Kelsea Ballerini presented Lainey Wilson with the Record Breaker award presented by Lone River Ranch Water at Billboard’s Country Power Players 2024.
Kelsea Ballerini:
I am a Virgo, and a millennial and a perfectionist, which is terrifying. So I wrote down my speech because this woman deserves me to not mess it up. To become a record breaker, you first have to become a trailblazer. Before you become a trailblazer, you have to become a pathfinder. Before you become a pathfinder, you have to become a don’t take no for an answer-er, and before you become that phrase that I won’t bother you with again, you have to become a creator, a hard worker, a truth seeker, but mostly a dreamer.
Lainey Wilson is wholeheartedly and undoubtedly all of those things, right? I can stand up here and tell you her ever-growing list of accolades. And I could give you the cold, hard data. Like, I could tell you that she just earned her seventh No. 1 single on country radio, or I could hypothetically tell you that she is the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year.
But instead, I want to read you a text exchange between Lainey and I, that I think will tell you everything that you need to know about this woman. Post Grammys if you know, you know. I said, “I love you and I’m deeply happy for you. I hope you feel supported and held and celebrated, my friend. I’m sorry the internet is internetting. I hope you know I’m always in your corner.”
She responded, “Let’s show those silly people on the internet they’re so wrong. Love you. I’m in your corner forever and ever. You’re one of the real ones and thankful to have you in my life. Your poise and thoughtfulness is unreal and I learn a lot from you, love you.”
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