Lainey Wilson brought a very special guest with her to the 2022 CMA Awards red carpet, her father Brian Wilson, 60, who recently returned home after a two-month hospital stay.
Lainey, who is the most-nominated artist at the 56th Annual CMA Awards, donned a mustard yellow bell bottom suit with turquoise necklaces to accent her look. Her father opted for a navy blue suit and black cowboy hat and was also wearing an eye patch due to recent health events.
The “Heart Like A Truck” singer recently opened up about bringing her father as her date to the CMA Awards red carpet during an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
“This is a big moment for me and my family,” Lainey said. “He went through some medical issues this year and we thought we were gonna lose him. And he’s been working really hard so he could get back up on his feet and do this with me. Because crazy thing is, this was actually his dream when he was a little boy… So he’s been living a little bit vicariously through me and it’s gonna be an exciting moment for me to be able to share that with him and my family. We’ve got tons of things to celebrate.”
Earlier this year, Wilson’s father was hospitalized for several months with a fungal infection, which forced her dad to undergo nine different surgeries over the course of a month and a half.
Lainey recently told Taste Of Country that he is “doing great” and returned home on October 13 after spending three weeks in a rehabilitation center. During the interview, the 2022 CMT Breakout Artist Of The Year revealed that her father suffered a stroke while in the hospital and had his left eye and some bones removed from his face as a result of the infection.
“He’s doing great. He spent two months in a hospital from a fungal infection that completely took out the left side of his face,” Lainey explained. “They had to remove his eye, and they had to remove some bones and stuff in his face. He had a stroke on top of all of that.” She later added, “He’s not supposed to be here.”
Lainey Wilson is the most-nominated artist at the 2022 CMA Awards, which will take place in Nashville on Wednesday (Nov. 9). The Louisiana native is up for Album of the Year (Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’), Female Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year (“Never Say Never”), Musical Event of the Year (“Never Say Never”), New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Things A Man Oughta Know”).
“This is my first time being cordially invited to the CMA Awards as a nominee and what a wonderful invitation it is,” Wilson previously said in a statement. “It has been such a challenging but beautiful journey up until this point and to see the Country music community and the incredible fans be so receptive to me and my music is such a blessing. I’m so grateful for this moment.”
The “Watermelon Moonshine” singer is the fourth artist in CMA Awards history to earn six nominations with their debut on the ballot. Other artists to achieve this milestone include: Kacey Musgraves (2013), Brad Paisley (2000), and Glen Campbell (1968).
Lainey is also set to perform “Wait In The Truck” with HARDY during the coveted awards show.
In addition to performing with HARDY, Lainey will also pay tribute to the 2022 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement honoree, Alan Jackson, with a special performance alongside Carrie Underwood.
The 56th Annual CMA Awards featured performances from Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Cody Johnson, and Carly Pearce.
The show opened with an all-star tribute to the late Loretta Lynn from Underwood, Reba McEntire and Lambert.
Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, and Lainey Wilson joined together to honor the 2022 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Alan Jackson.
Additionally, the show included star-studded collaborations from Kelsea Ballerini, Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce, HARDY and Lainey Wilson, Elle King with The Black Keys, Brothers featuring The War and Treaty, Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry, Chris Stapleton with Patty Loveless, Zac Brown Band, Jimmie Allen and Marcus King as well as Ashley McBryde with Pillbox Patti, Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack and John Osborne.
Mookie Betts, BRELAND, Jessica Chastain, Jordan Davis, Sarah Drew, Cole Hauser, Tyler Hubbard, Wynonna Judd, Lady A, Rex Linn, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Reba McEntire, Ben and Erin Napier, Jeannie Seely, Michael Shannon, and Lainey Wilson were on hand to present during the ceremony.
Co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the 2022 CMA Awards broadcasted live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and aired on ABC (8:00-11:00 PM/ET).
The CMA Awards will also be available for viewing on Hulu beginning Thursday, Nov. 10.
