Lainey Wilson has a Top 15 hit with “Wildflowers and Wild Horses,” from her Bell Bottom Country album, but she’s already making waves for another song, this one from her next record. The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year just released “Country’s Cool Again,” a song she says embodies everything she stands for and believes.
“‘Country’s Cool Again,’ I truly feel like it is, and I’m talking about the Western way of life,” Wilson told Everything Nash and other outlets at a recent media event, sharing the story behind the new song, which she wrote with with Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson. “It’s so cool to see folks thinking that the way that I grew up is cool. It seems like everybody’s wanting to ride a horse; it seems like everybody’s wanting to wear a cowboy hat. And the truth is, I think it just makes you feel at home.
“I think the pandemic probably had a lot to do with that,” she continued. “I think people maybe realized the things that make you feel grounded, and country music makes you feel at home. And to see the way that it’s growing right now, it’s crazy. It is really crazy. I am so proud to be part of this generation of country music. I think everybody looks different and sounds different and has different stories, and comes from different walks of life. I am so proud of that, and to me, that’s what ‘Country’s Cool Again’ means in a nutshell.”
When Wilson released “Country’s Cool Again,” she said the song was for anyone who wanted to celebrate or be part of her own lifestyle.
“I’m so excited for everyone to hear ‘Country’s Cool Again,’” Wilson said at the time. “This song is a welcome to everyone who’s wanting in on the Western way of life. For a lot of us, country music isn’t just a genre, it’s our livelihood. Thank you to my amazing collaborators and my producer for helping me bring the idea of this song to life. Country’s Cool Again y’all!”
“Country’s Cool Again” comes as Wilson already added two new trophies to her collection this year. The Louisiana native, who won a total of five CMA Awards, also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album, for Bell Bottom Country, and the People’s Choice Award, for Female Country Artist.
“These last couple of weeks have been crazy,” Wilson said when accepting the People’s Choice Award. “Really, really crazy. I am so proud of country music right now, and I’m so proud to be part of this generation of country music. I feel like everybody looks different and sounds different, and has a different story, and comes from different walks of life, and it truly is the storytelling in country music that keeps drawing people to it, and I know that. I just want to say thank y’all so much for letting me tell my story.
“Thank you for letting me tell my story and somehow finding your story within the lyrics, within the melodies, within the guitar riffs, whatever it is,” she added. “Country music makes you feel at home, and I think everybody wants to feel at home. I’m so proud of it right now.”
Wilson will headline both her global Lainey Wilson: LIVE Tour, and her Country’s Cool Again Tour in 2024. She will also perform at RodeoHouston for the first time. Find “Country’s Cool Again,” and all of Wilson’s music and upcoming shows at LaineyWilson.com.