Lainey Wilson‘s path to becoming a country music superstar was paved with a lot of roadblocks and setbacks. The Louisiana native moved to Nashville when she was just 19 years old, living in a camper trailer for years while she struggled to get anyone to listen to her music.

Now, with four new ACM Awards to add to her growing collection, including Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year (for Bell Bottom Country), the 30-year-old hopes her life and career can serve as an inspiration to others who have big, unfulfilled dreams.

“I hope that this inspires anyone out there that has a dream to chase it and work your dang butt off for it,” Wilson shared on social media after winning four trophies. “I’m inspired by every single person who was nominated in these categories and I honestly believe I wouldn’t be where I am without them paving the way. Sure is sweet when you get to celebrate with all your people by your side.”

 

In accepting the trophy for Female Artist of the Year, the “Heart Like A Truck” singer praised Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce, who were also nominated in the category.

“I look up to you all so much,” Wilson said from stage. “I’m up here because of y’all. Because of people like Dolly Parton paving the way. I’ll tell you what. Everybody in this category didn’t just wind up there by happenstance. They have worked their fingers to the bone. They have put blood, sweat and tears and years into this.

“I’ve made so many sacrifices,” she continued. “I’ve missed a lot of weddings, a lot of funerals — not that I want to go to a lot of them anyway — but I’m just saying. For the little girls watching this, this right here, it stands for hard work. If you’re gonna be a dreamer, you better be a doer.”

With Wilson’s place in country music now firm, she has nothing but gratitude for her journey, even the hard times.

“It was interesting watching a lot of new artists move to town,” Wilson told iHeartRadio.. “I didn’t even get a publishing deal until year seven, and a record deal until year eight. And here we are, I’m working on year 12. We’re here now, but I’d see people pass me up and signing deals left and right, but I knew my time was coming. I did. I didn’t wanna be a flash in the pan. I’ve always tried to view it as brick by brick. And if that meant it was gonna take me a long time to build that dang house, then that’s what I was gonna do.”

Wilson also won the ACM Awards for Music Event of the Year and Visual Media of the Year, both for her “wait in the truck” duet with HARDY. She also performed “Grease,” from Bell Bottom Country, as well as “Save Me” with Jelly Roll.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music