Lainey Wilson Wins ACM Female Vocalist: ‘I Just Met Dolly Parton!’
Lainey Wilson won her first Female Artist of the Year from the ACM Awards tonight (5/11). Last year (2022), Lainey won the ACM’s New Female Artist award. Dolly Parton presented the…
Lainey Wilson won her first Female Artist of the Year from the ACM Awards tonight (5/11). Last year (2022), Lainey won the ACM's New Female Artist award. Dolly Parton presented the award after Garth stepped away. He said that whoever wins will never forget getting the honor from Dolly. And that's surely the case.
When she took the stage to accept the honor, Wilson said, "I can't believe I just met Dolly Parton first of all, whoa! I want t say thank you to my father, thank you, Jesus, for this; this is absolutely insane." A huge Parton fan, her first album Sayin' What I'm Thinking' has a song called "W.W.D.D." That stands for "What would Dolly do?"
She then thanked her family and her team. She then said, "And ladies in this category, thank you so much. I am up here because of you all. Because of people like Dolly Parton paving the way. And I tell you what, everybody in this category didn't just wind up there by happenstance; they have worked their fingers to the bone, they have put blood, sweat, and tears, and years into this. Made so many sacrifices missing a lot of weddings, a lot of funerals. Not that I want to go to all of them anyway, but I'm just saying."
She concluded her speech, "Oh my, goodness! For the little girls watching this: this right here is thanks to hard work. If you're gonna be a dreamer, you better be a doer."
RELATED: Lainey Wilson Breaks Record With Latest Number One
Wilson recently released a new video for her song "Grease," and the latest video has her making some serious dance moves along with some breakdancing country fans she spotted at a show.
Lainey posted a clip of the new video on Instagram. She wrote, "Grabbed me a @sonicdrivein Strawberry Sprite Zero and threw ourselves a parking lot party for the Grease music video. I saw these guys about a year ago at one of my shows in Charlotte, NC, and they were bustin' a move out in the crowd. I thought it was the coolest thing they were breakdancing to country music, so I tracked them down on socials and asked them if they'd want to be a part of this official video..now, here we are! Y'all check out the official video now!"
Fans loved the new video, and many responded to her post with one writing, "So good and love that you tracked them down!" Another fan commented, "That is so fun!" One more fan said, "Very North Louisiana-like to have @sonicdrivein in the video… girl knows we gotta have our sonic drinks."
See that post here.
The 58th Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by global superstars Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, takes place this Thursday, May 11 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. “Country Music’s Party of the Year” will be streamed live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch at 7 p.m. ET. The full rebroadcast will stream the next day for free on Amazon Freevee.
Take a look below at our ranking of country music's biggest superstars' red carpet looks.
Lily Rose
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Lily Rose attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Bailey Zimmerman
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Bailey Zimmerman attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Ian Munsick
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Ian Munsick attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Brandy Clark
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Brandy Clark attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Ashley McBryde
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Ashley McBryde attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
MacKenzie Porter
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: MacKenzie Porter attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Hardy and Caleigh Ryan
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: (L-R) Hardy and Caleigh Ryan attend the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Ed Sheeran
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Ed Sheeran attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Tenille Townes
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Tenille Townes attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Miranda Lambert
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Miranda Lambert attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Cheyenne Kimball
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Cheyenne Kimball attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Breland
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Breland attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Dolly Parton
FRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Dolly Parton attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Gabby Barrett
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Gabby Barrett attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: (L-R) Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood attend the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: (L-R) Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo attend the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Old Dominion
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: (L-R) Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey, Geoff Sprung and Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion attend the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Summer Duncan and Jon Pardi
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: (L-R) Summer Duncan and Jon Pardi attend the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Dustin Lynch
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Dustin Lynch attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Pillbox Patti
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Pillbox Patti attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: (L-R) Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman attend the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Lainey Wilson
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Lainey Wilson attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Hailey Whitters
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Hailey Whitters attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Nicolle Galyon
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Nicolle Galyon attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Hayley Hubbard
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Hayley Hubbard attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Caylee Hammack
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: Caylee Hammack attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Kane Brown and Katelyn Jae Brown
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesFRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 11: (L-R) Kane Brown and Katelyn Jae Brown attend the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
