Lainey Wilson & Team Celebrate 9th No. 1 With ‘Somewhere Over Laredo’

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Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Riser House’s Brandon Perdue, Concord’s Matt Turner, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s JoJamie Hahr. (Front Row, L-R): Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Andy Albert (ASCAP). Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Lainey Wilson brought together more than 300 industry members, friends and family on Tuesday (Jan. 13) to celebrate her ninth No. 1 single, “Somewhere Over Laredo.” Hosted by ASCAP and BMI, the event honored the artists, songwriters, publishers and industry team members who contributed to the single’s success.

Written by Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson and Andy Albert, and produced by Jay Joyce, the track was inspired by Judy Garland’s “Over The Rainbow,” written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. The track is nominated for “Best Country Song” and “Best Country Solo Performance” at the upcoming 68th annual GRAMMY Awards.

Emceed by BMI’s Leslie Roberts, BMI’s Clay Bradley, ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, Riser House’s Brandon Perdue, Concord’s Matt Turner, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston and BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s JoJamie Hahr each took the microphone to honor the teams behind the song.

Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Many spoke of the close creative relationship of “The Heart Wranglers,” which consists of Laniey Wilson, Dallas Wilson and Anderson.

“What you guys are together is so special because you have grown together, you have each other’s backs, you speak life into one another, and your relationship has impacted beyond the three of you as a unit,” Gaston shared.

“There is not a harder working, more appreciative guy in town than Andy Albert. That makes my job easier, and it makes me want to do better for you,” Turner shared, noting that this song marks Albert’s third No. 1 of 2025.

Studio Bank sponsored the event, with Kari Barnhart presenting a special donation in honor of the writers to Wilson’s Heart Like A Truck Fund.

Dallas Wilson shared his gratitude for each co-writer, recounting how each one was integral to his early career, taking writes before he signed a publishing deal.

“Lainey Wilson is the biggest blessing to a songwriter,” he shared. “She props us up, she encourages us, she loves on us in every way. She doesn’t have the capacity but she does it anyway, and its the greatest blessing to be part of this.”

Albert shared that the song began when he and Anderson went to Florida’s Harry Potter World during a trip for Orlando Nashville Nights.

“I can’t believe the seed of a song idea we kicked around waiting in the lines has grown into this, but I guess that’s the magic of Nashville,” he quipped.

Anderson shared that the song marks a full-circle moment for her as the timing of the song has aligned with her pregnancy with her “rainbow baby.”

Lainey Wilson took the microphone to wrap up the celebration, sharing, “As a songwriter, its important for me to be able to step into a pair of shoes I’ve worn before and tell a story from that perspective. … I’m so thankful that I get to write songs with my best buddies, people who know me better than I know myself.”

Lauryn Sink
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