Lainey Wilson’s physical appearance is easily the least interesting thing about her. Personally, we’d much rather discuss her superhuman work ethic, her undeniable talent, and her constant championing of other women in country music. Still, you can’t open up the internet without somebody somewhere commenting on a woman’s body. And the “4x4xU” singer thinks all body shamers have one thing in common.
Videos by American Songwriter
Lainey Wilson Opens Up on “Struggle” With Online Body-Shamers
In late 2022, Lainey Wilson was on fire. She had just released her Grammy-winning fourth album, Bell Bottom Country, which included the No. 1 hits “Heart Like a Truck” and “Watermelon Moonshine.”
Still, some people were much more concerned with this viral TikTok video of Wilson performing in leopard-print bell bottom jeans. Naturally, the trend invited all sorts of discourse surrounding her physique, not all of it positive. And the negative comments didn’t stop after Wilson shed a few pounds, which she says was the result of playing nearly 200 shows in one year. Many publicly speculated that the country superstar had begun taking the weight loss medication Ozempic.
“I’m not telling you that you got to like my music. I’m not saying that you have to like me,” said the “Hang Tight Honey” songstress, 32, during a recent appearance on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast. “But it’s a weird thing to, like, talk about the way that somebody looks. My parents did not raise me that way. They taught me to look at somebody’s heart, and from within.”
With every ounce of her trademark North Louisiana sass, Wilson quipped, “I think some people didn’t get their butt whooped as a child, and it shows.”
"Kiss my fat a**!" Lainey Wilson responds to body shaming comments she's received online on my podcast 'Reign with Josh Smith' Listen to the full episode here: #laineywilson pic.twitter.com/aam5IBm2EG
— Josh Smith (@joshsmithhosts) April 2, 2025
“I Try To Show Them Grace”
Initially, Lainey Wilson was amused by the buzz surrounding her viral TikTok video. However, she admitted that she spent too much time and energy reading the internet’s commentary on her body.
“Even if you don’t believe it, what somebody says about you, even putting your eyes on it for a split second can kind of, like, leave a little mark,” Wilson said.
Subscribing to the old axiom that “hurt people hurt people,” the reigning Entertainer of the Year says she tries to show her online body shamers grace. “But it’s hard,” she admitted with a sigh.
Featured image by Noam Galai/Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.