Lainey Wilson Opens Up About Financial Hardships When She Met NFL Fiancé
Yellowstone actress and country music star Lainey Wilson has candidly discussed her money struggles when she first encountered NFL player Devlin 'Duck' Hodges. The 33-year-old singer, who has been dating the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback since 2021, revealed she was financially strained during their initial meeting.
Documentary Teaser Reveals Candid Admission
A teaser clip for Wilson's Netflix documentary Keepin' Country Cool, released on Tuesday, shows the star displaying a photo from the night she first met Hodges. "That was the night we met," Wilson says in the clip. "I was broke. I was so broke when we met. And he thought I was doing a little bit better than I was. But a few weeks after we met, my sister had to Venmo me a couple hundred bucks."
The documentary includes Wilson performing her song Yesterday, All Day, Every Day with her bandmates, alongside home video footage of her as a child playing guitar and early clips of her performing at small bars.
Musical Calling and Creative Journey
Wilson reflected on her songwriting beginnings, stating: "I knew whenever I had written my first song that I loved how it made me feel when I was in the middle of writing the song. When I was coming up with the idea, feeling like, 'Man, I created something from nothing. How cool is that.'"
She concluded: "And I knew that that feeling was so special that I couldn't completely let it go, and I think that's why I knew it was my calling."
Engagement and Wedding Plans
Wilson and Hodges announced their engagement in February 2025, with Hodges proposing at the George Jones estate in Franklin, Tennessee using a cowboy hat-shaped box containing a large diamond engagement ring.
According to sources speaking to Daily Mail, Wilson is planning a massive country-style wedding at her 30-acre property in Nashville, Tennessee. "That is the best location because she has deep ties there and also Devlin has ties to Alabama, which is only a four hour drive away," a source revealed.
The wedding will feature a "sexy country" theme described as "traditional with a little sassiness thrown in," with horses at the venue. Wilson is reportedly seeking a wedding dress that highlights her slender figure with Southern charm, specifically noting she won't wear a cowgirl hat down the aisle.
Guest List and Musical Elements
The guest list is expected to include Yellowstone cast members like Ian Bohen, who played Wilson's love interest Ryan, along with major country artists such as Dolly Parton, Luke Combs, and Anne Wilson. Her sister Janna Sadler, with whom she grew up in Louisiana, will be her top guest.
"There will be all kinds of music, like country, jazz and retro music, it will be a great mix. And Lainey may even sing herself," a source revealed about the wedding entertainment.
Documentary Release and Relationship Timeline
Lainey Wilson: Keepin' Country Cool is scheduled to begin streaming on Netflix on Wednesday, April 22. The couple has been together since 2021 but kept their romance private until making their red-carpet debut in 2023.
In early August, Wilson told Taste of Country that while wedding planning was in early stages, she and Hodges were discussing possibilities. "Of course we sit around and talk about like, what we would want. Just trying to figure out is it [the wedding] big or small? Is cousin so-and-so coming? Is cousin so-and-so not?" the Grammy Award-winner said.
