Lainey Wilson is telling her life story in Netflix's documentary 'Keepin' Country Cool,' offering an intimate look at her journey from a small-town dreamer to a Grammy-winning country superstar.
Whenever people refer to her as an 'overnight success,' the Louisiana native is quick to correct them. 'I've been here 14 years … so, a 14-year overnight success,' she quips. After years of living in a trailer and playing to half-empty rooms in Nashville, Wilson, who started singing as a Hannah Montana impersonator, rocketed to stardom in 2020 with her first No. 1 country single, 'Things a Man Oughta Know.'
The song launched her toward 16 Academy of Country Music Awards, 12 Country Music Awards, a Grammy, and nine No. 1 hits, including '4x4xU,' 'Watermelon Moonshine,' and 'Heart Like a Truck.' Her music also caught the ear of Taylor Sheridan, landing her the role of Abby on Season 5 of Yellowstone. Next month, Wilson, now 33, is up for seven ACMs, including entertainer of the year and single of the year for her hit 'Somewhere Over Laredo.'
Early Struggles and Resilience
In her early days as a struggling artist in Nashville, Wilson knew her desire to be a singer-songwriter trumped any other dream. Singing in front of country music fans was something she imagined since her parents took her from Baskin, La., to the Grand Ole Opry when she was 9. 'Even as a little girl, I remember thinking, “This dream is in my heart for a reason and it’s important to listen to that.” I don’t know where that came from, other than the Lord himself,' she says in a late-night video call from Arizona, where she was headlining Country Thunder.
The reigning CMA entertainer of the year spent the better part of a decade being an artist 'you didn’t see coming,' but now she plans to ensure her name is unforgettable. The documentary, now streaming on Netflix, covers her professional success, early struggles, relationship with former NFL player Devlin 'Duck' Hodges (who proposed in February 2025), her mental health journey, and her desire to be a mother.
Connecting with Audiences
'I know there are so many different people from all walks of life, but I hope people can find their story in mine,' Wilson says. 'The truth is we’re all just trying to get somewhere in life, and we all want to be happy and healthy. I think this documentary shows how important relationships are in your life … I’m very proud to show that side of me.'
Set to headline Stagecoach and perform stadium dates with Chris Stapleton this summer, Wilson is working on her follow-up to 2024's 'Whirlwind' LP. 'I feel like with the release of this documentary, I’m heading into another era where it feels like, what you see is what you get,' she says.
Interview Highlights
Wilson spoke more about the documentary, her journey of freezing her eggs, her relationship, and why she never gave up on her dreams.
On her seven ACM nominations: 'I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being nominated for any kind of award. I grew up watching the ACMs and dreaming about being a part of it. The women are whooping butt, and I love to see it.'
On what she learned about herself: 'I thought I had it all figured out, but as a songwriter and storyteller, you keep learning things. Making this documentary called for some soul searching … I’m proud for maybe being a little bit more honest with myself.'
On resilience: 'This documentary shows me going through some stuff and coming out the other side, always choosing to pull myself up by the bootstraps. But it also shows me being honest with myself about some things. That’s a scary thing … I hope people will learn something about themselves when they watch it.'
On meeting Duck Hodges while she was broke: 'Duck was the guy who was in the van and trailer with us. At times, he would even sell the merch. He’s been a soft place for me to land when I come off the road. I want my fans to know that I have really important people in my life who help me stay focused.'
On freezing her eggs: 'People can make us feel like we have a short window to do things. Even when I got to Nashville, people said, “If you don’t make it in your 20s, you need to hang it up.” I’m going to be 34 this year, and it is a dream of mine to be a mom. I just wanted other people to know that they can do it. There are ways that you can still pour your heart and soul into something and live your other dreams too.'
Never Giving Up
Wilson heard the word 'no' a million times but never gave up. 'I always felt like I was supposed to be connecting with people and singing country songs. There were moments I should have packed it up, but small moments kept me going. Maybe I’d be playing a bar and only two people would be there, but those two people knew my songs.'
She also reflects on the fear of hitting her peak: '100%. It never crossed my mind before I had success because I was just trying to get somewhere. But the truth is, I’m human. That fear creeps in, but I say to myself, “No, no, no. I have more people to meet. More stories to tell.” That fire I had when I was living in my camper trailer back in 2011 … I still feel that fire.'
One early milestone was getting free hotdogs for life after performing at Daddy’s Dogs in Nashville. 'That was one of those moments where I felt like I had something I could brag about. I felt like I was getting somewhere. It was the middle of COVID, and I was willing to do anything for anybody just to do a show. I got a gold card for free hotdogs for the rest of my life. I’ll treat you to a hotdog next time you’re in Nashville.'
If she never hit it big, Wilson says she would still be playing the Louisiana-Arkansas-Mississippi-Texas circuit and writing music. 'I might have a 9-to-5 job, but I know I’d be coming home, picking up my guitar, and telling a story. I can’t imagine my life without this. That’s why I know for a fact that I’m supposed to be here.'
On legacy: 'No matter what you do, you put it out there into the world and people love it or hate it. But at the end of the day, it’s going to be there forever.'
'Lainey Wilson: Keepin' Country Cool' is now streaming on Netflix.
