Lainey Wilson has five consecutive No. 1 hits. The Louisiana native just topped the charts, for the fifth time in a row, with “Watermelon Moonshine.” The song is the second single from her sophomore Bell Bottom Country album.
“I’m so honored that ‘Watermelon Moonshine’ hit No. 1 on country radio this week!” Wilson gushes. “This song was co-written with two incredible songwriters, Josh Kear and Jordan Schmidt, and I couldn’t be more proud listening to folks sing it back at shows. This track represents the storytelling I grew up with and reflects on that young love we all like to reminisce on.”
Wilson’s first No. 1 hit was “Things A Man Oughta Know,” a song that changed the trajectory of Wilson’s entire life and career, although not nearly as quickly as some might think.
“Everybody thinks when you sign a record deal that you’re doing fine,” Wilson shares on the Great Creators podcast with Guy Raz (via Country Now). “And everybody thinks when you sign a publishing deal that, ‘Oh, she ain’t hurting,’ but that’s not the truth, at all. We’re just out here trying to pay our bills just like everybody else.”
Wilson was down to $26 when the song began its slow ascent up the charts, with Wilson struggling to make ends meet, even as she began hearing herself on the radio.
“During that time of my life, we were coming out of the pandemic, still in it some, and it was hard times,” Wilson remembers. “I was not able to go play shows and make any money. I mean, I was just living off of what I had and a little bit of that publishing draw. Times were rough, but I knew it was just right around the corner. My sister had to Venmo me $200 so I could go to Taco Bell that night. But times are different now.”
Wilson recently won three People’s Choice Country Awards, for Female Artist, Collaboration Song, for her “Save Me” duet with Jelly Roll, and Video, for her “wait in the truck” duet with HARDY. She is the most-nominated artist heading into next month’s CMA Awards, with a total of nine nominations, including for Entertainer of the Year, the night’s highest honor.
“Holy moly y’all. Someone pinch me,” Wilson gushed on social media when the nominations were announced. “I can’t believe my eyes. I’m so proud of everything we’ve done this year for my own music and these collabs with my brothers HARDY and Jelly Roll. Thank y’all for having me on these songs Being nominated in each of these categories amongst my friends means the world to me.
“And the coveted Entertainer Of The Year category?! It’s absolutely surreal,” she continued. “We bust our butts out there on the road every dang night to give y’all the best show possible and I have the time of my life doing it. All I gotta say is thank y’all. I love country music.”
Wilson was just announced as one of the headliners for Nashville’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash celebration, along with Thomas Rhett and Lynyrd Skynyrd. She has also been announced as one of the openers for Morgan Wallen‘s 2024 One Night At A Time World Tour. Find music and tour dates at LaineyWilson.com.