From stage to screen: Lainey Wilson reveals if her ‘Yellowstone’ debut means quitting music and the unexpected path to the cast. ML

Lainey Wilson Balances Acting Debut on ‘Yellowstone’ With Her Passion for Songwriting

Country star Lainey Wilson recently showcased her acting talents on the hit series Yellowstone, appearing as musician Abby in season 5. But despite her impressive debut, Wilson made it clear that music remains her top priority.

“I will never not make songwriting my priority because the songwriting is what has given me all the rest of these opportunities,” the 30-year-old singer told Us Weekly exclusively during the 2023 CMT Music Awards on April 2. When asked if she would consider giving up music to pursue acting full-time, Wilson firmly said no.

Wilson’s character Abby first appeared in the season 5 premiere episode, “One Hundred Years Is Nothing,” where she developed a romance with Ryan, played by Ian Bohen. Wilson explained that her role came about through a longstanding friendship with the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan. “He had put a few of my songs in the show and then invited me out to Vegas to play a horse-riding competition, and that’s where I got to meet him,” she said. “We became buddies, and I knew the friendship would lead to something. I didn’t know it necessarily meant me being in the show.”

In fact, Sheridan reached out last February with a unique offer. “He called me and said, ‘I want to create a character specifically for you, and I want you to wear your bell bottoms. I want you to sing your own songs and be yourself but go by a musician named Abby,’” Wilson recalled.

While navigating her rising fame in both music and television, Wilson credits her support system for keeping her grounded. “I’ve got a lot of people in my life who keep me grounded, whether it’s my folks back at home or my team and crew in Nashville. They check me every now and then. They like, ‘Girl, you know who you are,’” she said.

At the CMT Music Awards, Wilson was a standout, winning Female Video of the Year and Collaborative Video of the Year. She also performed her hit “Heart Like a Truck” and joined Alanis Morissette, Ingrid Andress, Madeline Edwards, and Morgan Wade for a stirring rendition of “You Oughta Know.”

During her acceptance speech for Female Video of the Year, Wilson shared her heartfelt emotions. “My heart is about to beat right out my chest, I’ll be honest with y’all,” she said. “This song right here is about finding freedom and strength. It’s about not being afraid of the scratches and the dents and the bumps along the way. And we all got a story to tell, y’all, and I’m so proud of this music video. It was filmed, produced, written and directed by all women.”

Wilson also took a moment to thank those who supported her journey. “Thank you Jesus for this opportunity, and thank you CMT for literally believing in me before a lot of folks did. But I also want to say thank you so much to the fans. I feel like I’m watching my dreams come true right before my eyes, truly y’all. This is for y’all. I love y’all so much. Thank you.”