LAINEY WILSON TAPPED AS CMT BREAKOUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR

CMT will honor Broken Bow's Lainey Wilson as its Breakout Artist of the Year at the 2022 CMT Artists of the Year event, premiering 10/14 at 9pm PT/8pm CT on CMT. The fifth artist so recognized, Wilson joins previous recipients Mickey Guyton, Ashley McBryde, Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Stapleton.

Heralded as one of Nashville’s hottest new acts, Wilson—who leads the Country Music Awards noms—has already landed a handful of #1 hits, including “Things a Man Oughta Know” and “Never Say Never” f/ Cole Swindell. Her most recent singles, “Heart Like a Truck” and “Wait in the Truck” with HARDY, are climbing the charts as she readies Bell Bottom Country for release on 10/28. All this heat has naturally ignited Grammy buzz for BNA and genre consideration.

“When it came to naming Breakout Artist, Lainey Wilson was unquestionably our only choice this year,” said CMT SVP, Music & Talent Leslie Fram. “Not only is she a powerhouse performer and tremendously gifted songwriter with contagious energy and drive, she is just starting to show the world her range and versatility."

The Artists of the Year soiree, for which CMT’s Margaret Comeaux and Switched on Entertainment’s John Hamlin serve as executive producers, will also honor Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Walker Hayes. Alan Jackson will be named Artist of a Lifetime.

A request: If you ask us to wait in the truck, please crack the windows. It's hot out here.