Lainey Wilson continues to amass an array of impressive career accolades as an artist and entertainer, including trophies from the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association, and the Recording Academy. She’s one of the most-nominated artists leading into this year’s CMA Awards, where she’s vying again for the coveted entertainer of the year title. A testament to her onstage poise and charisma, the Louisiana native will also solo host the CMA Awards this year.
She previously won the CMA’s entertainer of the year honor in 2023, and has taken home the ACM’s entertainer of the year accolade in 2024 and 2025. She’s spearheaded her headlining Whirlwind arena tour, and has had both her own Billboard Country Airplay chart hits with “Heart Like a Truck,” “Things a Man Oughta Know” and “Watermelon Moonshine,” as well as the collaborative hits “Save Me” (with Jelly Roll) and “Never Say Never” (with Cole Swindell).
Wilson’s collaborative spirit extends to recording (and often co-writing) duets with several artists, including Anne Wilson (“Praying Woman”), HARDY (“Wait in the Truck”), Lukas Nelson (“More Than Friends”), ERNEST (“Would If I Could”), Muscadine Bloodline (“Pieces”) and Miranda Lambert (“Good Horses”).
Throughout songs such as “Wildflowers and Wild Horses,” “Things a Man Oughta Know” and “Grease,” Wilson has constructed a reputation as an artist driven by devotion to exemplary songcraft, and drawn to compositions both brave and vulnerable, songs that elevate country living, strong and independent women, but that also put forth wisdom and a fun-loving ethos. That dedication to making every song on an album deserve its place has resulted in her album Bell Bottom Country winning a Grammy for best country album, while her album Whirlwind earned a nomination in the same Grammy category.
Along the way, she’s distinguished herself as not only an entertainer, but a songwriter of an exceptional caliber, writing songs recorded by other artists. Here, we highlight some top Wilson-written songs that have been recorded by other artists.
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Annie Bosko, “Hate the Way You Love Me”
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}Annie Bosko included the simmering ballad “Hate the Way You Love Me” on her recent album California Cowgirl. Wilson is a writer on the song, along with Matt Rogers and Bobby Hamrick.
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Ashland Craft, “Night Owl”
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}Lainey Wilson joined Ashland Craft and Shane Minor to write this ode to all the night owls who come alive “in the dead of night,” brimming with creativity and inspiration. Craft released the song in 2023.
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Ashley Cooke & Jackson Dean, “What Are You on Fire About”
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}Ashley Cooke welcomed Jackson Dean to join her on this moody heartbreak ballad, which was included on Cooke’s 2023 album Shot in the Dark. Wilson co-wrote the song with Luke Dick and Jason Nix.
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Ashley McBryde, “Cool Little Bars”
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}Wilson teamed with another hit country singer-songwriter, Ashley McBryde, on this song from McBryde’s 2023 album The Devil I Know. Wilson and McBryde wrote “Cool Little Bars” with Trick Savage.
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Chrissy Metz, “Girl Go”
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}Wilson is a co-writer on this Chrissy Metz release, penning it with Metz, Faren Rachels and Dan Fernandez. Actress/singer Metz is known for songs such as “I’m Standing With You,” and for acting roles in shows including This Is Us and films such as Breakthrough.
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Flatland Cavalry & Hailey Whitters, “…Meantime”
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}Wilson and Flatland Cavalry lead singer Cleto Cordero co-wrote this track, which featured Hailey Whitters and was included on Flatland Cavalry’s 2021 album Welcome to Countryland.
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Lauren Alaina, “Those Kind of Women”
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}In January, Lauren Alaina released the song “Those Kind of Women,” and paid homage to the strong, loving women who played essential roles in helping her to become the person she is today. Wilson is a co-writer on the track, along with Monty Criswell, Derek George and Lynn Hutton.
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Luke Combs, “Sheriff You Want To”
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}In 2016, Luke Combs issued one of his earliest releases with this quirky, twangy track about some buddies having some small-town, carefree nights and ending up sharing a drink with a member of the local law enforcement. Combs co-wrote the song with Wilson.
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MacKenzie Porter, “Chasing Tornadoes”
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}On her 2024 album Nobody’s Born With a Broken Heart, MacKenzie Porter included this churning ode to those who don’t turn down a good time, even if it comes with warning signs. Wilson wrote the song with Jamie Moore and Emily Landis.
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Marcus King, “Here Today”
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}Lainey Wilson contributed writing to this song on King’s 2025 album Darling Blue. King and Wilson co-wrote the song with Meg McRee.
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