On the Path to Success, There Are No Footprints of the Lazy

Country singer Lainey Wilson recently shared her journey of overcoming numerous obstacles as her music career progressed. Appearing on the “Artist Friendly” podcast hosted by Joel Madden, Wilson, 32, opened up about the personal and professional challenges she faced while rising to fame.

After relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2011, Wilson described experiencing frequent setbacks despite initial success. “I’d feel like I was on a roll, then suddenly everything would fall apart,” she said. “I had to start over multiple times, adjusting my approach, figuring out new paths.” She emphasized that facing these roadblocks is part of the business and the struggle to bounce back.

Wilson reflected on her early days, living in a camper and receiving mentorship from her hometown friend Jerry Cupit, with whom she wrote music daily for three years. Tragically, Cupit fell ill and passed away in 2014, leaving Wilson devastated. “Having written over 300 songs with him, we became very close. His death was a huge shock, and I had to begin again.”

Her hardships didn’t end there; Wilson recounted a difficult period involving a romantic relationship where her partner’s infidelity resulted in another pregnancy, adding to her emotional struggles. “All this happened at once, it was overwhelming,” she said, describing the experience as “when it rains, it pours.”

Madden inquired whether those moments were heartbreaking, to which Wilson responded that she learned to embrace pain as part of her growth. “Sometimes I wonder if all these hardships happen just so I have material to write about,” she admitted. “Now, I am learning to adapt as my life changes.”

Wilson’s perseverance has paid off, culminating in her winning the 2023 Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year award, breaking a long tradition of male winners and establishing her place in country music.