Lainey Wilson Shares the One Guiding Rule That Keeps Her Bond with Fiancé Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges Solid (Exclusive)

Wilson and Hodges revealed their engagement in February 2025.

Lainey Wilson is offering a glimpse into the relationship that keeps her grounded—her engagement to Devlin “Duck” Hodges.

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, the “Somewhere Over Laredo” singer opened up about how she and Hodges, a former NFL quarterback turned real estate agent, manage to keep their relationship strong despite hectic schedules. Wilson, 33, says being intentional with their time together is key.

“You’ve really got to make time,” she explained. “It has to be a conscious effort—like, ‘Okay, I’ve got a day off coming up in ten days, and I need to make sure I spend it with him.’”

She added, “We both need that time, and we deserve it. Those moments mean everything, so we try to make the most of them whenever we can.”

Wilson also described Hodges as her “best friend,” calling him one of the kindest, most genuine people she’s ever met. “He’s my biggest supporter,” she said. “We don’t follow the usual relationship rules.”

The Grammy winner noted that their dynamic is anything but traditional. “We don’t see each other all the time, and I spend a lot of time on the road,” she said. “So we’re kind of figuring it out as we go—and that’s actually been fun.”

Despite the challenges, Wilson says maintaining their connection has felt natural and effortless.

The couple began dating in 2021 but kept their romance private until May 2023, when Hodges walked the red carpet with Wilson at the ACM Awards. Their debut as a couple quickly became one of the event’s standout moments.

In a later interview with Bobby Bones, Wilson spoke more about their quiet relationship, describing Hodges as “a good dude” who’s “been around for a while.”

“He’s solid—just gold,” she shared. “He supports everything I’m doing and would never try to get in the way of that.”