Lainey Wilson Named CMT's 2022 Breakout Artist Of The Year
If we had a nickel for every accolade Lainey Wilson has earned this year, we'd sure be able to buy Elon Musk's entire net worth and property. The queen now has one more award under her turquoise-embellished belt, as CMT has just named her its 2022 Breakout Artist Of The Year.
We agree that no one deserves the 2022 award more than Wilson. With two #1 singles ("Never Say Never" and "Things A Man Oughta Know") in her discography, as well as "Live Off," "wait in the truck," and "Heart Like A Truck" quickly climbing on the charts, Wilson is taking country music by storm. Her unique style comprises a healthy mix of classic country influences and 70's retro (think Dolly Parton meets Carrie Underwood meets Bee Gees). Wilson describes it as "Bell Bottom Country," also the title of her highly-anticipated sophomore record, to be released on October 28th.
“This past year has been a wild ride,” Wilson reflected. “To be considered for this award reinforces that the years of hard work my team and I have put in was all worth it. The team at CMT feels like family, and the way they genuinely support artists on their platform is so special and important for dreamers like me.”
CMT has supported the star since the beginnings of her career, previously including her in their 2019 Next Women Of Country roster, and having her perform at their 2021 and 2022 awards ceremonies to immense critical acclaim. “When it came to naming ‘Breakout Artist,’ Lainey Wilson was unquestionably our only choice this year... Not only is she a powerhouse performer and tremendously gifted songwriter with contagious energy and drive, she is just starting to show the world her range and versatility. ” said CMT's Senior Vice President, Leslie Fram. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate Lainey’s much-deserved successes and cheer her on for all that’s next!” And trust us, we can't either!
Wilson is CMT's fifth Breakthrough Artist Of The Year; previous recipients include Mickey Guyton (2021), Ashley McBryde (2019),Kelsea Ballerini (2016), and Chris Stapleton (2015). This year's ceremony will take place on October 14th at 9:00 p.m. EST. Additional honors include Artist Of A Lifetime (Alan Jackson) and Artists Of The Year (Carly Pearce, Kane Brown, Walker Hayes, Cody Johnson, and Luke Combs). This is sure to be a memorable and spectacular night, with a star-studded lineup of honorees, presenters, and special guests. We can't wait to watch Wilson shine on CMT's stage once again!