Lainey Wilson caught up with Billboard's Tetris Kelly on the Winners Walk at the ACM Awards 2025.
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00:00So, Lainey, I feel like some real special is happening right now, you know?
00:03Entertainer of the Year, two years in a row.
00:06You know, what's going on with you, Lainey?
00:07What are you building here?
00:09You know what?
00:10I really just think it's like I've been in Nashville for 15 years
00:14and developed a lot of friendships and relationships with the community.
00:18And I really do think that I have a lot of people rooting for me.
00:21And I don't know, it's hard for me to wrap my head around.
00:25You know just as much as I do.
00:26I don't have a clue.
00:28And, I mean, it's not just Entertainer of the Year.
00:30You obviously won Album of the Year, like Female Artist of the Year.
00:32What does Entertainer mean to you?
00:34What does it mean to be in that category and win that one?
00:36To me, I think the definition of it actually, like when you're voting,
00:40is like somebody who represented country music that year in a bunch of different ways.
00:45And I take that as a huge compliment.
00:49Like I think that means a lot to me because I try to represent country music.
00:55I try to carry myself in a way that, like, I would be proud of 30 years from now.
01:01I don't always do it, but I try.
01:04You know, you do a really great job of that.
01:06I try, I try, I try.
01:06I mean, we've talked a lot about, like, the different artists that are, like,
01:09jumping into country music and how all these genres are blending.
01:11What do you feel makes you represent genuine country?
01:14Like what do you feel is the, like, root of country music at the core?
01:17At the core, it's just truth-telling.
01:19It's storytelling.
01:20That's what I think it is.
01:22I mean, like, how they say three chords and the truth.
01:25To me, that's what it is.
01:26That's what I grew up listening to.
01:28So whether it makes you laugh, cry, or want to drink a beer, I think it's storytelling.
01:34And I feel like a lot of us, we go through what I call, you know, imposter syndrome.
01:37Everybody knows that.
01:38And, like, we all are like, are we doing this?
01:40Are we really doing this thing?
01:40And you're doing the thing.
01:42So for a young girl out there that wants to be Laney Wilson,
01:45that wants to be Entertainer of the Year,
01:46what advice would you give to that young girl?
01:48Oh, my gosh.
01:49There's a million steps, I'll tell you that.
01:53It's hard, but it's also the most rewarding thing that I've ever done.
01:56Like, this was, there was never a plan B.
01:59It was always plan A.
02:00And I was like, I don't know how to do anything else.
02:03I don't want to do anything else.
02:05And I tell people all the time who ask me for advice who are, like,
02:08moving to Nashville to try to do it.
02:10They say, like, you know, what would you tell an up-and-comer?
02:14And I would say, if you can imagine yourself doing anything else,
02:16you need to go do that because this has, this is hard.
02:19It's, you have to sacrifice a lot.
02:20I mean, you miss a lot of weddings and funerals and everything in between
02:24for years and years and years.
02:27But thank God it's paid off.
02:29And I would just say, like, trust in yourself.
02:34Find whatever it is that you're good at and just work your butt off.
02:38Put your 10,000 hours in or plus.
02:41And don't let anybody tell you no.
02:42Just fight for what you want.
02:45I love that.
02:45And then I was asking Old Dominion.
02:47They had a big night, too.
02:48So I was like, when you get home tonight, when you get to the bus,
02:51when you get to your car, what song are you going to play?
02:53I want to know your celebration song tonight, Lainey.
02:55I'm probably going to play some frequency music because I need to, like,
02:58maybe some worship music.
03:02Oh, go to church a little bit?
03:03I know, 100%.
03:04Maybe some Forrest Frank.
03:05I'll be praising the Lord tonight.
03:07I love it.
03:08Well, Entertainer of the Year, you go have a great rest of your night.
03:10And congratulations.
03:11I appreciate you.