Lainey Wilson's Candid Confession on Mental Health Struggles
Country music sensation Lainey Wilson has bravely opened up about the significant mental health challenges she faced during her arduous journey to stardom. The 33-year-old singer, known for hits like "Heart Like a Truck," revealed to People magazine that she once required the simultaneous support of three different therapists to help navigate her career pressures and personal wellbeing.
The Therapeutic Approach to Managing Stardom
Wilson explained that therapy became an essential tool for maintaining her mental equilibrium, particularly when dealing with the intense demands of touring and managing large teams. "It helps me get a point across with a little bow wrapped on top," she confessed, "because if I really let my Louisiana crazy side come out, I'd be saying things a little sideways."
The singer emphasized how crucial this support has been while touring with over one hundred people, each with distinct personalities. Wilson is determined to foster a positive work environment where people want to remain for decades, and therapy has taught her vital boundary-setting skills to achieve this goal.
Early Career Hardships and Breakthrough
Wilson's path to success was marked by considerable struggle. After moving to Nashville in 2011 at just nineteen years old, she endured more than a decade of hardship, including living in a camper trailer and working as a Hannah Montana impersonator to make ends meet. Her perseverance finally paid off in 2018 when she secured a major label deal, but new challenges quickly emerged.
The year 2019 proved particularly grueling as Wilson embarked on an exhaustive radio promotion schedule that pushed her to her absolute limits. "I was going around meeting every radio station in America," she recalled. "You go into a conference room and you play your song and sometimes they're into it, sometimes they're on their phone, sometimes you're singing to the carpet."
After four relentless months of this routine, Wilson experienced complete burnout. "I was just exhausted and I was burned-out from having to constantly be on," she admitted. "I wanted to curl up in a little ball and shut the world out completely." This period culminated in round-the-clock panic attacks that lasted for days.
Mentorship and Wisdom from Reba McEntire
During this difficult time, Wilson found crucial guidance from country music legend and mentor Reba McEntire, whom she describes as "a beautiful person inside and out." McEntire offered transformative advice that Wilson has carried with her ever since: "When I feel like I can't do it anymore, I do it for somebody else."
Wilson described this revelation as "like a light bulb went off." She implemented this philosophy throughout her Whirlwind world tour from March to November 2025 by selecting a young "cowgirl of the night" from each audience. Bringing these fans on stage, she would tell them, "You are beautiful, you're smart, you're talented, you can do anything."
Maintaining Perspective Amid Success
Now established as one of country music's biggest stars with numerous accolades including Grammy awards and CMA Entertainer of the Year honors in both 2023 and 2025, Wilson remains grounded about her achievements. "I'm not just a singer, songwriter, musician - that's what I do," she explained. "Trophies and awards are things that come along with success, but it cannot define me as a person, because that's when I lose sight of who I am. I got to keep my head screwed on straight."
Personal Life and Future Planning
Alongside her professional revelations, Wilson has also shared personal milestones. She recently underwent successful egg retrieval procedures as she plans her wedding to fiancé Devlin "Duck" Hodges, a former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. "I think the world and just people in general try to give you a timeline when things should be happening," Wilson reflected, "and I'm just so thankful that I was given the opportunity to do the egg retrieval and that it was successful."
The singer, who guest-starred in five episodes of Yellowstone as musician Abby, emphasized that despite focusing intensely on her career, she maintains other dreams. She deliberately scheduled the procedure immediately after returning from touring in Europe, making it a significant priority. Wilson and Hodges became engaged in February 2025, with the singer humorously revealing she had nearly proposed to him herself out of impatience.
Wilson praised Hodges as her "best friend" and "biggest cheerleader," acknowledging their unconventional relationship due to her touring schedule. "We don't really play by the rules," she said. "We don't get to see each other all the time, and I do live a lot of my life on the road, so we're also kind of figuring it out as we go, which is fun."
The couple consciously carves out dedicated time together whenever possible, with Wilson noting, "You have to definitely carve out the time. It has to be something that you're very aware of, and you're like, 'OK, I've got a day off here in 10 days. I've got to dedicate that day to spend time with my person.'"
Wilson's complete journey, including her battles with anxiety and depression early in her career, will be documented in her upcoming Netflix special Lainey Wilson: Keepin' Country Cool, scheduled for release on April 22.
