Lainey Wilson reflects on how she has stayed connected to her small-town roots even after her career took off, saying that “being fearless” helped bring her success.
By Website Content Manager
In this week’s PEOPLE cover story, the country star speaks candidly about her romantic life, mental health, and aspirations outside of her music career.
On a bright late-March day in Los Angeles, Lainey Wilson takes charge during her PEOPLE cover shoot, moving between two very different versions of herself.
At one moment, she’s fully styled in her signature cowboy hat and bell-bottoms, posing confidently atop a bar. In the next, she’s in a more casual look—trucker hat, loose bomber jacket, and relaxed waves—heading off to catch a flight back to Nashville. The contrast between polished star and everyday traveler feels reminiscent of a “Hannah Montana”-style double life, fitting for someone who once dressed up as the Disney character before fame.
Wilson, 33, says she feels lucky to experience “both worlds,” describing her life as a balance between being a songwriter and businesswoman while also getting to step away from the spotlight to be a sister, friend, daughter, and fiancée.
Even with her growing fame, she says she can still blend into everyday settings—until she speaks. Whether she’s at a store or running errands, her distinct Louisiana accent often gives her away immediately.
Since breaking through in 2019 with “Things a Man Oughta Know,” Wilson has become one of country music’s leading voices, earning a Grammy, multiple No. 1 country hits, and a recurring role on the hit series Yellowstone. She admits that even after years in Nashville, she was unprepared for how quickly her career would take off.
She is now also featured in the Netflix documentary Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool, which premieres April 22. The film explores both her professional rise and personal life, including her engagement to former NFL player Devlin Hodges, as well as her experiences with mental health.
Raised in the small town of Baskin, Louisiana, by a farmer father and schoolteacher mother, Wilson began writing songs at a young age and spent her teenage years imagining herself as a pop star while performing for fun at home.
At 19, she moved to Nashville living in a camper trailer and spent nearly a decade working toward her breakthrough before signing a major record deal in 2018.
As her success grew, she faced challenges with anxiety and depression, with an intense schedule pushing her to emotional limits. Guidance from Reba McEntire helped her reframe her mindset, encouraging her to keep going for the sake of others when she felt overwhelmed.
She carried that message into her tour, often bringing young fans on stage to uplift and inspire them.
Despite her achievements, Wilson says she tries not to define herself by awards or fame, emphasizing the importance of staying grounded and maintaining perspective.
She also credits Hodges for supporting her deeply, saying he values her for who she is beyond her public image and understands the hard work behind her success.