Lainey Wilson is, without question, one of the most successful country music artists of the last several years. Wilson has had platinum-selling albums, numerous hit singles, sold-out tours, and more. She will also make history when she hosts the upcoming CMA Awards, this time by herself, after hosting last year with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning.
So it may be surprising that Wilson admits she sometimes doesn’t believe she deserves all of her success.
“I’ve dealt with imposter syndrome,” Wilson tells SiriusXM‘s The Highway. “And I didn’t expect to, just ’cause I’ve been here 14 years, and I just always thought, ‘When I get it, ’cause I’m gonna get it, I’m not gonna feel like I don’t deserve it.’ Or, ‘I’m not gonna feel like somebody else deserves it over me.’ And the devil has a way of coming in, and taking his little stick, and stirring things up. And so, I’ve absolutely dealt with that.
“But, when I take all of those voices away, the ones from the enemy, even the ones from the enemies online, or whatever it is,” she continues. “And I get down to it, and I remind myself who I am, who I truly am — I’m not just Lainey the artist. I’m not just the songwriter. I’m more than that. And when I get to the root of all that. I think that’s when I can really step away from that imposter syndrome, and be like, ‘All right. You’re here for a reason. The Lord don’t put you in places He don’t want you.'”
View this post on Instagram
Lainey Wilson Hosts the CMA Awards By Herself
When Lainey Wilson was invited to host the CMA Awards by herself, she didn’t know she would be making history in the process. Wilson hosting the CMA Awards will be the first time a female has hosted the show by herself since Reba McEntire did 34 years ago, in 1991.
“I looked it up too, and I was like, there’s no way. I let Reba know I was doing this, and she was so excited,” Wilson says on Rolling Stone‘s Nashville Now podcast. “It’s been a long time since a woman has done it solo. I’m glad they trust me. I like to run my mouth, and I love country music.”
McEntire, who hosted the ACM Awards by herself earlier this year, is Wilson’s biggest cheerleader.
“She believes in me, 190 percent,” Wilson boasts. “She’s done nothing but lift me up and encourage me. She’s the type of artist that, if you ask for – it doesn’t matter what it is, she’s gonna drop a bunch of wisdom on you. I’ll just text her anytime and be like, ‘What do you do in this situation? What do you do when you feel like you’re running 90 to nothing, and you’re trying to remind yourself why you’re doing this. What are the tools and tricks that you use to get recentered and focused?’ One time she told me, she said, ‘I think about my sister, who’s worked the same old job for 40 years.’”
The 2025 CMA Awards will air on November 19, at 8:00 PM ET on ABC. Wilson is tied with Ella Langley and Megan Moroney for the most nominations, with six nominations each.
Photo Credit: CMA / Addison Hilton