Lainey Wilson’s Letter to Tim McGraw Now Displayed at Country Music Hall of Fame
When country star Lainey Wilson was just 18 years old, she poured her heart into a letter addressed to one of her biggest inspirations — Tim McGraw. Today, that very letter is proudly displayed at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, part of an exhibition that honors her remarkable journey from a small-town Louisiana dreamer to one of country music’s leading voices.
The exhibit, titled “Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails”, features a collection of memorabilia from the singer’s life and career, including her now-iconic bellbottoms, childhood photos, and handwritten journal entries. But perhaps the most touching artifact is the heartfelt letter she penned to McGraw as a teenager, hoping for a shot at her big break.
“We were desperate,” Wilson says, now 33, as she reflects on that time in her life. The letter, written in 2010, begins with the words “Dear Mr. Tim McGraw” and goes on to describe her dream of becoming a country artist. At the time, she had just started studying nursing at Louisiana Delta Community College, but her true passion was always music.
“I have been writing songs since I was nine years old,” she wrote in the letter, adding that her mentor, music producer Jerry Cupit, believed she had the “total package” for Nashville. Cupit, who was battling a rare bone disease, had been unable to help her secure sponsors before he passed away four years later.
Though she had never met Tim McGraw, Wilson hoped their shared Louisiana roots might inspire him to help her take the next step. Along with the letter, she sent a CD showcasing some of her original songs, writing, “When you listen to my CD, I want you to know that this is just a sample. I have many others, and they are just as good.”
Wilson ended the letter with a heartfelt plea: “Singing, writing, and performing are the most important things in my life. All I need is the opportunity — I can do the rest.”
Now, 15 years later, Wilson walks through her own exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and laughs as she reads her teenage words aloud. “I still have never met Tim McGraw,” she said with a smile, showing that even though that moment never happened, she still found her way.
Also on display is her teenage diary, where an entry dated May 15, 2009, reads: “My dream is to become a country singer/songwriter. I know I can do it. I just have to have faith.” Another entry, just two days later, reflects the same optimism after a small local performance: “What could be better than doing what I love and making a little bit of money? Maybe one day, singing could be my career. That would be my dream.”
Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails opened in July 2025 and runs through June 2026 at the Country Music Hall of Fame. It’s a testament to how perseverance, faith, and a little small-town grit can turn a dream into reality.