Lainey Wilson On Winning Entertainer of the Year Two Years In A Row & Gives Advice to Young Artists | ACM Awards 2025 - video Dailymotion

Billboard

Lainey Wilson caught up with Billboard's Tetris Kelly on the Winners Walk at the ACM Awards 2025.

Transcript

00:00So, Lainey, I feel like some real special is happening right now, you know?

00:03Entertainer of the Year, two years in a row.

00:06You know, what's going on with you, Lainey?

00:07What are you building here?

00:09You know what?

00:10I really just think it's like I've been in Nashville for 15 years

00:14and developed a lot of friendships and relationships with the community.

00:18And I really do think that I have a lot of people rooting for me.

00:21And I don't know, it's hard for me to wrap my head around.

00:25You know just as much as I do.

00:26I don't have a clue.

00:28And, I mean, it's not just Entertainer of the Year.

00:30You obviously won Album of the Year, like Female Artist of the Year.

00:32What does Entertainer mean to you?

00:34What does it mean to be in that category and win that one?

00:36To me, I think the definition of it actually, like when you're voting,

00:40is like somebody who represented country music that year in a bunch of different ways.

00:45And I take that as a huge compliment.

00:49Like I think that means a lot to me because I try to represent country music.

00:55I try to carry myself in a way that, like, I would be proud of 30 years from now.

01:01I don't always do it, but I try.

01:04You know, you do a really great job of that.

01:06I try, I try, I try.

01:06I mean, we've talked a lot about, like, the different artists that are, like,

01:09jumping into country music and how all these genres are blending.

01:11What do you feel makes you represent genuine country?

01:14Like what do you feel is the, like, root of country music at the core?

01:17At the core, it's just truth-telling.

01:19It's storytelling.

01:20That's what I think it is.

01:22I mean, like, how they say three chords and the truth.

01:25To me, that's what it is.

01:26That's what I grew up listening to.

01:28So whether it makes you laugh, cry, or want to drink a beer, I think it's storytelling.

01:34And I feel like a lot of us, we go through what I call, you know, imposter syndrome.

01:37Everybody knows that.

01:38And, like, we all are like, are we doing this?

01:40Are we really doing this thing?

01:40And you're doing the thing.

01:42So for a young girl out there that wants to be Laney Wilson,

01:45that wants to be Entertainer of the Year,

01:46what advice would you give to that young girl?

01:48Oh, my gosh.

01:49There's a million steps, I'll tell you that.

01:53It's hard, but it's also the most rewarding thing that I've ever done.

01:56Like, this was, there was never a plan B.

01:59It was always plan A.

02:00And I was like, I don't know how to do anything else.

02:03I don't want to do anything else.

02:05And I tell people all the time who ask me for advice who are, like,

02:08moving to Nashville to try to do it.

02:10They say, like, you know, what would you tell an up-and-comer?

02:14And I would say, if you can imagine yourself doing anything else,

02:16you need to go do that because this has, this is hard.

02:19It's, you have to sacrifice a lot.

02:20I mean, you miss a lot of weddings and funerals and everything in between

02:24for years and years and years.

02:27But thank God it's paid off.

02:29And I would just say, like, trust in yourself.

02:34Find whatever it is that you're good at and just work your butt off.

02:38Put your 10,000 hours in or plus.

02:41And don't let anybody tell you no.

02:42Just fight for what you want.

02:45I love that.

02:45And then I was asking Old Dominion.

02:47They had a big night, too.

02:48So I was like, when you get home tonight, when you get to the bus,

02:51when you get to your car, what song are you going to play?

02:53I want to know your celebration song tonight, Lainey.

02:55I'm probably going to play some frequency music because I need to, like,

02:58maybe some worship music.

03:02Oh, go to church a little bit?

03:03I know, 100%.

03:04Maybe some Forrest Frank.

03:05I'll be praising the Lord tonight.

03:07I love it.

03:08Well, Entertainer of the Year, you go have a great rest of your night.

03:10And congratulations.

03:11I appreciate you.

Lainey Wilson On Winning Entertainer of the Year Two Years In A Row & Gives Advice to Young Artists | ACM Awards 2025

Category

Transcript

Recommended