Lainey Wilson got some expert advice heading into the 57th Annual CMA Awards. The 31-year-old shared she got to spend some time with Country queen, Dolly Parton, ahead of Wednesday’s show and soaked up some sound words of wisdom.
LISTEN NOW: Lainey Wilson shares the wisdom she got from Dolly Parton heading into CMA Awards
“She was just tellin’ me, she’s like, ‘Base all of your decisions off of how passionate you are about what you’re doin’,” Lainey shared of the photo with Dolly she posted going into the CMA Awards. “She said passion is what drove her and it’s about having that discernment to figure out what to do, what not to do, and just being true to yourself and your story — not being scared to step outside of the lines, but not [doing] anything you wouldn’t be happy about years from now.”
Wilson is walking into the night with a whopping nine nominations, including the biggest of the night — Entertainer of the Year, which hasn’t been won by a female since Taylor Swift in 2011.
“It’s wild,” Lainey said of her nomination in the category. “This is the second year I’ve ever even been nominated for a CMA. Two years ago I was pumped because I got to present an award… we’re moving very, very fast.”
Lainey’s success has brought fresh attention to the talent of women in Country music and she’s crediting all her female peers for helping “turn a corner” in the industry. “All of the ladies that are nominated for Female [Vocalist of the Year], I feel like the girls have a lot to say,” she expressed. “We comin’ for ya, boys!”
“I tell all my guy friends that it’s important to hear the other side of the story, too. I feel like [the women of Country music] are turning a corner and I think it’s going to be a great time for females in Country music. Everybody from Kelsea [Ballerini] to Carly [Pearce] to Meg [Moroney] to Carrie [Underwood] to Ashley [McBryde] — it’s a lot of really talented women in this town.”
Catch the 57th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, Wednesday, November 8 at 8/7c on ABC, and available next day on Hulu. Find more of Audacy's CMA Awards coverage at audacy.com/cma.