Lainey Wilson Arrives at the 2025 CMA Awards With Fiancé Duck Hodges
Ever since Lainey Wilson revealed her engagement back in February, fans have had one major question on their minds:
So… when’s the wedding?
Wilson had more than enough reasons to celebrate on Wednesday night (November 19), when she hosted the 59th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville. With the gig, she officially became only the third woman in the award show’s history to host the ceremony solo—joining none other than Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton.
And she didn’t simply host the night. She owned it.
Wilson took the stage twice—first delivering a powerhouse medley of country classics, then returning with a fiery performance of her own hit song “Ring Finger.”
By the end of the night, it became clear she wasn’t just the show’s host… she was its star.
Wilson Sweeps the CMAs — and Celebrates With Her Fiancé by Her Side
Lainey Wilson walked away with three of the night’s most coveted awards:
Album of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year
Entertainer of the Year
She and her fiancé, former NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges, celebrated each win as they happened. The two walked the red carpet together before the show, and Hodges could be seen cheering wildly each time Wilson took the stage—whether she was cracking jokes, belting out a performance, or stepping up to receive another trophy.
Lainey Announces Her Wedding Year — Right in Her Acceptance Speech
The most heart-melting moment of the night came when Wilson accepted the Entertainer of the Year award from Keith Urban.
After thanking her team, her fans, and the entire country music community, she turned to her fiancé with a grin.
“We’re getting married next year, come on now!” she announced.
Just like that, Wilson confirmed a 2026 wedding—and the crowd erupted.
She later added that she entered the evening simply grateful to be part of it:
“I came in here just wanting to celebrate country music, the love of my life, and the love of so many of y’all’s lives.”
Hodges’ smile from the audience said everything. He’s clearly her biggest supporter.
Wedding Plans? Well… They’re Working on It
Back in August, Wilson confessed that she and Hodges hadn’t exactly made huge progress in planning the big day.
“Well, you ain’t gonna believe this, but we still have not planned it, bless his heart,” she told Taste of Country Nights. “It just seems like everything else is getting planned instead.”
They’re still sorting out the key details—whether to have a big bash or a small intimate ceremony, what the guest list should look like, and where to hold the celebration.
But Wilson has made up her mind about two things:
There will be jazz music.
She will actually wear a dress.
“I hadn’t worn a dress for him yet, and I guess that would be the day to do it,” she joked on The Kelleigh Bannen Show.
Looks like wedding day might be the perfect moment for Lainey to swap her iconic bell-bottoms for something bridal.