Lainey Wilson has had a whirlwind year, no pun intended. Wilson racked up more awards, including three at the recent CMA Awards, had hit singles, sold out large venues on a global tour, and more.

So it makes sense that Wilson and her fiancé, Devlin “Duck” Hodges, have yet to plan their wedding, which she says will take place in 2026.

“We need to start, that’s the problem,” Wilson tells Us Weekly. “No, it’s funny. I’ve been so busy this year that we’re like, ‘We’re gonna figure it out, for sure.’ He’s such a good dude. He is my best friend. He’s my biggest cheerleader. We lift each other up. He understands that this life is full of a lot of late nights and travel, and we might be ships passing in the night, but he’s always my rock through it all. He’s my home, no matter where we are. I feel like my blood pressure comes down, and he’s a safe place to land. I can just let loose.”

On her latest Whirlwind album, Wilson included songs inspired by Hodges, including “Hang Tight Honey” and “4X4XU.” As she works on her next record, Wilson says she will still have songs about heartbreak, but they will no longer be inspired by her current life.

“Just like every girl, every now and then we’re reminded of terrible relationships we were in, so it’s real easy for me to tap back into that,” Wilson explains. “He makes it really easy for me to write a love song nowadays… But part of being a songwriter is being able to step back into a pair of shoes you wore years before or somebody else’s. I write with such incredible people, and they definitely help me dive a little deeper.”

Lainey Wilson’s Relationship With Devlin “Duck” Hodges

Wilson and Hodges began dating in 2021, waiting two years to go public with their romance. Although her schedule keeps them apart more than a lot of couples, Wilson and Hodges have found a way to keep their relationship strong, even when they cannot be together.

“You have to definitely carve out the time,” Wilson tells People. “It has to be something that you’re very aware of, and you’re like, ‘Okay, I’ve got a day off here in 10 days. I’ve got to dedicate that day to spend time with my person.’

“And we both need that and deserve that, and it’s always great,” she adds. “We just try to soak up those moments as best as we possibly can.”

Busy schedules aside, Wilson feels grateful to be able to spend her life with Hodges.

“He is one of the purest hearts and people that I have ever met,” Wilson boasts. “He is my biggest cheerleader. We don’t really play by the rules.”

What Laney Wilson Says About Her Next Album

Whirlwind came out in August of 2024. Amid her busy schedule and wedding planning, the 33-year-old is also working on her next album.

“I’m always working for the next thing, so hopefully sooner rather than later,” Wilson says. “I’ve been writing a bunch. It’s fun to go to these different cities, look outside your window and be in a different place every day, and be able to take advantage of that and be creative in these different parts of the world. Everywhere you can imagine, we’re writing a song about it.”

Photo Credit: Getty for CMA / Kevin Mazur