Lainey Wilson broke The Great New York State Fair attendance record on Wednesday evening (Aug. 23).
Broke Nelly’s Attendance Record
The country superstar’s headlining performance drew over 53,200 fans to Suburban Park in Syracuse, New York. Wilson’s performance shattered the previous record held by Nelly, who performed for 43,000 fans at the state fair in 2022. Wilson’s performance drew in more than 10,000 additional people.
The impressive achievement not only solidified Wilson’s status as one of the hottest stars in country music right now but also marked a significant milestone in the fair’s history. Lainey Wilson’s electrifying performance and the undeniable connection she shares with her devoted fan base made for an unforgettable evening.
In the midst of her headlining set at The Great New York State Fair, Wilson paused for a moment to admire the sea of thousands of people attending her performance, which served as opening day of the 2023 New York State Fair and was certainly “one to remember.”
“This is absolutely insane!” she admitted during the show.
Watch Lainey Wilson Perform “Watermelon Moonshine” For A Record-Breaking Crowd Below
One highlight of Wilson’s record-breaking concert was when she delivered a captivating performance of her latest single “Watermelon Moonshine.”
“This is my current single at Country radio and it is climbing fast y’all. We’re keeping up with them boys, we’re keeping up with the boys. I’m telling them watch out!” Wilson told the capacity crowd. “I’m so proud of this song and let this song take you back y’all. If you feel like reminiscing tonight, if you got a drink in your hand… here we go now. Let it take you back. Here’s ‘Watermelon Moonshine.’”
“Watermelon Moonshine” is quickly climbing the charts at Country radio. In fact, the tune recently cracked the Top 10 of the Mediabase Country charts, just 13 weeks after it impacted the airwaves.
With that feat, the nostalgic tune, which currently sits at No. 9 on the chart, has become the fastest-rising single by a solo female artist in five years since Carrie Underwood’s “Cry Pretty” in 2018.
“Watermelon Moonshine”
Co-written by Wilson alongside Jordan Schmidt and Josh Kear, “Watermelon Moonshine” is a nostalgic ballad that finds the reigning ACM Female Artist Of The Year reflecting on young love.
“Drinkin’ watermelon moonshine / Cut the burn with a little lime / Parkin’ back in them kudzu vines / I was his and every bit of that boy was mine / Too young to know what love was / But we werе learnin’ on a sweet buzz / There’s never nothin’ like the first time / And mine’s always gonna taste like / Watermelon moonshine,” Wilson sings on the track’s chorus.
Recently, Wilson brought her single to life with a cinematic new music video, which serves as a beautiful tribute to the rollercoaster ride of teenage love.
Bell Bottom Country
“Watermelon Moonshine” appears on Wilson’s latest album, Bell Bottom Country, which arrived on October 28, 2022.
Bell Bottom Country features 16 tracks, including the chart-topping “Heart Like A Truck,” “Atta Girl,” “Smells Like Smoke,” “Hillbilly Hippie,” “Grease” and the heartfelt “Those Boots (Deddy’s Song),” which pays tribute to her father, Brian Wilson.
“I’ve lived quite a bit of life the past few years, and I have a lot more to say,” Wilson shared of the new album. “Sure, I love a good pair of bell bottoms, but Bell Bottom Country to me has always been about the flare and what makes someone unique — I have really embraced mine, and I hope y’all can hear that across this project.”
Bell Bottom Country is currently nominated for The Album of 2023 at the upcoming People’s Choice Country Awards. Lainey Wilson is also the leading female nominee at the upcoming awards show with six nominations, including Artist Of 2023, Female Artist of 2023, Song Of 2023, Collaboration Song of 2023 and more.
Wilson Set To Hit The Road With HARDY
Additionally, Lainey Wilson recently wrapped her stint alongside Luke Combs on his 2023 World Tour, which came to a close at the end of July after making stops at stadiums across North America, including in cities such as Nashville, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
Later this year, the “Heart Like A Truck” singer will join Eric Church and HARDY on the road. Wilson will serve as support on select dates of Church’s The Outsiders Revival Tour. She will also join HARDY for the second leg of his the mockingbird & THE CROW tour, presented by Ebay Motors, which kicks off on August 31 in Knoxville, Tennessee at Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
To close out the year on a high note, Wilson has her own set of performances lined up at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, dubbed “Lainey Wilson: Wildflowers & Wild Horses.”
For more information on Lainey Wilson’s music and upcoming tour dates, visit her official website HERE.
