Wynonna Judd Serenades Lainey Wilson with Her Hit ‘Watermelon Moonshine’

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Lainey Wilson jumped at the opportunity to be involved in A Tribute to The Judds, the highly anticipated album set to release this upcoming Friday, October 27th.

Wilson, 31, reminisces about her connection to The Judds as she discusses her collaboration with Lone River Ranch Water. Reflecting on her childhood, Wilson fondly recalls how The Judds' music served as the soundtrack to her upbringing. She vividly remembers the moments when her grandmother would pick her and her sister up, and they would blast The Judds' tunes during their trips to eat.

The excitement is palpable as Wilson acknowledges the extraordinary opportunity she now has to honor The Judds alongside the iconic Dolly Parton, another influential figure in her life. Wilson expresses her amazement at how both of these worlds have intersected, allowing her the privilege to record the song "Mama He's Crazy" with Dolly for The Judds.

Wilson mentioned that Wynonna occasionally sends her text messages. When asked about the last text from Wynonna, Wilson shared a meaningful experience that took her back to her childhood days when she used to sing along to the Judds in her grandmother's car. Wilson recalled that Wynonna had sent her a video of herself listening to "Watermelon Moonshine" while traveling with her husband. According to Wilson, Wynonna exclaimed, "my girl!" in the video. Overwhelmed with excitement, Wilson showed the video to her boyfriend and couldn't believe that Wynonna Judd had sent her own song playing on the radio. Her boyfriend's response was, "Well, get used to it."

Wilson holds deep admiration for Wynonna and her late mother, Naomi Judd, who tragically passed away in 2022. According to Wilson, Wynonna has taken on a mentor role in her life, with A Tribute to The Judds serving as a heartfelt way for Wilson to express her gratitude.

Speaking about the experience, Wilson shares, "Being able to perform 'Mama He's Crazy' is truly a remarkable opportunity. Over the past few months, I've had the privilege of getting to know Wynonna, and she has become a source of guidance, support, and encouragement for me. She truly believes in my abilities and hearing that from someone like her gives me the confidence to pursue my dreams."

Wilson is set to embark on her Country’s Cool Again tour in May 2024. Just two weeks after expressing her belief that country music has reached new heights of coolness, she announced her 2024 tour alongside Ian Munsick, Jackson Dean, and Zach Top. Wilson took to Twitter on October 20 to invite fans to join the Wild Horses and gain exclusive access to pre-sale tickets and VIP packages for the #CountrysCoolAgain tour, starting on Monday, 10/23, at http://laineywilson.com.

Wilson’s admiration for Dolly Parton is widely known, and she admitted to Us that she would be thrilled to sing "Happy Birthday" with the country icon if it meant spending more time with her idol. Wilson humorously stated, "I would be like, let’s collab girl. Let’s sing ‘Ring Around the Rosie.’ I don’t care."

Wilson, like many others, follows the mantra of "What Would Dolly Do?" This phrase has even inspired its own Apple Music radio station as a promotion for Parton's upcoming album, Rockstar.

"I always have the thought of 'What Would Dolly Do?' in the back of my mind," Wilson shares. "Dolly handles situations with humor. Throughout the day, I face numerous questions that could potentially offend me, but I choose to approach them with a touch of humor, just like Dolly does."

Wilson praises her for speaking the truth, with a touch of elegance. He constantly asks himself how she would handle situations and what she would do. He admires her grace and poise, but also her refusal to accept mistreatment.

A Tribute to The Judds will be released on October 27 via BMG. The album includes collaborations with Parton and Wilson on "Mama He's Crazy", as well as performances by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton on "Love Is Alive," LeAnn Rimes on "Have Mercy," Trisha Yearwood on "Cry Myself To Sleep," Jelly Roll on "Love Can Build A Bridge," and more.