Lainey Wilson Talks About ‘Imposter Syndrome’ After Winning Entertainer of the Year at 2025 ACM Awards
Written by djfrosty on May 8, 2025
Shortly after taking the stage to give her three-way collaboration with Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert, “Trailblazer,” its live debut, Lainey Wilson was called back up to the mic at the 2025 ACM Awards when Blake Shelton revealed that she was the evening’s big winner, nabbing the entertainer of the year award.
Accepting the award, Wilson held the trophy in silence for a few moments, staring at it in disbelief. “Thank you so much. I love every single one of y’all in this category,” she said of her fellow entertainer of the year nominees. “You took me out on the road, asked me to be on songs, supported me in every way you can.”
Wilson also opened up about feeling “imposter syndrome” sometimes. “I’m sure everybody deals with a little bit of imposter syndrome,” she said. “I read something not long ago that if something is given to you, you need to accept it with an open heart and open mind.”
Trending on Billboard
Wilson shared how entertaining has been a part of her life as long as she can remember — when she was a little girl, her sister used to shine a spotlight on her in the dark at “this old hunting spot” her parents would take them to. “I love making people laugh and smile and cry – I’m sorry I like to make you cry,” she said. “I love to make people feel things.”
Speaking of making people feel things, “Trailblazer” – a song about pioneering women in country music – is something Wilson hopes families share with each other. “I remember thinking that this could be a song that a grandmother and a daughter and a grandchild could listen to,” Wilson told Billboard‘s Melinda Newman of the song.
In addition to entertainer of the year, Wilson also won ACM Awards for female artist of the year, album of the year (Whirlwind) and artist-songwriter of the year.
The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.