Terri Clark sees a bit of her legacy in Lainey Wilson. The 56-year-old was an inspiration to Wilson, who appears on Clark’s latest Take Two project, a full-circle moment for Clark, who spent decades hoping to inspire other young singers.
“The whole time I was on the road the last 30 years, playing the county fairs and the festivals, bars and clubs, I’ve always wondered, ‘Is there a little girl in this audience that this will have some sort of impact on, who’s going to go on and do great things?'” Clark reflected at the recent ACM Honors ceremony. “You wonder what kind of legacy you’re going to leave, and I’m so proud of Lainey. She has pole-vaulted over everything, and I think it’s a testament to her work ethic, her talents, and her showmanship. There’s no slowing her down.”
The admiration between the two singers is mutual. Wilson, who was recently inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on the same night that Clark celebrated her 20th anniversary as an Opry member, also praised Clark for her influence, ever since Wilson was a little girl.
“When I think about growing up in the ’90s, I think about those women that were just blazing some trails, and she was a part of that,” Wilson told Everything Nash and other outlets backstage ahead of her induction. “Just the way that she’d get up there with her acoustic guitar and just rock out, and not give a dang. It made me feel like I could do that too. The night that I got invited to the Opry, it was February 14, 2020, and she introduced me to the stage. And so, tonight, it’s just a full-circle moment for this to be lined up again.”
Photo Credit: Chris Hollo
When discussing her Take Two project, which also includes Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Kelly Clarkson and more, Clark praised Wilson for how she came to the studio to record “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” with Clark.
“One of my favorite memories was Lainey Wilson showing up in the biggest pickup truck I have ever seen in my life, with nobody with her,” Clark shared at a recent media event. “No entourage, no manager, Just showed up by herself … She was so sweet. I don’t even know how she climbed up in that thing. She is the real deal. And I love that she showed up without anybody with her.
“It shows just a down-to-earth confidence and independence,” she added. “I think that’s why she is who she is and is doing what she does … She’s just so sweet. She came in and nailed it.”
Clark’s self-titled freshman album came out in 1995. With so much time already as part of country music, including opening for Reba McEntire last year, the Canadian feels profound gratitude for how her legendary career continues to unfold
“I remember saying things like, ‘Well, I’m not gonna be up there bouncing around with a cowbell and a cowboy hat when I’m 50,” Clark told People. “And lo and behold, was I ever wrong! I couldn’t have predicted the longevity and that I’d still be experiencing really fun milestones. I’m just in awe of it all, honestly. And I feel really, really grateful.”.
Find Take Two and all of Clark’s music and upcoming shows at TerriClark.com.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the CMA