Lainey Wilson’s Flying High Into Her “Country’s Cool Again” Tour
It’s been hard enough over the last many years to develop true headliners in country music that happen to be women, let alone ones that also happen to be country. With Lainey Wilson, you have both.
Announced last week, Lainey Wilson will be going out on an extensive tour in 2024, and she won’t be opening for the boys. The boys will be opening for her. It also won’t be in large clubs and theaters, it will be in amphitheaters and arenas. You can’t help but appreciate the name of the tour as well. It’s called the “Country’s Cool Again” tour.
It comes as Lainey Wilson continues to enjoy a host of achievements. The reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year just scored her third consecutive #1 song on the country radio Mediabase chart with “Watermelon Moonshine.” The song also spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart—a pretty unprecedented feat for a solo song from a woman in country.
You combine that with the two other #1’s she’s had as collaborations, and she has five consecutive #1s total. She also hit #1 with “Never Say Never” featuring Cole Swindell, and “Wait in the Truck” with Hardy. Lainey Wilson is on a roll to say the least.
But these days it’s really the live setting where the success and popularity of an artist is measured. And for Lainey Wilson, that popularity has reached an important level.
Ian Munsick and Jackson Dean will open select dates on the tour, with Zach Top to opening all of them. Tickets on sale now. Lainey Wilson will also perform on the CMA Awards on November 8th where she’s up for a host of awards, including Entertainer of the Year.
LAINEY WILSON “Country’s Cool Again” 2024 Tour
5/31 – Nashville, TN (Ascend Amphitheater) *^
6/14 – Camden, NJ (Freedom Mortgage Pavilion) *^
6/15 – Gilford, NH (Bank NH Pavilion) *^
6/20 – Saratoga Springs, NY (Broadview Stage at SPAC) *^
6/21 – Syracuse, NY (Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview) *^
6/26 – New York, NY (Radio City Music Hall) *^
6/28 – Bridgeport, CT (Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater) *^
6/29 – Bangor, ME (Maine Savings Amphitheater) *^
8/8 – Huntsville, AL (The Orion Amphitheater) *^
8/9 – Southaven, MS (BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove) *^
8/10 – Rogers, AR (Walmart AMP) *^
8/22 – Prescott Valley, AZ (Findlay Toyota Center) +^
8/23 – Chula Vista, CA (North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre) +^
8/24 – Concord, CA (Toyota Pavilion at Concord) +^
9/1 – Los Angeles, CA (The Greek Theatre) +^
9/13 – Salt Lake City, UT (USANA Amphitheatre) +^
9/14 – Boise, ID (Ford Idaho Center) +^
9/15 – Missoula, MT (University of Montana – Adams Center) +^
9/19 – Fresno, CA (Save Mart Center) +% ON SALE NOV 3
9/20 – Lake Tahoe/Stateline, NV (Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys) + ^
9/26 – Vancouver, BC (Rogers Arena) + ^
9/27 – Auburn, WA (White River Amphitheatre) + ^ ON SALE DEC 1
9/28 – Ridgefield, WA (RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater) + ^ ON SALE NOV 17
10/10 – Lubbock, TX (United Supermarkets Arena) + ^
10/18 – Raleigh, NC (Red Hat Amphitheater) *^
10/19 – Alpharetta, GA (Ameris Bank Amphitheatre) *^
10/20 – Wilmington, NC (Live Oak Bank Pavilion) *^
10/24 – London, ON (Budweiser Gardens) *^
10/25 – Oshawa, ON (Tribute Communities Centre) *^
10/26 – Pittsburgh, PA (Petersen Events Center) *^
11/1 – Little Rock, AR (Simmons Bank Arena) + ^
11/2 – Evansville, IN (Ford Center) *^
11/3 – Charleston, WV (Charleston Coliseum) *^
11/7 – Oklahoma City, OK (Paycom Center) + ^
11/8 – Omaha, NE (CHI Health Center) + ^
11/9 – Sioux Falls, SD (Denny Sanford Premier Center) + ^ ON SALE NOV 17
11/15- Monroe, LA (Monroe Civic Center) *^
* – Ian Munsick
^ – Zach Top
+ – Jackson Dean
% – To Be Announced
October 28, 2023 @ 9:14 am
That Monroe, LA show is in the small city nearest her hometown of Baskin. You know that is going to have a lively crowd!
October 28, 2023 @ 9:16 am
I dont like this woman’s songs at all .. she does have a honkytonk badadonkadonk tho
October 28, 2023 @ 5:42 pm
Wait in the Truck is one of the stupidest fucking songs ever. Hardy and Cole Swindell are embarrassments. She partners with shit acts because she is overrated and about as “authentic” as Little Big Town.
