Miranda Lambert has shown her support for many of her fellow country artists throughout the years, especially her female peers. Most recently, she has been applauding 2023 ACM Female Artist of the Year Lainey Wilson.
Miranda Lambert Applauds Lainey Wilson’s Authenticity
While speaking to Music Mayhem, the 39-year-old “Carousel” singer cheered on Wilson, 31, for having the thick skin she needed for working her way up the musical ladder and for staying true to her authentic self in the face of critics and naysayers.
“Lainey is a badass. I love how she knows exactly who she is and does such a great job sharing that with the world,” Lambert raved of Wilson. “She’s worked so hard for years and is so deserving of all the success she’s having. I can’t wait to watch her keep killing it.”
Long Road To Success
Indeed, Lainey Wilson has taken the long road to success, having earned her way with just a little bit of luck, but mostly hard work, persistence, and perseverance. The Louisiana native moved to Nashville, Tenn., at age 19, and lived in a camper for three years.
During a previous interview with Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music Country, she recalled the earlier days of her musical journey, which were filled with many challenges.
“I had some of the darkest days of my entire life in that camper,” Wilson explained. “It would be 20 degrees outside, my furnace wasn’t working, and I would just wrap up in jackets. I could see my breath in the camper, and I thought, just to myself, ‘Lord, I hope this is temporary [and] I hope this is temporary because it’s hard.’ I knew deep in my heart that it truly was only preparing me, too. I think it’s been the Lord’s way of showing me, ‘Hey, look, this route ain’t going to be easy. It ain’t going to be what you thought it was going to be, but I’m preparing you to be able to say more, to share more.’”
Lambert Has Been A Longtime Supporter Of Wilson
Fast-forward to today, and Wilson is breaking records she never thought were possible. Earlier this year, she swept the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards, scoring a win in four categories, including Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Bell Bottom Country, Music Event of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year for “wait in the truck,” her collaboration with HARDY. Earlier this year, per US Radio Updater, she broke the record for the shortest gap between No. 1 hits on US Country Radio with “wait in the truck,” and “Heart Like A Truck” from her current album.
Lambert has watched Wilson’s growth and has been a fan of hers for a while now. In fact, this isn’t the first time, she has commented on Wilson’s talent.
“Lainey Wilson is great. She’s a new female artist on the country scene, and I think she is so badass,” Lambert told Rolling Stone in the spring of 2022.
Lainey Wilson Previously Revealed Advice Miranda Lambert Offered Her
But that’s not all. Lambert has also been somewhat of a mentor to Wilson. Early on, the Texas native shared some valuable advice with Wilson, the kind that helped to give the “Grease” singer that extra boost of confidence she needed to keep going.
“I’ve gotten a lot of advice from Miranda Lambert… Over this past year, she has really taken me under her wing. Any question, she’s just like, ‘Lainey, there’s no stupid question. Just ask whatever,’” Wilson told Audacy’s Katie and Company. “She has just given me that extra confidence, peace of mind, whatever it might be that I need that day to keep on going and to hear it from somebody firsthand who has literally been through it all, who has seen it all, done it all, I just trust and I value her opinion.”
In July, Lambert will return to Las Vegas, Nev., as part of her ongoing Velvet Rodeo Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino’s Bakkt Theater.
Wilson, meanwhile, has been riding high on a handful of previously announced collaborations, including “Save Me” with Jelly Roll, “Thicc As Thieves” with Lauren Alaina, and a recently announced upcoming remake of The Judds’ classic, “Mama He’s Crazy” with Dolly Parton. She is also currently on the road as part of Luke Combs’ 2023 World Tour, which runs through July 29.
