Lainey Wilson‘s first trip to the Grand Ole Opry happened when she was 9-years old.

On the way back home to North East Louisiana from a family vacation, Lainey asked her parents to detour their road trip through Nashville…and they did!

On her first trip the Opry, Lainey remembers seeing Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Phil Vassar and Little Jimmy Dickens.

It was while sitting in the Opry House 9-year old Lainey Wilson knew that one day she’d return to the Grand Ole Opry – but when it happened…she’d be the one on stage.

While her Music City adventures started in 2011, when Lainey moved to Nashville from her hometown of Baskin, it wouldn’t be until Valentine’s Day 2020 that she’d make her Opry debut.

Now in 2021 Lainey has been named the Opry NextStage Artist for the month of August.

Opry NextStage spotlights the most exceptional talent on the forefront of their careers – previous artists include Hailey Whitters, Parker McCollum, Tenille Townes, Riley Green and Travis Denning.

Talking about being named, Lainey says “I don’t know if my little 9-year old self manifested it or what, but it’s just so wild! Yes, I’m the Opry NextStage Artist for the month of August, and I tell you what, the Opry has been nothing but supportive of me, and immediately they made me feel like I was a part of their family and it’s just an incredible, incredible opportunity.”

You can get to know Lainey Wilson a little better with her NextStage Artist profile videos…

Lainey Wilson is inside the Top-10 on the Billboard Country Music Airplay Chart with her break-out hit, “Things A Man Oughta Know.”

Photo Courtesy of BBR