The Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails exhibit is now open and will run through June 2026, with access to the exhibit included in the price of the regular museum admission.

Lainey Wilson at Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails exhibit inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Lainey Wilson welcomed guests to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Thursday evening (July 17) in Nashville, Tennessee to celebrate the opening of her new exhibit, Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails. The 33-year-old country superstar and reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year visited her new exhibition for the first time, accompanied by her fiancé, Devlin “Duck” Hodges, her parents Michelle and Brian Wilson, as well as family, friends, and members of the music industry.

Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, introduced the exhibit and made remarks about Wilson’s decade-long journey before welcoming the “Somewhere Over Laredo” singer to the stage inside the Hall of Fame Rotunda.

“From a young age, Lainey Wilson had an unwavering vision and faith in herself,” Young shared. “This exhibit will examine the seeds of her career, including the requisite talent, hard work and ingenuity throughout her ten-year journey in Nashville that fueled her emergence as a globally popular and beloved artist. As her career has flourished, she continues to reflect these roots and core values in her music and life.”

Lainey Wilson, wearing a royal blue ensemble, then took to the podium to share a heartfelt speech that began with her graciously thanking her parents, Michelle and Brian Wilson, for being the first champions of her music.

“When I first got to Nashville, everybody said, you need a champion, someone who will fight for you, someone who will stand in the gap for you and shout your name from the rooftops. And my very first champions were my mom and daddy,” Wilson began. “My mama would sit in the bathroom where the acoustics were the best, and she would listen to every lyric I ever wrote, and then I’d go play it for daddy, and he would listen to the finished product, and he would tap his foot if he liked it. And I knew that if he didn’t tap his foot, I needed to get back in there and work on it a little bit more.”

She continued, “The Lord has gifted me with so many champions along this journey, from my kindergarten teacher, who let me sing ‘Butterfly Kisses’ on stage to Jerry Cupit, my guide given hometown mentor who let me park my camper in his yard. I know that these people placed in my life who believed that I could was no accident. When other people believe in you, it makes you feel like you can really believe in yourself. And I truly feel like that energy of belief, is contagious.”

Lainey Wilson and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO, Kyle Young; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Lainey Wilson jokingly credited her mom for being a “hoarder,” saying she held on to everything from her childhood and early career, items that are now cherished pieces on display, showcasing her tough but rewarding journey to superstardom. “I have never been more proud of the fact that my mama was a hoarder, until now. I’m sorry, sorry, y’all she kept it all. But she told me to tell y’all too. She kept it all. She believed that I could, right? But literally, y’all will see. She kept absolutely everything, and that means the world to me today. I got to walk through there and really just, it put a lot of things into perspective for me,” the singer/songwriter added.

As she reflected on the milestone during the exhibit’s opening celebration, Wilson shared her overwhelming sense of gratitude and disbelief, saying, “This moment feels surreal, and I can’t even begin to express how deeply grateful I am and just so honored of having my very own exhibit here at the Country Music Hall of Fame. That just sounds crazy coming out of my mouth to be honest with you. I have always respected the history of country music, and I wanted to learn more about this genre that is rooted in truth and in damn good stories. And I cannot believe now I’ve got an exhibit of my own.”

Lainey Wilson and Devlin “Duck” Hodges and family at Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails exhibit inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Wilson also spoke about the significance of this milestone, what it means to her, and how much work went into making it happen. “The team at the Hall of Fame has treated this with such care, and I’m so grateful for that to be able to share pieces of my journey. I mean handwritten lyrics, my childhood journal, my earliest bell bottoms. It means more than I can say because behind every song, every show, every step of this wild ride, I have had no choice but to become tough as nails and that’s why we decided to call the exhibit, Tough as Nails. To be here in this sacred place with my work displayed alongside the greats who have shaped country music is something that I’ll never take for granted. The Country Music Hall of Fame is a symbol of the rich History of this genre are the storytellers, the innovators, that connectors and the legends who have paved the way for artists like me to follow in their footsteps.”

