Lainey Wilson Looks Back on Her Exciting Year: The Acclaim That “Takes the Cake” and Solidifies Her Position as a Future Country Music Icon After Unstoppable Success and Memorable Feats

Lainey Wilson finds that her sense of groundedness comes from the small things.

The singer of “Heart Like a Truck” tells PEOPLE, “I’m making sure that I feel like Lainey: the sister, the friend, the daughter, the aunt, the dog mom, and all of those things.” “I can be the best version of the artist I strive to be as long as I can accomplish that.”

Her latest album released in August, Whirlwind, is aptly named. It reflects the country music artist’s riveting career over the last year.

“Country’s having its moment, and I’m proud to be a part of the movement,” Wilson, 32, says.

Lainey Wilson in February 2024.Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The star recently wrapped up her Country’s Cool Again Tour with over 35 shows. Last month, she cohosted the 2024 CMA Awards with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning days before a Thanksgiving NFL halftime performance for a packed crowd in Dallas and millions of viewers at home.

“I get nervous before everything, whether I’m singing for 20 people, 200 [or] 40 million households tuned in for the Dallas Cowboys game,” Wilson says. “If I stop getting nervous, I got something to worry about.”

And her year isn’t over. On Dec. 14, her Wildflowers and Wild Horses Tour will stop at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. T-Mobile, the show’s official wireless partner, is giving customers exclusive access to preferred tickets — even at sold-out shows. The company’s Magenta Status customers get VIP access to artists and events, like Wilson’s Magenta Saloon pop-up this weekend.

For the Bell Bottom Country musician, this upcoming performance will be a full-circle moment.

“We are bringing out Mae Estes and Tracy Lawrence, which is really cool to think that Tracy Lawrence is going to be on my show bill,” the “Watermelon Moonshine” singer says. “He took me out on the road with him about three years ago and I remember he stood side stage and watched every single one of my performances.”

Lainey Wilson in November 2024.Getty

Wilson’s meteoric rise from opener to headliner hasn’t been easy. For her, and many other women in the industry, it’s hard to climb the ranks.

“There is a shift happening, I will say. I hear more female artists being talked about. I still feel like we’re not completely there,” Wilson says. “But here’s the thing about the girls, when they break through — because it is so hard to break through — they can stand the test of time.”

In March, Wilson told Billboard country girls have a lot to say — and she tells PEOPLE they are here to stay.

“The ones that are breaking through right now, they’re going to be around for a long time,” Wilson says. “It’s good to see the girls coming through.”

Wilson’s career does not come without its fair share of recognition. Earlier this year, she took home the Grammy for best country album and earned another nod in the same category for the 2025 ceremony. She also won the 2024 CMA Award for female vocalist of the year — on the very same night she hosted.

“I’m not going to lie, the recognition is great,” Wilson explains. “It gives me that little extra notch in my belt and encouragement to keep on going and doing what I’m doing.”

Lainey Wilson in February 2024.Billboard via Getty 

But there’s one recognition that “takes the cake,” according to Wilson.

“When I got invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry this past year, that is better than any award I could ever get,” she says. “The Grand Ole Opry is a magical place. My parents took me there when I was nine years old.”

She adds: “I remember where I was sitting and who I was watching and feeling like so much of the history of country music has happened in that place and so many people have walked through that door that have paved the way for me.”

For 2025, Wilson has a lot more in store. She’s already got a head start on a new batch of music, and she kicks off her Whirlwind European tour on March 4 with a stop in Zurich.

“We’re going back to London and Germany and Scotland and all the great spots,” Wilson says.