October 30, 2023 @ 9:03 pm
Or simply a big fat ass.
November 2, 2023 @ 6:41 pm
Fat Ass Lives Matter
October 28, 2023 @ 9:46 am
Happy for Lainey and well deserved. She’s paid her dues. She’s authentic and she’s good for country music. Jackson Dean ain’t exactly the kind of country we look for on this site, but the guy writes his own songs, he’s got a good back story, and his band puts on a helluva show. Just saw him recently and he covered Ryan Bingham and Fred Eaglesmith’s “49 Tons” which absolutely ripped.
October 28, 2023 @ 10:17 am
Kinda bummed to see him on the list. I saw him in august opening for Lainey/Eric Church, and he sings like he’s got a mouthful of marbles. I’m still gonna catch one of Lainey’s shows, but I’ll probably be in the beer line while Dean is mumbling through his set.
October 28, 2023 @ 9:55 am
How in the hell did she win an award for her voice? Shouldn’t the auto tune programmers get the trophy?
October 28, 2023 @ 10:06 am
I’ve never heard any Auto-tune in Lainey’s music, nor is she someone I’ve seen people accused of either using Auto-Tune or being out-of-tune. I saw her perform at Under The Big Sky fest in 2022 (where I took the picture at the top), and her set was surprisingly organic for a mainstream artist, which is not always the case.
October 28, 2023 @ 2:48 pm
Not you trigger let me clarify
October 29, 2023 @ 6:53 pm
Unless you hear an artist veer flat or sharp it’s safe to assume that they are using live pitch correction. (Although you may not be able to hear perfect pitch since you think Charley Crockett is a great singer)
October 29, 2023 @ 7:03 pm
This comment is ludicrous. The vast majority of singers in the country/roots realm don’t use live pitch correction, and it’s irresponsible to claim they do just because you want that to be the case. If you have a trained ear, you can hear Auto-Tune. I’ve called it out on albums from Cody Johnson and George Strait, who I also happen to think are “great singers.”
I don;t ever recalling calling Charley Crockett a great singer. I think he’s a fine singer, and a great performer.
October 30, 2023 @ 3:27 am
I don’t have concrete proof that they do but when their live performance vocals are “perfect” it’s suspect. I’ve heard from some professional musicians that guys like Dierks Bentley and Kenny Chesney have had to use “tricks” live for decades because both aren’t great singers. Live performances from Patty Loveless in the 80’s and 90’s have some minor flaws. Pitch correction software is so common that it’s made its way into many larger church worship services. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that it’s utilized today. Sierra Ferrell doesn’t sound like she’d need it, but many others I could see it.
October 28, 2023 @ 2:47 pm
You’re a 🤡🤡🤡
October 28, 2023 @ 10:19 pm
I know, but that doesn’t change the fact she can’t sing worth a shit, and she’s just another manufactured product masquerading as a grassroots artist. But she got that big ass to make up for it, so it’s all good.
October 28, 2023 @ 10:49 pm
I understand if people don’t like Lainey Wilson’s music. If you go back and read my reviews of her albums, I have ample critical things to say. But Wilson has never “masqueraded as a grassroots artist.” It’s like you’re taking predetermined criticisms of mainstream artists and assigning them to her.
Lainey Wilson is a mainstream artist. In that context, she’s much better than many of her peers. Mainstream fans deserve good music too. I would much rather hear the music of Lainey Wilson than Maren Morris or Kelsea Ballerini. Lainey is right. Country music is cool again. And she’s part of the reason for it.
October 29, 2023 @ 6:01 am
Well, I’ve never made this accusation about anyone else that I’m aware of, so im not getting your point about having predetermined opinions. I would just call out that artist instead of her.
Ok, I didn’t want to say it, but it annoys me that she gets the amount of coverage on here that she does. That valuable time and space is better served, in my completely unqualified and irrelevant opinion, by covering the artists who don’t have gigantic machines powering their ascent. She seems like a fun lady, but she’s a mediocre talent at best. It’s the industry, I know, but knowing that doesn’t make it any less annoying.
October 29, 2023 @ 6:07 am
And I’m not saying you don’t devote ample time to indie artists! I’m just being picky about this one, because she’s gotten pretty regular coverage on here over a significant period of time.
October 29, 2023 @ 12:43 pm
The last time I wrote a feature on Lainey Wilson was October of 2022, so a year ago. I’ve written only two other articles in 2023 where her name was in the title, one from her collaboration with Dierks Bentley, and another because she led the CMA Awards nominations.
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/?s=lainey+wilson
I have mentioned her a few more times, but it’s because she’s doing stuff that’s worth mentioning. I get this same criticism for Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, and the Turnpike Troubadours. When you’re kicking ass and doing it the right way, you’re gonna get ink here.
