Lainey Wilson walks red carpet at CMA Awards ahead of epic night as she won Female Vocalist of the Year … in upset win over Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert
Lainey Wilson was pictured on the red carpet of the CMA Awards Wednesday at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, ahead of a banner evening that saw her collect big wins in the categories of New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year – scoring an upset over Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert in the latter.
The 30-year-old Baskin, Louisiana native made a style impression in a velvet gold pantsuit with a sky blue necklace.
She wore a white hat which her wavy blonde tresses flowed out from. The Heart Like a Truck songstress accessorized with multiple rings and necklaces and carried a snakeskin purse.
Wilson – who led all artists with six nominations heading into the show – first took home the award for New Artist of the Year, defeating a field of competition that included HARDY, Walker Hayes, Cody Johnson and Parker McCollum.
She said in her acceptance speech: ‘If you know me, you know that I am rarely speechless. And I feel pretty speechless right now. I will say this one right here is for that nine-year-old little girl who wrote her first song, who knew in her heart that this was what she was supposed to do.
She continued: ‘This is for those 11 years that I have been here in Nashville and not taken no for an answer. This right here is for everybody who has believed in me and a little bit for the ones who even didn’t.’
Wilson thanked her lord and savior Jesus Christ as well as her family and her small town of Baskin in northeast Louisiana.
The Things a Man Oughta Know singer said that she ‘was definitely not expecting’ to win for Female Vocalist of the Year – prevailing over Underwood, Lambert, Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce – in her acceptance speech for the second award win.
‘I look up to every single one of the ladies in this category,’ Wilson said of her country music colleagues. ‘They have all influenced me and inspired me.
‘And I’m so honored to just even be nominated for this.’
She dedicated the honors to her father Brian Wilson, who was present to cheer her on after a health battle that saw him spent two months in an ICU: ‘I’m so excited that you’re here with me.’
Wilson was also nominated in the categories for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Music Video of the Year and Musical Event of the Year.
Wilson also performed at the event, which was hosted by Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan.
