Country music star Lainey Wilson is reflecting on her journey to fame, which she calls a '14-year overnight success,' and a full-circle moment with childhood idol Tim McGraw. In a recent interview with Postmedia, Wilson discussed her Netflix documentary, meeting McGraw, and her new single featuring John Mayer.
A Letter to Tim McGraw
In the documentary Lainey Wilson: Keepin' Country Cool, Wilson is shown reading a letter she sent to fellow Louisianian Tim McGraw as a teenager. In the letter, she informs 'Mr. Tim McGraw' that she is 18 and studying nursing at Louisiana Delta Community College, but that 'singing, writing and performing are the most important things in my life.' She included a CD of her songs and proposed a meeting. McGraw did not respond at the time.
Earlier this month, Wilson met McGraw backstage at CM Fest in Nashville, where they performed his 1995 hit 'I Like It, I Love It' together. According to People magazine, McGraw was embarrassed about never responding and penned a belated reply, handing it to her backstage. 'He grew up right down the road from me, like 10 miles down the road,' Wilson said. 'My very first concert was the Down on the Farm tour... I got to see that a dude from that area did it. I got to see that, if I wanted to, I could chase a dream just like he did.'
A 14-Year Overnight Success
Wilson, who has earned multiple No. 1 hits, a Grammy, and two CMA Entertainer of the Year awards, addresses the misconception of overnight success in her documentary. 'I’ve been here 14 years, so a 14-year overnight success. I spent a decade being the one you didn’t see coming,' she said. 'Nothing has been handed to me on a silver platter. I think there have definitely been times in my life where I wish they were, but that was just not my journey.'
Wilson moved to Nashville at age 19, a year after writing to McGraw, and faced early struggles and mental-health issues on her rise to fame. She now serves as a role model for young artists. When told that a 13-year-old singer-songwriter cited her as an inspiration, Wilson said, 'It means that I have people watching, which is a good thing and a scary thing, and it also holds me accountable. I want people to see my journey.'
New Music and Film Debut
Wilson's 2024 album Whirlwind was nominated for a Grammy and includes hits like 'Hang Tight Honey' and '4x4xU.' Earlier this month, she released 'Phone, Keys, Wallet,' a love song featuring John Mayer on guitar. The track was written on tour and recorded at Chaplin Studios in Los Angeles. Wilson said the collaboration was spontaneous: 'The day we were recording... John actually owns the studio now... He literally picked up his guitar... It was a very organic situation.'
Wilson also made her film debut in Reminders of Him, playing a grocery store manager. She previously acted in the fifth season of Yellowstone. 'I really didn’t know what to expect going into Yellowstone, but I really enjoyed it,' she said. 'It felt like second nature because Taylor Sheridan wrote that role specifically for me... It was just another creative outlet for me.'
