As its title implies, Lainey Wilson's "Heart Like a Truck" likens our narrator's resolve to a trusty vehicle that's stayed road-ready after repeated dints and thousands of highway miles. It's a relatable analogy for longterm couples that've weathered life's storms as well as anyone who's seen through creative goals despite the odds for sustainable success being against them.
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If you're familiar with Wilson's backstory, you'll spot intentional parallels between the free spirit in the song and the country star. During her early years in Nashville, Wilson lived in a camper that leaked when it rained and struggled to have her songs heard. She refused to accept what so many others would've conceded as resounding defeats and kept at the creative grindstone until 2019, when her song "Things a Man Oughta Know" forever changed her professional trajectory.
"['Heart Like a Truck'] is a song about finding freedom in strength and not being afraid of your scars and bruises," Wilson wrote on Instagram. "A truck that has hit a few bumps and earned a few scratches has proved itself and its tenacity. The shiny one on the lot can't say that.
"I've been through some shit. We all have. But when you get through it, you're stronger and better for it on the other side," she continued. "Nothing can hold me back from moving forward and finding a way to enjoy life, no matter what. I hope this song reminds y'all of that."
It Could've Sounded Way Different
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In an interview with ABC Audio, Wilson shared details about a much-different early draft she helped iron out with her co-writers, Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson.
"At first, we kind of started with the wrong foot forward," Wilson said. "We started writing the song in more of a rock and upbeat way, like, 'I got a heart like a truck. Let me show you how tough I am.'
"[My co-writers and I] kind of took a step back and said, 'Are we being honest with ourselves? Are we being honest with the people who are going to be hearing the song?'," she continued. "And the truth was, we weren't. We had to check ourselves for a second. We pulled back the layers and talked about finding freedom and strength, and it really became a song of triumph."
It's an Award-Winning Hit
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The first single off her Bell Bottom Country album, "Heart Like a Truck" kept Wilson's chart momentum rolling. It reached No. 2 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart and a respectable No. 29 on the all-genre Hot 100.
It's contributed to Wilson's recent hauls of industry award nominations and wins. Wilson took home Female Video of the Year at the 2023 CMT Music Awards for its Elizabeth Olmstead directed, western-themed music video.
In addition, it's been nominated as Single of the Year by both the ACM (Academy of Country Music) and CMA (Country Music Association). It's also up for Song of the Year at the 2023 CMA Awards.
