Lainey Wilson has won plenty of awards in the last few years, but one that she hasn’t won yet is an Oscar, although that could soon change. The Grand Ole Opry member wrote “Out of Oklahoma,” used in the Twisters movie, with Luke Dick and Shane McAnally, a song that many are predicting will be nominatfed for “Best Original Song” at the Oscars later this month.
“All I’ve ever wanted to do is sing and write music and tell stories, and it’s just really cool to see all the opportunities that have come just from this dream that I had,” Wilson reflects to Gold Derby. “I was a nine-year-old little girl writing and just trying to tell stories to anybody who would listen. It’s cool that I’m able to share my gift and possibly have the opportunity to be nominated for an Oscar. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the sound of that.”
Wilson was part of a star-studded soundtrack that also included Jelly Roll, Kane Brown, Shania Twain, Thomas Rhett, Megan Moroney and more. With so many country music artists on the project, the 32-year-old says its proof that the genre is more popular than ever.
“Country music is definitely having its moment right now, and I’m very proud to be a part of that movement,” Wilson says. “I feel like when you listen to all the country songs right now everybody looks different and sounds different and comes from a different walk of life and has a different journey.”
Wilson can already imagine what the impact would be if she were to perform “Out of Oklahoma” during the live ceremony.
“[I imagine] all these little boys and little girls tuning in and watching … and being like, ‘This girl came from a town of 180 people and followed her dreams and didn’t let anything stand in her way,'” she reflects. “That’d be pretty cool.”
“Out of Oklahoma” is a well-crafted song, and one Wilson refuses to take all of the credit for writing.
“The day we sat down to write ‘Out of Oklahoma’ we knew what the song was called,” Wilson recalls. “We had seen the scene from the movie. Now we were like, ‘Okay, we just cannot let this scene down.’ The scene was so powerful … and we knew the emotions that we needed to bring to it. So we fought for it.
“We fought for every line. We fought for every syllable,” she continues, adding that the people in charge of the music were thrilled with their first attempt.
“We got it on the first try,” she boasts.
Country music might be having its moment, but so is Wilson. The country music hitmaker, who has been the reigning CMA Female Artist of the Year for the last three years, is at the top of her game right now — and not taking a minute of it for granted.
“I’m not going to lie, the recognition is great,” Wilson tells People. “It gives me that little extra notch in my belt and encouragement to keep on going and doing what I’m doing.”
The nominations for this year’s Oscars ceremony will be announced on Sunday, January 19. Find all of Wilson’s music and upcoming shows at LaineyWilson.com.