Lainey Wilson stepped up for Luke Bryan, filling in for him at the 11th Annual Watershed Music and Camping Festival at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington over the weekend after the sudden cancellation of his performance.
And, while the “Watermelon Moonshine” singer covered the 47-year-old hitmaker’s slot due to unforeseen circumstances, the moment proved monumental for her as it marked her first-ever headlining festival performance.
Honored Luke Bryan With Covers Of His Songs
But that didn’t stop Wilson, 31, from turning the spotlight back on Bryan. She paid homage to him by including a handful of covers of his biggest hits in her set list during her show.
While closing out the three-day event on Sunday, (August 6), Wilson covered songs like “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day,” “Drunk On You” and “Drink A Beer.”
Videos from a handful of the 22,000 fans who got to attend the concert have poured in on TikTok, showcasing Wilson putting a female spin on Bryan’s songs.
One clip, shared below, finds the Louisiana-born songstress throwing some Bell Bottom Country flare into the Georgian’s “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” before she segues into “Drink A Beer.”
Wilson effortlessly strums her acoustic guitar, providing a solo take on each song as the enthusiastic crowd sings along to every word.
“So I’m gonna sit right here / On the edge of this pier / Then watch the sunset disappear / And drink a beer,” Wilson sings the chorus of “Drink A Beer” in a second clip, which features another angle of her on-the-spot Bryan tribute medley.
Shared Her Daddy’s Words Of Wisdom
After treating fans to her music at The Gorge Amphitheatre, which also included acts like Cody Johnson, Keith Urban, Carly Pearce, Kameron Marlowe, Parker McCollum, Conner Smith, Travis Denning, Avery Anna, Ernest, and more, Wilson made sure to take to Instagram to share her enthusiasm for the memorable moment.
“My deddy always told me to grab the reins and hold on tight when life gets crazy, and that’s just what we did Sunday night. @lukebryan we missed ya out there…get to feeling better❤️,” she wrote, alongside a photo featuring her onstage at the event. “Thank you, @watershedfestival, for making my first headlining festival set one to remember.🤘🏻.”
Bryan Canceled His Performance As He Could “Hardly Even Talk” From An Illness
Bryan, who will release a new song called “Southern and Slow” on Friday (Aug. 11), was forced to bow out of his Watershed Music and Camping Festival gig due to illness. On Sunday afternoon (Aug. 6), he shared the sad news with fans on his Twitter page.
“This is such a frustrating weekend. ‘Shedders, I am sorry to let you down, but I am not back singing – can hardly even talk still,” he captioned in his tweet adding, “This festival is one of the most beautiful places we perform and one of the most fun crowds always. I know my friends on the show will bring a great time for you! Show them all what you got. Love ya, Luke!”
Country On Tour
The American Idol judge, who has been on the road as part of his Country On Tour, has been battling a summer cold for a few weeks. According to his social media, he was “advised by a doctor to cancel tour dates in Boise and suddenly postpone his concert at USANA Amphitheatre in Salt Lake City, Utah.”
Bryan’s Country On Tour, which kicked off on June 15, in Syracuse, New York is expected to resume on August 10, in Rogers, AR. The trek will continue through Oct. 28, where it will wrap in Charleston, SC.
Lainey Wilson Tour
Meanwhile, Lainey Wilson recently finished her stint alongside Luke Combs on his 2023 World Tour, which came to a close at the end of July after making stops at renowned stadiums in key cities including Nashville, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
Later this year, the “Heart Like A Truck” singer will join two other prominent artists on the road: Eric Church and HARDY. Wilson will serve as support on select dates of Church’s The Outsiders Revival Tour and will co-headline the mockingbird & THE CROW Fall Tour with HARDY.
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.”
