Lainey Wilson Ties the Knot in Tennessee Cave Wedding
Country music superstar Lainey Wilson married former NFL quarterback Devlin "Duck" Hodges on Wednesday in a rustic ceremony at Ruskin Cave in Dickson, Tennessee, about an hour west of Nashville. The wedding, first reported by Vogue on May 14, 2026, took place at the 160-acre venue founded in 1869, nestled along the waters of Yellow Creek.
Wilson wore a custom Oscar de la Renta gown featuring delicate Japanese cherry blossoms around the neckline and sprinkled throughout the dress. She told Vogue the cherry blossom "represents living in the moment, and that's exactly what we did." Hodges wore a bespoke suit by D. Lacquaniti complemented by a custom bolo, cufflinks, and hat pin crafted by Mud Lowery, along with boots from Golden West Boots and a Charlie 1 Horse cowboy hat.
The couple turned to comedian and wedding planner Hugh Howser and Kate Steele of H Three Events to organize the celebration. The menu featured Cajun cuisine from the chefs at Wilson's Nashville bar, Bell Bottoms Up, and a 12-piece jazz band called Rebirth provided entertainment.
"We wanted it to be special and beautiful, but really welcoming and comfortable for our guests," Wilson said. "We tried not to take ourselves too seriously. Being from Louisiana, I wanted to bring in a little bit of Cajun flair."
How They Met and Their Path to Marriage
The couple began dating in 2021 after meeting through mutual friends in Nashville. On their first date at Silverado's in Nashville, Wilson famously told Hodges her nickname was "Goose," a playful lie that won him over. "On our first date, I told him that people call me Goose. I was lying, but he fell for it. I think he was like, 'Oh, I'm in love,'" Wilson recalled to Southern Living.
Their relationship went public in May 2023 when they walked the ACM Awards red carpet together. The engagement came in February 2025, announced via Instagram with photos of the couple embracing on the porch steps of the George Jones estate in Franklin.
Hodges, whose nickname "Duck" dates back to his college football days at Samford University, played quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and other NFL teams before retiring in 2022. Since then, he has worked in real estate.
Wilson Set to Perform at Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
Just weeks after her wedding, Wilson will take the stage for one of the biggest performances of her career. On July 4, 2026—America's 250th birthday—she will sing with the Boston Pops for the first time as part of the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade.
The CMA and ACM entertainer of the year will share the bill with Chance The Rapper and Trombone Shorty. The free event runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m. ET and includes a revolutionary-themed drone show during the "1812 Overture" and a choreographed fireworks display. Those unable to attend can stream the entire evening via the CNN app and CNN.com.
From CMA Host to Boston Pops Star
Wilson's rise to this kind of high-profile engagement has been swift. She made history as the first solo female host of the CMA Awards in more than three decades at the 59th annual ceremony. Before that show, she received surprising advice from an unexpected source: Tyler White, the breakout star of Netflix's "Love on the Spectrum."
White told Taste of Country Nights that Wilson asked him for pointers on hosting. "Lainey Wilson—me and Madison [my fiancée] walked up and hugged her, and she asked me for any pointers for hosting. That just shocked me," White said. His advice was simple: "Just have fun with it. Get the crowd fired up and ready to go." Wilson took that advice, delivering a well-received performance as host.
Broader Implications for Country Music's Mainstream Crossover
Wilson's wedding to a former NFL quarterback and her upcoming performance with the Boston Pops underscore a larger trend in country music: the genre's growing crossover into mainstream American culture. Once seen as a niche category, country artists like Wilson now command headlining slots at major national events and attract attention from fashion houses like Oscar de la Renta and media outlets like Vogue.
Wilson's career trajectory mirrors that of other genre stars who have broken through regional boundaries to achieve national prominence. Her ability to land a slot on America's biggest birthday celebration—alongside hip-hop and brass-band acts—demonstrates how country music has become a unifying force in entertainment.
For context, just months earlier, Wilson's own documentary "Keepin' Country Cool" premiered on Netflix, further cementing her status as a crossover artist. The documentary offers fans an intimate look at her life and career, including her relationship with Hodges.
As the entertainment landscape continues to evolve, Wilson represents a new generation of country stars who move fluidly between the Opry stage, fashion magazines, and major network television events. Her wedding, with its blend of Louisiana Cajun tradition and high-fashion details, captures that same duality.
The Boston Pops performance will be a landmark moment not just for Wilson but for country music's place in mainstream American culture. As the nation celebrates its semiquincentennial, having a female country artist with a thick Louisiana drawl and a closet full of bell-bottoms represent the sound of America speaks volumes about how far the genre has come—and where it's heading.
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