If 2024 belonged to anyone in country music, it was Lainey Wilson.
At 32, the Louisiana native is living the dream she chased for over a decade—and then some. This year alone, Lainey snagged seven major awards, including a Grammy for Best Country Album, ACM Entertainer of the Year, CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, and even a People’s Choice Award.
Not to mention, she opened a bell-bottom-themed bar on Lower Broadway, slayed the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Halftime Show, and kept the hits (and the surprises) coming.
But before wrapping up the wildest ride of her career so far, Lainey’s capping off 2024 the only way she knows how—with a one-night-only “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” blowout show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, this Saturday, December 14, sponsored by T-Mobile.
“It feels great—I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be,” Lainey tells Country Living. “I’ve been in Nashville for 13 years… all the hard work is finally starting to pay off. It’s getting fun, it’s getting exciting, and blessings just keep on flowing in.”
From Yellowstone to Vegas
Lainey’s not just dominating music charts—she’s made waves on the small screen, too. Fans of Yellowstone can catch her return this Sunday, December 15, in the show’s Season 5 finale, filmed at the iconic Billy Bob’s Texas.
“It was honky-tonk heaven,” she says. “I’ve played there a bunch and it always feels like home. A perfect way to end it.”
Lainey’s journey on Yellowstone began not as an actress, but as a voice on the soundtrack. Before her character Abby existed, her songs were woven into the emotional fabric of the series. Showrunner Taylor Sheridan took notice—and soon after, created a role just for her.
“He said, ‘I want to write a character for you,’ and I was like, ‘I’ve never acted before,’” she laughs. “But if he believed I could do it, I was gonna give it a shot.”
That leap of faith taught her a powerful lesson: “I really just like being creative and stepping outside the box. It’s scary, but exciting.”
Faith, Family, and FaceTime
Even with superstardom knocking, Lainey stays grounded. Her “Cowgirl of the Night” segment, where she inspires young girls with words of affirmation, has become a fan favorite—and sometimes even sparks real friendships.
Like Savannah, the spunky girl who made headlines for giving Lainey her phone number onstage. And yep—Lainey called.
“We FaceTimed and she was just as cute on video as she was on stage,” Lainey says. “There’s no telling what she’ll do in life. She’s a little firecracker.”
Lainey’s also preparing for another personal milestone—her sister is expecting her third baby boy just in time for Christmas.
“Family means everything,” she says. “The holidays are about the kids, being in Louisiana, delivering turkeys with my dad, singing carols with cousins… all the simple things.”
And like most of us this time of year, Lainey’s holiday wardrobe has one key requirement: stretch.
“If they don’t stretch, I don’t want ‘em,” she jokes, referencing her signature bell-bottom style. “I’ve been wearing Wranglers since before I could walk, and there’s a brand on Etsy called Cat O Nine that I love—super stretchy.”
One Last Yeehaw Before 2025
Lainey’s final show of the year in Vegas will feature Mae Estes and Tracy Lawrence, and she’s already thinking ahead: “I feel at home during NFR—it’s full of cowboys and cowgirls and just good energy. We’re hoping this becomes a yearly thing.”
While you’re in Vegas, don’t miss the T-Mobile Lainey’s Magenta Saloon pop-up, where fans can sign up for Magenta Status and celebrate the year with some flair.
And although Saturday is her official send-off, Lainey still has one more trick up her sleeve: she’ll be ringing in the New Year on CBS’s Nashville’s Big Bash, alongside Post Malone, Shaboozey, and more.
“I love collaborating,” she says. “It’s just fun to step into someone else’s world, or have them come into mine… so we’ll see what happens in 2025.”
One thing’s for sure: new music is on the horizon.
“I’m always writing,” Lainey adds. “Even before Whirlwind came out, I was already working on the next one. Songwriting is who I am—it’s where it all begins.”
