Lainey Wilson came into the CMA Awards as one of the most-nominated artist of the night, and she brought the fire to the awards show stage with a performance of "Wildflowers and Wild Horses."
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The performance depicted the message of the song perfectly while also showcasing Wilson's show-stopping stage presence and fondness for the Western lifestyle. When the lights came up on the stage, fans saw Wilson's band standing in what looked like an overgrown field of wildflowers and grasses. Then, after a few gunslinger guitar riffs, the singer who stars on Yellowstone walked onto the stage through a giant circle of barbed wire.
Wearing a fringed top with leather chaps and sporting her hair in braids coming out of a wide-brimmed cowboy hat, Wilson launched into the rambling song. She stayed at the microphone for the first verse and chorus while infusing passion into every line. When the second verse hit, she grabbed the microphone and began roving about the stage as the song continued to grow louder.
The lyrics of the song rang true as she sang.
"I'm five generations of blazing a trail / Through barbed wire valleys and overgrown dells / I'm barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails," she sings in the chorus.
Towards the end of the song, Wilson returned to the top of the stage, where she continued belting out the adventurous lyrics. As she hit the final chorus, fire came out of the barbed wire circle and lights flashed all around her. She held a final high note as the performance came to a close.
"Wildflowers and Wild Horses" is Wilson's newly released single that appears on her 2023 Bell Bottom Country album.
Wilson came into the awards show nominated for Entertainer, Female Vocalist, Album, Song, Single, Musical Event and Music Video of the Year. She won the trophies for Musical Event and Video of the Year for "Wait in the Truck" with Hardy prior to the show.
Country music's biggest night features performances from Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band and Mac McAnally (Jimmy Buffett Tribute),Luke Combs and many more. The show is hosted by Bryan and Manning, and it aired on Wednesday, Nov. 8 on ABC at 8 p.m. It will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
