Rising Country Star Lainey Wilson Has Fan in Chiefs' QB Patrick Mahomes: 'What in the World?!'

Reigning "New Female Artist of the Year" Lainey Wilson will perform at Thursday's ACM Awards at Dallas Cowboys headquarters in Frisco, Texas.

FRISCO - The reigning Academy of Country Music "New Female Artist of the Year," Lainey Wilson knows a thing or two about being in the spotlight ... whether singing or sports.

She was a star point guard on her high school basketball team, though she jokes about her "accomplishment" in a class of only 24 students.

"In order for us to have a basketball team, everyone had to play," Wilson with her endearing Southern accent in an exclusive interview with Bri Amaranthus. "So I was one of the best on the team, but there wasn't too many to choose from."

Far from her tiny-town, basketball roots, Wilson is now a rising star of country music. With six nominations for Academy of Country Music awards, she is a candidate in more categories than any other artist. She is set to perform at Thursday's 58th ACM Awards at the 12,000-seat Ford Center at Dallas Cowboys headquarters.

"It feels like country music is finally starting to love me back just as much as I've been loving it for years," Wilson said. 

Raised in Baskin, Louisiana (population, 250), Wilson feels at home in the south. Her father, Brian, was a farmer and her mother, Michelle, a school teacher. Wilson is no stranger to SEC country and remains an avid sports fan.

"I am from Louisiana, so I do have some family members that bleed purple and gold for the LSU Tigers, and also the (New Orleans) Saints," Wilson said. "But personally, I am a fan of the (Pittsburgh) Steelers."

Last week, she met Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce at her show in Kansas.  

"[Mahomes] reached out to one of my team members, and said 'Hey, we're coming to your show and would like to meet you.' And I'm like, 'What in the world?! Well I'd love to meet you!" Wilson said.

Wilson is looking forward to meeting another legend Thursday: Dolly Parton, who is hosting the ACM Awards. 

"I actually saw an interview with Dolly from yesterday and she was talking about me and I just about had a stroke." Wilson said. "To be in the same room with people who paved the way for folks like me is a surreal feeling."

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