By Mark Ellis —
She won top prize of entertainer of the year at the 2025 Country Music Association Awards, along with album of the year for “Whirlwind”. Beneath the 33-year-old star with her distinctive bell-bottom flair and raw, heartfelt storytelling lies a foundation built on her rock: Jesus Christ.
The faith-filled Grammy winner joined the cast of Yellowstone in 2022, with some of her songs being featured in the series until it ended in 2024.
Raised in the tiny farming community of Baskin, Louisiana—population around 200, with no stoplights and plenty of dirt roads—Lainey grew up in a home where faith wasn’t just talked about; it was lived.
Her family attended Baskin Baptist Church every Sunday, a place where her parents were married and where young Lainey made her decision to follow Christ. “A lot happened at Baskin Baptist Church,” she shared in a recent interview with Us Weekly. “My parents got married there, and I got saved as a little girl there. It was full of good people—the kind that would give you the shirt off their back.”
That simple, Bible-believing upbringing shaped everything about her. In a 2022 appearance on Southern Living’s Biscuits & Jam podcast, Lainey reflected on those formative years: “The church was a huge part of my growing up and our family foundation. We love Jesus. And I’m not sure where I would be right now on this journey without him. It’s just a part of who I am.”
When Lainey first moved to Nashville at age 19, she lived in a camper trailer parked outside a recording studio. Her faith became her anchor there.
She credits the grit instilled by her parents—and the calling she felt from God—as the driving force behind her perseverance. “I knew from an early age that this was my calling,” she said in an interview with Movieguide.org. “I knew that this was a gift. I truly believe that if you feel like you have a gift, you’re supposed to share it with the world.”
Lainey’s music reflects that conviction unapologetically. Songs like “Me, You, and Jesus” lay it out plainly: true love and life work best with Christ at the center. Her track “Sunday Best” draws directly from those childhood memories of dressing up for church, reminding listeners to bring their best to God no matter the storms of life.
And in collaborations that bridge country and Christian genres—duetting with Anne Wilson on the powerful “Praying Woman,” honoring faith-filled moms; joining Matthew West on “My Jesus”; or teaming with Zach Williams on a rousing “Go Tell It on the Mountain” for CMA Country Christmas—Lainey proclaims her beliefs without hesitation.
In 2022, Wilson’s father, Brian Wilson, experienced severe health issues including a stroke and an infection that resulted in the removal of his left eye. This all occurred while she was filming her first season on Yellowstone. Wanting to be closer to him, she considered quitting the show. However, her father encouraged her to continue filming regardless of his health outlook. He eventually recovered and was seen accompanying her on the red carpet at the 56th CMA Awards, according to Fox News.
Since 2021, Wilson has been in a relationship with former NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges. In February 2025, Wilson and Hodges announced their engagement, as reported by People magazine.
As arenas fill with fans singing along to hits like “Heart Like a Truck” and “Watermelon Moonshine,” Lainey remains the farmer’s daughter from Baskin who starts her day talking to Jesus. Her story is a reminder that performers don’t have to compromise their faith to reach the top. In fact, for Lainey Wilson, surrendering to Christ has been the most important element of her journey.
As she continues to shine brightly in country music, one thing is clear: Lainey’s light comes from the One who called her out of a small Louisiana town and into His great adventure of faith. And she’s not afraid to tell the world about it.
