“It feels like I never left.” Baskin native and country superstar Lainey Wilson receives highway dedication
WEST MONROE, La. (KTVE/KARD) — On November 16, 2024, state officials, VIP ticket holders, and Nashville music "legends" all gathered in the town of Baskin, La, to honor and celebrate Country superstar Lainey Wilson. During the ceremony, state officials and fellow country singers shared words of encouragement and admiration for the country music star.
Dolly Parton joined the private ceremony via video call to congratulate her friend, Lainey.
You spent an awful lot of time on lost highways, so it's a true honor to have one of them named after you! Especially one in your own hometown, the Lainey Wilson Highway! Got a nice ring to it, don't it? Hey, I'm really proud of you for using your incredible talents to help those in need.
Dolly Parton, Country music starSome state officials in attendance were Congresswoman Julia Letlow, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, and Head of the Department of Transportation and Development Joe Donahue. In a speech, Julia Letlow presented Lainey with a proclamation on behalf of Governor Jeff Landry.
At the end of the ceremony, Lainey delivered a speech reminiscing on her hometown of Baskin, La. We asked how it felt to be back in her hometown after she had been in Nashville, Tenn, for over thirteen-years. A move Lainey claims she made after her grandfather appeared to her in a dream and told her to leave it all behind to pursue country music.
Man, how does it feel to be back right now? Um, it feels like I never left. It feels like, um, I feel like I've been in Nashville for 13-years but I also feel like I left yesterday. I feel like just so honored and blessed to be from a place like this.
Lainey Wilson, Country Music starTowards the end of the ceremony, Doyle Jeter presented Lainey with her very own Northeast Louisiana Music Trail Marker. Lainey is the 20th musician to receive this honor. Highway 15 through Baskin, La, will also now be known as the Lainey Wilson Highway.
