NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) 鈥� The stars have aligned for singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson, whose unique and authentic style of country music has made her one of the most buzzed-about new artists in the genre.
The Louisiana-born artist was honored as breakout artist of the year at the special, airing Friday on CMT. Hitmakers Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson and Walker Hayes were also named and Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson received the CMT artist of a lifetime award during the pre-taped show.
Wilson, who landed a regular role on the hit show 鈥淵ellowstone鈥� this upcoming season, said it was not luck but persistence that has gotten her all the recognition this year.
鈥淚t feels just like the hard work is finally starting to pay off," said Wilson prior to the taping of the CMT show on Wednesday. 鈥淚鈥檝e been here for 11 years, and I love my job. I love country music. I鈥檝e never taken 'no' as an answer.鈥�
Wilson has even more excitement on the way this fall, heading into the Country Music Association Awards in November as the leading nominee in her first year ever to be nominated. Wilson is only the fourth artist in the history of the CMAs to , following Glen Campbell, Brad Paisley and Kacey Musgraves.
She's already planning her red carpet outfit, which is likely to reflect her '70s bohemian country style and lots of vintage-style jewelry. Her upcoming album 鈥淏ell Bottom Country鈥� spells it out quite clearly.
鈥淚鈥檓 a huge fan of throwback anything. I started wearing bellbottoms daily, probably about six or seven years ago, just because it was the thing that felt the most like true to me," Wilson said.
And she's already got her date picked out.
鈥淢y daddy is going to get to walk the CMA carpet with me,鈥� she said. "He鈥檚 been sick for the last few months and he鈥檚 on the up and up and this has given him something to really look forward to.鈥�
Pearce, meanwhile, has been reflecting on her past year, which was anchored by her critically acclaimed album 鈥�29: Written in Stone鈥� coming out in 2021. She was named female vocalist of the year by both the CMA and the Academy of Country Music and her duet with Ashley McBryde, became an award-winning No. 1 country hit. She joined the Grand Ole Opry last year and will be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been mind-blowing," Pearce said before the CMT Artists of the Year taping. 鈥淪o I just really want to make sure that I don鈥檛 lose sight of those things and lose sight of the childhood dreams that have come true.鈥�
Hayes' led to his first ever Grammy nomination last year and opened his pop country sound to whole new audiences. Pop singer and model Ciara discovered Hayes when she hosted 鈥淒ick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve鈥� show and wanted to join him on a country song.
They are teaming up for a new remix of 鈥淵'All Life,鈥� out Friday, which they will debut on the TV special.
鈥淚 could pinch myself that I鈥檓 here right now in this environment because it鈥檚 a special world and I鈥檓 so honored to be a part of it," said Ciara, who said her husband, , loved the new remix.
Hayes joked that he has been nominated a lot but never won anything, so he credited his label and management and family for always supporting him.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of hard work from a great team who believed in something a little quirky,鈥� he said. "My team deserves this. My wife and kids, they deserve this.鈥�
Kristin M. Hall, The Associated Press
