Photo: Getty Images
Lainey Wilson said she has “some big ol’ shoes to fill” when she hosts the 59th CMA Awards this week, and “I don’t take it lightly.”
Wilson, 33, is hosting Country Music’s Biggest Night for her second consecutive year, and this time, she’s taking on hosting duties solo (she made her debut as a host last year with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning). This makes the Whirlwind megastar the third female artist in Country Music Association history to host the show alone, following industry legends Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, “which is wild,” Wilson said. McEntire was the last female artist to solo host the CMA Awards in the early 90s.
“I texted Reba last night and I said, ‘if you had one piece of advice to give me going into this week, what would it be?’ And I thought she was just gonna say something like, ‘just be yourself and have fun.’ She sent me a list. I was like, ‘woah, woah, woah, woah, woah. One piece of advice!’ But yeah, it’s, like I said, it’s some really big shoes to fill and I just am so honored…” Wilson shared during a press conference on Sunday (November 16) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Wilson recently spoke about the 34-year gap between McEntire’s year hosting the CMAs and her own. She appeared on an episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast with Senior Music Editor Joseph Hudak, and said, “that’s crazy to think about. It’s been a long time since a woman has done it. I’m glad they trust me. I like to run my mouth, and I love country music, so I guess we’re just — it’s gonna be fun. I really do think that. …Reba is just like, she believes in me, 190%.”
Wilson is set to take the stage during the star-studded show, along with Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, Chris Stapleton, BigXthaPlug, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore,and Stephen Wilson Jr. The Country Music Association announced on Monday (November 17) — along with presenters and special guests — that Keith Urban and Little Big Town also joined the lineup.
Some of the top nominees include Wilson, Langley, Moroney, Top, Green, Cody Johnson and more. Find the full list of CMA Award nominees here.
The Country Music Association announced this spring that the 59th CMA Awards will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on November 19. The show will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.