Lainey Wilson is having an absolute banner year. As if releasing a Netflix documentary, headlining Stagecoach, marrying Duck, debuting new music, and securing the Nissan Stadium Main Stage for CMA Fest night 3, the 34-year-old country superstar had a crowd-raising surprise appearance up her sleeve.
On Saturday, June 6, after wowing a crowd of over 50,000, Lainey stepped offstage for what most presumed would be the final time of the night. Not long after, however, the “Can’t Sit Still” singer reappeared on the Nissan Stadium Main Stage for a surprise appearance during Tim McGraw’s close-out set.
After singing his way through some of his most beloved hits, including “Truck Yeah,” “Something Like That,” and “Down on the Farm”—captivating the crowd every step of the way—Tim started in on his 1995 hit, “I Like It, I Love It.” A gem in and of itself when sung all by himself, the crowd went wild, but when Tim welcomed Lainey onstage to help him belt the country classic, fans roared with excitement.
The reaction echoed onto social media, too. “The dream duo we didn’t know we needed until last night,” one Instagram user commented on a photo of Tim and Lainey from their duet. “They were fantastic,” someone else exclaimed. “I remember Lainey saying she hadn't met Tim McGraw yet. So cool they got to perform together,” another person commented.
As you may recall, Lainey revealed in her documentary that Tim grew up right down the road from where she did. She wrote him a letter when she was in high school, sending a CD of her work along for his consideration. At the time of filming, she’d yet to meet the ‘90s country icon. Now, thanks to the magic of CMA Fest, Lainey can check that bucket-list goal off her list.
