After country singerLainey Wilsonwon big at the2022 Academy of Country Music Awardslast month, she took the time the next day to literally soak in the moment.
“I sat in the bathtub and cried,” she told PEOPLE at the2022 CMT Music Awardson Monday. “I did. That was definitely the biggest moment of my career so far. I’ve got goosebumps even thinking about it.”
Wilson, 29, took home prizes for new female artist of the year and song of the year, for her hit “Things a Man Oughta Know.”
The rising star says she was grateful that her family was at the Las Vegas show to witness and celebrate her achievements since they’ve helped support her dream since childhood.
In fact, at age 14, she began making annual Nashville pilgrimages with them from their Louisiana hometown to attend the CMT Awards, as well as the four-day CMA Fest; before the pandemic, the two events were held for years during the same week in June.
Lainey Wilson.Jason Kempin/Getty
“It was kind of this thing for my parents,” she said. “They were like, ‘OK, let’s go so she can watch and learn and get some inspiration.’ And that’s what happened.”
During one CMT show, she recalled, her mother noticed her staring intently at the performance onstage, and she asked, “Lainey, are you not having fun?”
“I was quiet, I was just watching, my eyes were peeled, and I was taking notes,” the artist explained. “I was like, ‘I’m going to do this.'”
Wilson was nominated Monday night at the CMT Awards for video of the year (for “Never Say Never,” her collab withCole Swindell) and CMT digital-first performance of the year (for “Things a Man Oughta Know” from the CMT Studio).
Lainey Wilson.Ben Trivett
“Things a Man Oughta Know,” her breakthrough single, is “about treating people right,” she told the audience during her ACM Awards acceptance speech.
“It’s not something that just a man oughta know,” she said. “It’s something that we all need to know. It’s about the golden rule.”
In the emotional speech, Wilson recalled growing up in Baskin, Louisiana, “a town of 264 people … where country music is life.” And, she added, “country music is my life. It has been my life for as long as I can remember. Country radio has supported me so, so much and I’ll tell you what, the country music fans have wrapped their loving arms around me, which is a prayer answered.”
source: people.com