She went on to share her gratitude for the community that has supported her journey. “I am deeply honored to have my name alongside theirs. It’s a testament not only to my personal journey, but to the power of this community and to the people who believe in what you do. So thank you. Thank you to the Hall of Fame, to my team, my family, Duck, to the fans and this crazy town for making this dream possible. And if it reminded me that being tough as nails don’t mean that you’re unbreakable. It means that you just keep showing up with heart, even when it’s hard. Thank y’all!”

Lainey Wilson at Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails exhibit inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

“This is all I’ve ever wanted to do…”

The exhibit takes fans on a journey from Lainey Wilson’s birth in May 1992 to the present day, when her life has become a whirlwind of success. It highlights her roots on her family’s farm in Baskin, Louisiana, and traces her rise to global fame, showcasing her numerous awards, stagewear and accomplishments.

Lainey Wilson grew up in the small farming town of Baskin, Louisiana, where she began singing at her kindergarten graduation and writing songs by age 10. As a teen, she performed in local talent shows and even impersonated Hannah Montana, booking herself as the fictional pop star’s opening act.

In 2011, she moved to Nashville with dreams of making it big. With the help of producer Jerry Cupit and later manager Mandelyn Monchick, Wilson pressed on through early struggles. After signing a publishing deal with Sony/ATV in 2017 and a record deal with Broken Bow Records in 2018, her breakthrough came in 2020 when “Things a Man Oughta Know” hit No. 1—ten years after her arrival in Music City.

Since then, Wilson has dominated country radio with solo hits and standout duets. She won five CMA Awards in 2023, including Entertainer of the Year—becoming the first woman to earn the title since Taylor Swift in 2011—and has since won back-to-back ACM Entertainer of the Year honors.

Wilson’s Tough As Nails exhibit features memorabilia from throughout her childhood and career, including her Hannah Montana impersonator wig and outfit, a Yellowstone script and the costume she wore as Abby, a handwritten letter to Tim McGraw, iconic stage outfits from milestone moments, and more.

Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails Exhibit; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

See a full list of what is included within her Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails exhibit below.

Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails Exhibit

The first tooled leather saddle Wilson used as a child.
A custom-made silver and gold Montana Silversmiths belt buckle, featuring her family farm’s brand, worn at the 2022 CMA Awards.
Wilson’s journal from age 16, where she wrote, “My dream is to become a country singer/songwriter. I know I can do it.”
A Baskin School kindergarten graduation program listing her first public performance of “Butterfly Kisses.”
One of Wilson’s earliest hats, gifted by a fellow musician and hatmaker.
A “Go Vicki!” fringed jacket belonging to her mother, which she wore at Saddlebags in Savannah, Georgia, on February 9, 2018.
A rhinestone-adorned Wrangler trench coat, denim vest, and jeans ensemble — paired with a Charlie 1 Horse by Lainey Wilson hat — worn during her Thanksgiving Day 2024 NFL halftime performance.
A sequined tank top worn while impersonating Hannah Montana in the late 2000s.
The floral shirt, Cat O’ Nine bell bottoms, and Kippys belt from her Grand Ole Opry debut on February 14, 2020.
The glittering Wrangler vest and jeans with feather and rhinestone accents, and Rotate metallic bustier from her “Country’s Cool Again” show at Ascend Amphitheater on June 1, 2024.
The denim vest and studded jeans worn during her “Yellowstone” appearance at Billy Bob’s Texas.
The Dolce & Gabbana leather shirt and Alice + Olivia suede bell bottoms from her Whirlwind album photoshoot in 2024.
The Norma Kamali patchwork blazer and bell bottoms worn on her first Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon appearance in May 2022.
The Carolina Herrera strapless satin jumpsuit with flared ruffle hems, worn at the 2023 CMA Awards red carpet.

Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails Exhibit Display; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails Exhibit Display; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails Exhibit Display; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails Exhibit Display; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails Exhibit Display; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

To celebrate the exhibit, a Songwriter Session featuring Aaron Raitiere and Jon Decious will be held in the museum’s Ford Theater. Throughout the duration of the exhibit, the museum will also offer a range of programs, including family-friendly arts and crafts activities. Additional details about upcoming events can be found on the museum’s website.

The Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails exhibit is now open and will run through June 2026, with access to the exhibit included in the price of the regular museum admission.