Lainey Wilson & Taylor Swift: Full Circle Moment
Country music star Lainey Wilson recently shared a heartwarming story about her encounter with pop icon Taylor Swift, highlighting a full circle moment in their careers.
Wilson, known for hits like "Heart Like a Truck," revealed that she was a huge fan of Swift back when the "Anti-hero" singer was just starting out. "I actually watched her perform at CMA Fest on the Riverfront stage when she was probably 15," Wilson told PEOPLE at the "Twisters" film premiere in Los Angeles. "I was 14, and I remember just thinking, man, this girl's future is bright. And there was hardly anybody in the crowd except for me and my family."
The encounter between the two singers years later was truly remarkable. Wilson confessed to Swift that she was in the audience all those years ago, and Swift replied, "There were, like, 16 people there." Wilson jokingly retorted, "Well, we were four of them."
It seems the admiration was mutual. Swift, who had already become a global superstar, admitted to being a fan of Wilson's music. Wilson was "shocked" by Swift's confession and expressed her respect for the singer. "I told her, I said [that] I truly respect her. I think she is freaking awesome," Wilson shared on the "Zach Sang Show" podcast.
Beyond their musical talent, both singers share a connection beyond the stage: they are both dating NFL stars. Wilson recently went public with her relationship with former NFL player Devlin Hodges, while Swift is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Wilson recognizes the unique challenges faced by female musicians when navigating public relationships. She explained, "The truth is, as a female in country music, you gotta make dang sure that you are tending to business, and you're out there whooping ass, and nothing is a distraction. And people sometimes can view that, if you have a boyfriend, at times, they're like, 'Well, she's gonna get married and have babies.'"
However, Wilson is determined to prove that women can have it all. "And, that's a point of view. But I'm like, guess what? We can do it all," she added.
When asked if she might bring Hodges out onstage during her ongoing tour, similar to Swift bringing Kelce on stage, Wilson jokingly responded, "We might. We might."
Wilson's Country's Cool Again Tour continues in North America through December. As she continues to rise in the music world, she carries with her the inspiration she drew from a young Taylor Swift, and now both singers are proving that their futures are indeed bright.