I don’t consider myself a big Lainey Wilson fan. But I think it’s heartening to see a woman who has made a point to emphasize that she wants to be part of the country community doing well. Contrast this between Maren Morris, Taylor Swift, and Kelsea Ballerini, and that’s the reason I highlight it.
October 29, 2023 @ 12:58 pm
I don’t like her style. I don’t like her music. But I get that she’s a cool lady and she’s a good ambassador, so I’ll shut up.
October 30, 2023 @ 9:08 pm
What has happened to you? If she had a penis, she’d be Luke Bryan.
October 30, 2023 @ 9:40 pm
Nah, more like Jon Pardi. Not great, but more country than most.
October 31, 2023 @ 9:37 am
I wish you’d stop lumping Kelsea Ballerini in with the wokes and the bro-countries and the Walker Hayes (unclassifiable but awful) of mainstream country, She’s got some perfectly fine mainstream songs to her credit, including her current “If You Go Down” and 2021’s “Half of My Hometown.” Tell me how work like that deserves mentioning in the company of Maren’s repertoire. I understand that she’s looking to expand her footprint beyond country music, but I see no signs that she’s going to go 100 percent pop or hip-hop or any other genre.
October 29, 2023 @ 7:05 am
I don’t get these comments. Manufactured? Lainey recorded her first album back in 2016 with the help of fellow Louisiana native Frank Foster. There was no big budget there. She played small venues for years before getting a break to record a second album. She paid the bills writing jingles for commercials. Even her second album din’t hit right away until the single What A Man Oughta Know got her some attention. She has continued touring, building her success.
You may not like Lainey’s music, but she is no manufactured overnight success. She paid her dues, and is paving the way for female country artists to play country music instead of hip hop pop labeled as country.
October 29, 2023 @ 12:55 pm
I respect your opinion Scott, and I’ll just say I’m not a fan and leave it at that.
October 29, 2023 @ 2:43 pm
I didn’t realize that about her rear.
I googled it.
Not usually a butt guy, but dang.
October 28, 2023 @ 5:18 pm
OK, this is just my personal opinion and I’m happy to read pushback if people think I’m wrong. But I just don’t see her as being much more than blonde flavor of the month. To me, she doesn’t have a distinctive voice or vibe like the all time greats, such Reba, Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea, Dolly or others whose voice and style you’d recognize in an instant. Maybe she’ll get there, but I dunno.
Oh by the way, Trigger, if you haven’t heard about the massive kerfuffle in the True North Strong and Free, turns out Buffy St Marie has been a total fraud her whole career. She wrote some big country songs for major artists while pretending to be Native Canadian- you might want to check this out.
October 29, 2023 @ 6:04 am
The fact her response was titled “MY Truth – the way I see it” means the claims are definitely true lmao
October 28, 2023 @ 5:39 pm
Her music is for people who think Yellowstone is a good tv show. Alcohol and bell bottoms is country right?
October 28, 2023 @ 7:21 pm
I hate most things and I think she’s the best thing to happen to country music in a long, long, long , long time. Definitely the best voice on country radio, of which had been nearly unlistenable for over 15 years
October 28, 2023 @ 9:57 pm
I have her albums and the are OK, with each one I thought well this will be the one that sets things in fire for me. It never did.
Also today she is joining that queue of people pushing Jellyroll on social media. I don’t know if these artists share a label or management but it feels completely contrived these pictures where they talk in glowing terms about him.
October 29, 2023 @ 1:48 am
Headlining arenas with 3 solo radio singles to her name.
Okay then
October 29, 2023 @ 12:30 pm
Zach Bryan is headlining stadiums and doesn’t have any.
It’s a new day.
October 29, 2023 @ 1:44 pm
Yeah but Lainey’s album cuts are pretty darn bad.
Her singles are her best tunes (especially from her Bell Bottom Country album)
I think most Zach Bryan fans love all his songs.
Good for Lainey tho for selling big shows. But i bet half of the attendees will only know like 5 songs going in
October 30, 2023 @ 7:49 am
I did hear Zach’s duet with Kacey Musgraves in a Culvers yesterday
October 29, 2023 @ 4:55 am
Zach Top is a thousand times better and still unrecognized here while the Rolling Stones are reviewed.
At least, he will get some new fans.
I don’t understand the praise for “Watermelon Moonshine.” It is a blatant ripoff of “Strawberry Wine.”
That Cole/Messina mashup, at least, recognized its con and didn’t attempt to hide it.
“Heart Like a Truck” would have gotten roasted to hell if a man sang it. It was a song screaming for commercial use.
“Wait in the Truck” was just absurd fantasy.
“Things a Man Ought Know” was OK, but a gender flip version of that song would have been eaten alive. Probably her best song, though. I liked it.
