From a wonderful story in People magazine.
NEED TO KNOW
- Lainey Wilson fulfilled a childhood dream by meeting Tim McGraw at CMA Fest in Nashville
- McGraw surprised Wilson with a heartfelt letter responding to one she wrote him as a child
- The Louisiana natives performed McGraw’s 1995 hit “I Like It, I Love It” together during the festival
Lainey Wilson lived out a childhood dream over the weekend.
On Tuesday, June 9, Wilson shared a sweet video on YouTube that begins with herself reading a letter she wrote to Tim McGraw as a little girl.
“Dear Mr. Tim McGraw, Singing, writing and performing are the most important things in my life. All I need is the opportunity, I can do the rest,” Wilson, 34, read.
Then, fast forward to CMA Fest in Nashville over the weekend, Wilson said she’s going to meet McGraw and it’s her “childhood dream right here.”
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“He don’t understand how much of an influence he is to me,” the “Watermelon Moonshine” singer said. “I made up dance routines to every song he ever had and I might show him.”
When they met, McGraw, 59, said he “recently found out” about her letter — and he felt “embarrassed” that he never saw it so he decided to write her back.
“I wrote it as though I had gotten the letter,” McGraw said. “Had I gotten it then, this is what I would’ve said.”
Wilson grabbed the letter and responded, “You’re going to make me cry.”
“Don’t mess my makeup up for this,” she continued. “Mama and Deddy are not going to believe this.”
McGraw gave her a hug and told her he was “so proud” of her.
At CMA Fest, Wilson and McGraw — who are both Louisiana natives — surprised the crowd at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, June 6, for a performance of McGraw’s 1995 hit “I Like It, I Love It.”
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I grew up in a town where country music is life: We eat, sleep and breathe it,” she said at the time. “I have loved it with my entire heart, and I feel like country music is finally starting to love me back.”
“Being fearless got me here,” she said. “We’re given one life — and I want to live it.”
