The Dallas Cowboys have a history of putting on a show since they started hosting a game on Thanksgiving in 1966. They upped the ante in 1997 by adding a star-studded halftime show to entertain the crowd during the break. The Cowboys continued the trend this year by having country music star Lainey Wilson take the field at AT&T Stadium.
Wilson joins a list of country royalty that have played the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving halftime show, including Reba McEntire in 1997, LeAnn Rimes in 2002, Sheryl Crow in 2005, Carrie Underwood in 2006, and Dolly Parton in 2023, just to name a few. Let’s learn more about Wilson ahead of the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys NFL Thanksgiving game.
Who Is Lainey Wilson?
Lainey was born to Brian and Michelle Wilson in the small town of Baskin, Louisiana. Brian was a farmer, while Michelle was a teacher. She has a younger sister, Janna. She was interested in country music from a young age as the family often listened to it.
At nine, she attended the Grand Ole Opry for the first time and was further drawn to music. Her father taught her some chords, and by 2006, she released her first EP on Myspace, Country Girls Rule. Wilson got a job impersonating Hannah Montana in high school at events like birthday parties and fairs. After graduating high school, she moved to Nashville to pursue a career in country music.
When Did Wilson Release Her First Album?
After moving to Nashville in August 2011, Wilson lived in a trailer outside a recording studio, often needing the studio owner’s help with water and electricity to make ends meet. After a few years of playing smaller shows, she released her debut self-titled album in 2014. She would release her second in 2016, Tougher.
When Did Wilson Make Her Major Label Debut?
Following her second album, she would self-release her second EP in 2018, catching the eye of Sony/ATV and leading to her first publishing deal. She would later sign a major-label recording contract with BBR Music Group leading to her major-label release, an EP titled Redneck Hollywood.
In 2020, BBR Music Group would send her next major single, “Things a Man Oughta Know.” It became her breakout single ahead of her third and first major-label album, Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. The album peaked on the Billboard Country Album chart at 40.
In 2022, Wilson released “Heart Like a Truck,” the lead single for her fourth album, Bell Bottom Country. She received six nominations for the 56th annual Country Music Association Awards, becoming the fourth artist to receive six or more nominations as a first-time nominee.
Wilson released her fifth album, Whirlwind, in August 2024 with “Hang Tight Honey” as the lead single. The album peaked at nine on the Billboard 200 and third on the Billboard US Country Album charts.
Has Wilson Won Any Awards?
Wilson received her first award nomination in 2021. She was nominated for Breakthrough Video of the Year for “Things a Man Oughta Know” and won New Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
In 2022, she won Female Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. She also saw Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ nominated for Album of the Year and “Things a Man Oughta Know” for Song of the Year.
2023 would be a massive year for Wilson after Bell Bottom Country won album of the year at both the Academy of Country Music and CMA Awards. She would also take home Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year at the CMA Awards and Female Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Wilson won Female Vocalist of the Year at the CMAs for the third year in a row in 2024 and took home a Grammy as Bell Bottom Country won Best Country Album. With Whirlwind releasing in the second half of 2024, who knows how many nominations she will receive in 2025?
.@laineywilson gets her third-career win for CMA Female Vocalist of the Year 🏆🎤 pic.twitter.com/puEiELY5Vj
— CMT (@CMT) November 21, 2024
Was Wilson on Yellowstone?
Wilson’s music was featured in the Paramount Network show Yellowstone in 2019. She joined the cast in 2022 during the fifth season of the show as Abby, a role made specifically for her by showrunner Taylor Sheridan.
She has performed two new singles on the show and plans to return for part two of season five.
Does Wilson Own Any Businesses?
Like many country music stars, Wilson recently opened Bell Bottoms Up, a three-story bar, cajun restaurant, and music venue in downtown Nashville. The venue opened in May 2024.
Is Wilson a Football Fan?
While she’s performing for the Cowboys, it’s been reported that Wilson is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan due to a relationship with ex-NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges. Hodges started six games for the Steelers in 2019 following Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph’s injuries.