Louisiana's Lainey Wilson Makes Country Music History in 2025
- LouisianaCountryMusic
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
By Louisiana Country Music
Lainey Wilson is proving once again why she’s country music’s unstoppable force, and she’s doing it with her Louisiana roots front and center.
A Whirlwind of Success
The Baskin, Louisiana native has gone from small-town dreamer to one of the most decorated artists in country music. In 2025 alone, Lainey Wilson swept the ACM Awards, taking home:
Entertainer of the Year
Female Artist of the Year
Album of the Year (Whirlwind)
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
It was a history-making night that cemented her as one of country’s brightest stars.
Lainey Wilson's 2025
Her year didn’t stop there. Wilson kicked off her Whirlwind World Tour with back-to-back sold-out shows in Baton Rouge, honoring her Louisiana fans first. She debuted a brand-new single, “Somewhere Over Laredo” live at the American Music Awards, shared a heartfelt duet with Vince Gill during the Emmy Awards In Memoriam tribute, and even added “Whataburger Brand Ambassador” to her growing resume.
With six current CMA nominations at the upcoming 59th Annual CMA Awards, including the award of the night, Entertainer of the Year, this year is shaping up to be her best yet.
From Baskin to the Big Stage
Baskin, a farming community of just over 200 people in northeast Louisiana, shaped both Wilson’s sound and her soul. She often recalls growing up in a close-knit family where hard work and storytelling weren’t just traditions, they were survival. Those Louisiana values of grit, family, and faith would become the foundation of her career. Moving to Nashville in 2011 with a camper trailer and a dream, she kept her head down and her ambitions high. It took time, dedication and years of hard work before anything paid off, but 10 years later her career finally started picking up.
A Rising Star
Lainey’s rise began with her 2021 No. 1 hit “Things a Man Oughta Know,” followed by her Grammy-winning album Bell Bottom Country in 2022. Since then she's become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, broke the record for the most No. 1 hits by a female country artist this decade on U.S. country radio (as of late 2023), and her current album Whirlwind was also nominated for a Grammy. With over 1 billion streams, sold out headlining tours and acting credits on hit TV shows like Yellowstone, she’s become one of country’s most recognizable names.
Staying True to Her Roots
Wilson calls her style “bell bottom country” a mix of classic country storytelling, southern rock grit, and bold personality. While Nashville gave her a stage, Louisiana gave her a voice. The Cajun rhythms, gospel harmonies, and back-porch jams she grew up around shaped the unique sound that has made her stand out in a crowded country landscape.
Louisiana at Her Core
Through it all, Lainey has never forgotten where she comes from. She often speaks about how her Louisiana roots keep her grounded. From the stories of small-town life to the southern sounds woven into her music, she’s proof that you can take the girl out of Louisiana, but you can’t take Louisiana out of the girl.
Her success puts Baskin on the map, but more importantly, it inspires a new generation of artists from Louisiana who dream of following in her footsteps.
What’s Next?
With her career only accelerating, Lainey Wilson stands as a proud Louisiana export, one who embodies authenticity, resilience, and creativity. Whether it’s headlining tours, writing award-winning songs, or representing Louisiana on the world stage, Lainey is shaping country music’s future while honoring her past.
For fans, following Lainey Wilson means following a Louisiana success story that’s still being written, and one that proves the power of small towns, big dreams, and the country spirit.
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