Country music star Lainey Wilson is gearing up for her debut at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Explore her journey, her latest chart success, and how she’s celebrating the holiday with a Nashville Friendsgiving.
Lainey Wilson Gears Up for a Bucket-List Moment at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Country music sensation Lainey Wilson is about to add another career milestone to her growing list of achievements: performing at the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Grammy-winning star will take the stage this Thursday in New York City, joining artists from various genres as they bring holiday cheer to millions watching live on NBC.
Speaking from her Manhattan hotel room, Wilson, 33, laughs about the challenges that await her. “Your girl’s from Louisiana,” she says, smiling through the cold. “So I’m definitely not used to the frigid air, but it’s going to be great.” For someone raised on Southern warmth, the brisk New York winds feel like a different world, but Wilson is ready—with hand warmers, toe warmers, and plenty of excitement.
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Unlike many artists who perform atop elaborate floats, Wilson won’t have to endure the full 2.5-mile parade route that winds from the Upper West Side down to Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street. Instead, she’ll appear at a set location for her musical segment. “I won’t be having a bunch of this right here,” she jokes, lifting her hand to playfully mimic a stiff pageant wave. “Honestly, I don’t really have a hard job at all. I get to sing two of my favorite songs I’ve ever written, and then I’m done for the day.”
For Wilson, the moment is more than just another performance. It’s an opportunity to celebrate how far she has come in a career that began long before she had a record deal or sold-out tours. She wrote her first song at age nine and picked up the guitar just two years later. Over the years, she worked tirelessly to make her name known in Nashville, and the past few years have finally brought her the recognition she always dreamed of.
This Thanksgiving, her schedule is tight. While some parade performers stick around New York City for a holiday meal, Wilson and her team will board a plane right after the show to fly back to Nashville. They’ve planned a “Friendsgiving,” a tradition she looks forward to each year. And the best part? She hardly has to prepare anything.
“All I gotta do is show up because when I get there, everybody’s going to be there,” she says. “Everybody’s bringing a different dish. So I got out without a scratch.”
When asked about her favorite Thanksgiving food, Wilson immediately names stuffing as her top pick. But as for cooking the main dish? She bursts into laughter. “I could mess up a Hot Pocket,” she admits, joking that she has no business being anywhere near a Thanksgiving turkey.
What Wilson does know how to prepare is a chart-topping hit. Her latest single, “Somewhere Over Laredo,” recently broke into the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. This marks her ninth top-10 hit, tying her with Maren Morris for third place among solo women in contemporary country music. Only heavyweights Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift top her with 10 and 17 entries respectively.
“Moments like this remind me that we’re here and we ain’t going anywhere,” Wilson reflects. After years of grinding, touring, and songwriting, the achievement feels deeply personal. “It’s a good feeling because I’ve been at this a long time.” She pauses, thinking back on her younger self. “I feel like the last few years, I’m really starting to realize that, OK, you are a part of this genre. I never wanted to be a flash in the pan. And I will say that, I feel like I might not be.”
Her humility, mixed with a fierce sense of purpose, is part of what has endeared Wilson to so many fans. In a genre steeped in tradition, her voice stands out—not only in its warm, unmistakable sound but in her storytelling, work ethic, and authenticity. Whether she’s singing about heartbreak, home, or hope, listeners know she means every word.
Her appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade also reflects how deeply her music has resonated beyond traditional country audiences. The parade is a cornerstone of American holiday culture, drawing more than 3.5 million spectators along the streets of Manhattan and over 25 million more watching from home. Wilson’s inclusion signals her continued rise as one of the biggest names in modern country music.
After a year filled with major festival appearances, awards, and high-profile collaborations, Wilson’s Parade moment feels like a celebration not just of her music, but of her perseverance. For an artist who spent years living in a camper trailer outside a Nashville recording studio, moments like this prove how far self-belief—and a whole lot of hard work—can take you.
As she gears up for Thanksgiving Day, Wilson isn’t worried about the cold or the cameras. She’s focused on the joy of performing, the excitement of being part of a beloved national tradition, and the comfort of flying home to spend the holiday with friends.
“I’m grateful for every bit of it,” she says. “It’s been a wild ride, and it just keeps getting better.”
