Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottom Craze Goes Back To Childhood

Lainey Wilson recently played a show in New York City at Irving Plaza. While there, she took Good Morning America behind the scenes of her getting ready for the show. In a video, Lainey picked out her show outfit and even introduced them to her French Bulldog, Hippie May.

Wilson explained in the video why it doesn't take long for her to get ready for a show, saying, "It does not take me long to get ready because I actually used to impersonate Hannah Montana." She then sings a little Montana tune and quips, "You're gonna have to pay for the rest because I hung up the wig."

Lainey talked about her long obsession with bell bottoms. She said, "I've always been obsessed with bell bottoms. My mama bought me my very first pair when I was just a little girl. They were blue leopard print, and it was just one of those things where eventually she's like, 'Lainey, you've got to take them off, we've got to wash them.'" She added, "But I've always just been obsessed with everything throwback. I feel like things that are throwback come with a good story, and I'm a sucker for a good story."

Wilson also talked about her twelve-year journey in Nashville. She offered, "It's been a lot of sweat and tears to get me to this moment. I write what I know, and I write about things that make me, me. I write about where I come from. I write about the thing that gives me life. And so no matter what you're gonna hear about mom and daddy and Jesus, and that's just how it is."

Lainey said of the singers in Nashville that influenced her, "When I talk about the people who have paved the way for me and the women who have paved the way for me, I think of Dolly Parton. I think of Reba. I think of all the women in the 90s, those women they didn't even realize that somebody had blazed a trail before them, but they didn't realize they were blazing a trail for people like me."

Wilson and Good Morning America both posted to their Instagrams, "We're going behind the scenes of @laineywilsonmusic's first headlining tour! From bellbottom jeans to her 'Bell Bottom Country' album, Lainey Wilson opens up about making country music history. #Country #Music #Tour #LaineyWilson."

The 2022 CMT Artists of the Year special will air tonight (10/14) on CMT. Filmed on Wednesday night (10/12) in Nashville, CMT honored Kane Brown, Walker Hayes, Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, and Cody Johnson as the five artists of the Year.

They also honored Alan Jackson as the CMT Artist of a Lifetime and Lainey Wilson as the CMT Breakout Artist of the Year.

The "Artists of the Year" is determined by what acts dominated the last 12 months in country music across all CMT platforms and notched number-one albums and singles.

In a press release back in September , CMT's Senior Vice President of Production said, "We are honored to recognize the astounding achievements of this illustrious group of artists over the past Year. Carly, Cody, Luke, Kane, and Walker all represent the vibrant future of the country music format as they defy convention and blaze new trails, breaking industry records and genre barriers. We can't wait to celebrate their extraordinary accomplishments alongside their fellow artists and friends."

Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, and Walker Hayes are first-time CMT Artists of the Year, while Kane Brown and Luke Combs were each honored for the third time (2019, 2021 & 2022).