reigning CMA Female Vocalist and New Artist Of The Year made CMA Awards history again this year as the only artist to top the nominations list in her first two appearances on the Final Ballot.

Last year, the “Heart Like A Truck” singer topped the list of nominees with six nominations as a first-time nominee.

Upon hearing the news, Wilson shared, “Holy moly y’all. Someone pinch me. I can’t believe my eyes. 🥹 I’m so proud of everything we’ve done this year for my own music and these collabs with my brothers @hardy and @jellyroll615.” 

She continued, ”Thank y’all for having me on these songs ❤️ Being nominated in each of these categories amongst my friends means the world to me. And the coveted Entertainer Of The Year category?! It’s absolutely surreal. We bust our butts out there on the road every dang night to give y’all the best show possible and I have the time of my life doing it. All I gotta say is thank y’all. I love country music 🤘🏻”

Fans can tune into the 2023 CMA Awards in November to see if Wilson will take home the trophies. Co-hosted by country superstar Luke Bryan and National Football League Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, the 57th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville on Wednesday, November 8 at 8/7c on ABC.

On Tour Now

Until then, fans can catch Wilson on tour with HARDY on his headlining mockingbird & THE CROW Fall Tour.