Who Is Lainey Wilson’s ‘Hot Date’ At The ACM Awards? Her Boyfriend Devlin Hodges
“He’s looking like a snack over there, ain’t he?” Wilson said.
Devlin Duck Hodges, Lainey Wilson; Photo Courtesy of Gilbert Flores for PMC
Lainey Wilson surprised fans when she arrived to the 2023 ACM Awards red carpet with a new man on her arm: Devlin Hodges.
The country superstar, who is the most-nominated female at this year’s awards show, made her red carpet debut with Hodges, a former NFL quarterback.
Hodges was previously signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They were all smiles as they made their red carpet debut, making their relationship official.
“Yup, yup. I brought me a hot date tonight,” she tells Entertainment Tonight. “I sure did. I mean, he’s looking like a snack over there, ain’t he? I said, ‘You know what, you can be my date but you can’t steal my thunder.’”
@laineywilsonmusic This just might be my favorite red carpet look of all time 💚#ACMawards #GRWM #countrymusic #heartlikeatruck #bellbottomcountry @Kendra Scott @ACM Awards @MusicOnTikTok ♬ Heart Like A Truck – Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson donned an olive green jumpsuit will bell bottoms, while Devlin “Duck” Hodges was by her side wearing a baby blue jacket, a white collared shirt with a bolo tie, a cowboy hat and boots.
“I was like, ‘Hey, look at all these cameras,’” she told the outlet. “Don’t be nervous, boy!”
While performing in Pittsburgh on Luke Combs’ World Tour, Wilson donned her boyfriend’s jersey on stage.
Hodges was quick to share a flirty comment on her post.
“Well you got my number. How about I get yours now?😄,” he wrote.
It’s a big night for Wilson, who is set to perform “Grease” during the show.
During rehearsals, the Louisiana native promised to deliver a “hot,” “spicy,” and “sexy” performance.
“It’s going to be hot, it’s going to be spicy, it’s going to be sexy,” the 2022 ACM New Female Artist Of The Year shared.
She went on to promise fans that her steamy performance will be unlike anything she’s ever done.
“I’m showing you a side that I don’t get to show a whole lot,” Wilson added.
Lainey Wilson is the most-nominated female at this year’s awards show with six nods, including Female Artist of the Year, Album Of The Year (Bell Bottom Country), Single Of The Year (“Heart Like A Truck”), Song Of The Year (“Wait In The Truck” feat. HARDY), and Music Event Of The Year (“Wait In The Truck” feat. HARDY).
“I am so honored to be nominated among some of the best in the business. A few years ago, I wouldn’t even have been able to dream of a day like this,” Wilson shared. “Thank you to the Academy of Country Music for believing in me and my work, this is an absolute honor.”
She was also nominated for Visual Media Of The Year for “Wait In The Truck,” a collaboration with HARDY, which was announced as the winner of that category ahead of the show.
The 58th Academy of Country Music Awards will feature performances by Jason Aldean, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Dolly Parton, Jelly Roll, Ed Sheeran, HARDY, Keith Urban, The War And Treaty, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman and more.
Nine awards will be announced during the live broadcast, including Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Duo of the Group, Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Event of the Year. Several winners were announced ahead of the show.
Additionally, “Country Music’s Party Of The Year” will feature a star-studded list of collaborations and unforgettable moments. Reigning ACM Female Artist Of The Year Carly Pearce will team up with Trisha Yearwood to perform a special medley of in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Yearwood winning Female Artist Of The Year.
Meanwhile, Cole Swindell will join forces with Jo Dee Messina to deliver an epic performance of the “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” remix and Ashley McBryde will take fans to Lindeville with a performance of “Bonfire At Tina’s.”
Gabby Barrett, BRELAND, Brandy Clark, Jordan Davis, Mickey Guyton, Tyler Hubbard, Dustin Lynch, T.J. Osborne, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, MacKenzie Porter, Dak Prescott, Emmitt Smith, Tanya Tucker, Keith Urban and Trisha Yearwood are scheduled to present during the ceremony.
The two-hour awards show will also stream live for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.
Co-hosted by country music icons Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, the 2023 ACM Awards will broadcast live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas at 7/6c.
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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