At the 2023 CMA Awards, which were held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Devlin “Duck” Hodges proudly stood by his girlfriend, Lainey Wilson. With nine nominations, Wilson was the most nominated artist of the night, and the duo looked stunning walking down the red carpet together.
In a dramatic black strapless jumpsuit with black satin ruffles adorning the flared legs, the “Heart Like a Truck” singer looked spectacular. Wilson boasted a glamorous appearance, accessorizing with a cowboy hat and bold jewellery. After leaving the NFL, Hodges became a real estate agent. He wore an all-black outfit and a cowboy hat to match.
Wilson sang her newest song, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses,” with emotion throughout the event. In the middle of the presentation, she won two of her nine nominations: musical event of the year for “Wait in the Truck” with HARDY, and music video of the year.
When Hodges accompanied Wilson to the ACM Awards in May 2023, two years after their relationship started in 2021, it became known to the public.
“We gonna see if you’re in it for the right reasons,” Wilson stated when describing their initial choice to keep their relationship hidden in a previous interview with PEOPLE. He is, it turns out. Her focus was on Hodges’ endearing demeanour and his sincere relationships with her other artists.
Wilson talked about their common friends’ introduction to each other in Nashville and recalled an amazing night they spent together at a restaurant named Silverados. “I was like, ‘This boy likes to ball on a budget too,'” she remarked, describing their harmony. It will work out in the end.
Wilson praised Hodges for understanding the value of her ambitions and said that she was happy to talk about their relationship with the world after their romance was officially announced.
Held live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 8 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, the 2023 CMA Awards were hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning. The next day, the show was only available to stream on Hulu.