I feel like she has made it big because of the bell bottoms gimmick. Mainstream fans love anything the slightly bit different. Makes them feel rebellious while they drink from Yeti coolers on a Dodge truck.
October 30, 2023 @ 10:58 am
Zach Top. This guy gets it 👍🏼
October 30, 2023 @ 9:14 pm
Yep.
November 19, 2023 @ 10:40 am
Zach Top is a phenomenal artist. Great voice, great musical senses, good guitar picker (he comes from a bluegrass background, so you know he can play), good songwriter and totally legitimate. He’s from the West Coast too, like me, which is cool since there are not many west coast (or especially pnw) country artists.
It’s rather ludicrous SCM hasn’t covered him yet. He’s way better than many artists that are getting recommended here.
November 19, 2023 @ 1:18 pm
Zach Top has been covered on SCM numerous times, including in this article. His participation in this tour is one of the reasons it was highlighted. Top is a young promising artist that I’m sure will get plenty of dedicated in the future.
October 29, 2023 @ 8:25 am
After reading all the comments, I’m thinking to myself……. do I really have to chime in on another Lainey Wilson thread? Does anybody really care what I think at this point when many or most on here know I’ve been a supporter since the beginning? I’ve seen her 3 times, including in a tent playing to 200 of us on a puny P.A. system. She can sing, and has a great voice with no autotune that I’ve ever heard. Is she the best singer in the world? No, and she’ll agree. If someone doesn’t care for her voice I respect that. Lainey is an artist, one hell of a songwriter, and most of all an entertainer. People like to have fun and be entertained when they go to a show, at least I do. She has an incredible stage presence that is sorely lacking in Country music for the most part. Country needed a female superstar badly, and now we have one, even if it’s a bit over saturated at the moment……too much Lainey everywhere all the time.
On a different note she has been helping other female artists as much as she can or since she’s been in the position to which hasn’t been that long. So I’m a little disappointed to see no women in any of the opening slots. There’s no reason a few ladies couldn’t have been rotated in for a few shows here and there on 40 dates??? I’ve said it elsewhere…..the women need you Lainey.
October 29, 2023 @ 11:00 am
JB I agree with everything you said and I hadn’t thought about the lack of female openers. I’m torn on that personally because I actually prefer when the opener is a male for a female artist or vice versa. Just feels more like two shows in one. But using her platform to elevate other women is a justifiable expectation. Lainey has so much damn fun on stage you just can’t help having fun with her.
October 29, 2023 @ 2:39 pm
Now that she hit the big time, she doesn’t want any female competition.
Can’t have the audience falling in love with that cute and spunky opening act.
October 29, 2023 @ 9:05 am
I’m a big fan of Lainey Wilson. Going to Nashville at the star of her tour, and get to see her in Alphetta, GA
October 30, 2023 @ 9:07 am
I avoid mainstream country radio like the plague, but I heard “Things a Man Oughta Know” while in a coworker’s room a couple years ago and said okay that’s someone I need to learn about. It seems like a lot of people in this thread are bitching just to bitch. She paid her dues, has got hot, good for her, make as much money as you can and ride it out. If she’s Gretchen Wilson and she crashes and burns and is never heard from again, so be it. But Lainey is a great ambassador for country music.
I’m way more interested in the fact Zach Top is on this whole tour. I think this guy is going to be huge in 5 to 10 years. He’s been opening for Steel Woods, he told me last time I talked to him at a show that he’s on the verge of signing a major label deal, this kid has it all.
October 30, 2023 @ 6:35 pm
I’ve seen Lainey twice this year. She has an incredible ability to make everyone in the live audience feel like she’s singing directly to them. Sorry to inform you, but the “bell bottom country” album is actually a no skip album. She has boundless energy and personality that’s sorely lacking in all country live performances. She actually sounds country vocally and is country to the core (Baskin, LA), regardless of what a producer does with her sound. May she forever reign. She just did a collaboration with Dolly. Know the facts of her story before you comment on this woman.
October 31, 2023 @ 6:43 am
She hate FLA?
November 1, 2023 @ 9:43 am
Never been a huge fan of her music. Respect where respect is due though
November 1, 2023 @ 10:23 am
Sorry to be the pedantic semantic regarding charts but “Wait In The Truck” peaked at #2.
November 1, 2023 @ 11:12 am
“Wait In The Truck” hit #1 on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart, which I was citing in this article.
https://musicrow.com/2023/04/hardy-lainey-wilson-score-no-1-with-wait-in-the-truck/
You’re right it did not hit #1 on Billboard. I probably could have clarified that better.
November 1, 2023 @ 7:12 pm
Yeah I don’t even pay attention to Mediabase, a ham sandwich could hit #1 on there