Opry NextStage Names Lainey Wilson As Featured Artist For August 2021

Opry NextStage has named BBR Music Group/Broken Bow Records’ Lainey Wilson as the featured artist for August.

Developed by Opry Entertainment Group and the Grand Ole Opry, Opry NextStage invests in the discovery and development of new artists and highlights one up-and-coming artist per month. Initially launched in 2019, the inaugural class included Riley Green, Tegan Marie, Tenille Townes, and Travis Denning. Wilson joins 2021 artists Hailey Whitters and Parker McCollum.

“The Grand Ole Opry has always held a special place in my heart since I was a nine-year-old starry-eyed little girl,” Wilson shares. “I’m truly honored to be named the latest Opry NextStage artist and am so grateful for their unbelievable support of the next generation of country music.”

Wilson has been named as an Artist to Watch by Spotify, MusicRow, and Pandora; has been included in CMT’s “Next Women of Country” and “Listen Up” programs; and was chosen as an iHeartCountry On The Verge artist, a Billboard chartbreaker, and an Apple Music “Up Next” spotlight artist. Throughout her career, she has performed for sold-out crowds throughout the US, UK, and Germany with notable names like Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Tyler Farr, Ashley McBryde, Randy Houser, Josh Turner and more.

The Louisiana native’s debut album, Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin,’ was released in February 2021 and received critical praise. Her current radio single, “Things A Man Oughta Know,” has garnered more than 130 million on-demand streams, claimed the No. 1 spot on Sirius XM’s The Highway Hot 30 Weekend Countdown, and is continuing to climb through the Top 10 on country radio. Additionally, Wilson is set to take the Grand Ole Opry stage on Tuesday, Aug. 10.

She is nominated for MusicRow’s Discovery Artist of the Year. This year’s winners will be announced on all MusicRow platforms on Aug. 19.

Opportunities for Opry NextStage artists include feature performances on the Grand Ole Opry and Circle’s Opry Live broadcast and livestream; a performance at a special Opry NextStage concert in 2021; content produced by Opry Entertainment’s award-winning content team that utilizes all Opry Entertainment venues including Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and Ole Red locations nationwide; exclusive content to be distributed via Circle broadcast, streaming, and video-on demand channels; customized marketing and promotion activations utilizing Opry web and social assets; and other opportunities such as outdoor advertising, 650 WSM-AM radio specials, and more.