Lainey Wilson Wrote Tim McGraw A Letter Asking For Career Advice When She Was 18: “I Still Have Never Met Tim McGraw”

Calling on one of country music’s legends to get her feet off the ground.

Lainey Wilson has made a significant impact on the country music world for women since rising to the spotlight. After years of keeping her nose to the grindstone in Nashville, even living out of a camper in her friend’s front yard while chasing her dream, the blood, sweat, and tears paid off. Now, Wilson is one of the most prominent female figures in the music industry, respected by all.

But as we know from the camper story, it was not easy for Wilson to have her breakthrough in the music industry. In the Country Music Hall of Fame’s new exhibit highlighting Wilson’s career, Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails, there is a very special piece of memorabilia on display.

A letter a young Lainey Wilson wrote to fellow Louisiana native, Tim McGraw, while she was in nursing school, seeking advice on how to take her career to Music City.

“Dear Mr. Tim McGraw…. we were desperate.”

Wilson says after reading the first line of the letter during her first look at the exhibit. After a few moments, Wilson continues to read the first few lines of the letter, noting that she would still address Tim McGraw as Mr. Tim McGraw.

“Dear Mr. Tim McGraw

My name is Lainey Wilson from Franklin Parish, Baskin, LA. I am 18 years old and have just entered my first semester at La. Delta Community College of Monroe to pursue a nursing degree. I have been writing songs since I was nine years old.” 

Wilson continues in her letter that she visited Nashville and was told by Jerry Cupit that at the age of 14, she was the “total package.” Cupit promised Wilson and her family that once she graduated from high school, he would find sponsors to bring her to Nashville to launch her career. He encouraged her to continue playing, singing, and performing whenever she got the chance, which is exactly what she did during the remainder of her high school days.

However, once she graduated from high school, Jerry Cupit fell ill with a rare bone disease that took him away from his professional work. Because of this, he sadly could not keep his promise to Lainey Wilson and her family to find her a sponsor. Before shopping for sponsors in Nashville, Wilson hoped that McGraw would recognize that they hailed from the same town and would be open to speaking with her and her family, bestowing some advice on them.

“We feel like we can trust someone like you who comes from my hometown. We could use some in site on the choices that we need to make in order to propel my career the smartest way possible.”

She tells McGraw that she has included a portfolio of her work for him to review, hoping it will sway him to meet with her once he sees her talent. She even tried to make a family connection by sharing that her grandfather would support him at shows before he achieved his big start, and she often drives by the home where he was raised as a child.

Wilson closes out the letter as a confident young adult, wholeheartedly knowing this career was the one for her.

“Singing, writing and performing are the most important things in my life. All I need is the opportunity; I can do the rest.”

Now that she is 33, Wilson has proved that all she needed was the opportunity; singing, performing, and writing all come naturally to her. And you’ve got respect the drive she had at 18 to write the “I Like It, I Love It” singer a letter, truly shooting her shot to make it big.

While reflecting on this moment in her life, Wilson shares that she has yet to meet Tim McGraw, but perhaps that will change soon.

If only 18-year-old Lainey Wilson could see where she is now…

@countrymusichof The Museum’s newest exhibition, “Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails,” is now open. Watch @Lainey Wilson as she takes her first look at the exhibit. Reserve tickets at the link in bio. #laineywilson #countrymusichalloffame #musicmuseum #visitmusiccity #thingstodoinnashville ♬ original sound – Country Music HOF & Museum

Before you go, fire up Wilson’s latest single “Somewhere Over Lardeo.”

The post Lainey Wilson Wrote Tim McGraw A Letter Asking For Career Advice When She Was 18: “I Still Have Never Met Tim McGraw” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.