Artist Spotlight: A Conversation With
Brittney Spencer and Lainey Wilson

Brittney: Lainey Wilson.  

Lainey: Brittney Spencer.  

Brittney: You look wonderful.  

Lainey: You do too, my sister! How are you?  

Brittney: I’m good. I miss you! I haven’t seen you in a while, and every time we see each other, it’s been in passing. I need another day at your house where we just sit and write and talk and I pet your puppy and we talk about our hair.  

Lainey: That was the best therapy session I think I’ve ever had.  

So, you moved to town in 2013. When did you think, “I have to be in Nashville, I have to do this thing”? Was there a moment in time that stopped you in your tracks? Was it a gradual thing? When did you know that was the right move?  

Brittney: I think I knew I needed to get to Nashville after I had seen some documentaries about Reba and Taylor Swift and I recognized a common theme: their families realized they could sing and they wanted to sing Country Music, so their families moved them to Nashville. I thought, “Oh, I guess that’s what I need to do.” I had been falling in love with Country Music as a teen when I heard Dixie Chicks for the first time. I went down this rabbit hole of listening to Country Music and watching videos. I watched my heroes say they had to get to Nashville, so I just knew I had to go.  

Lainey: About how many years did it take you to — I don’t even know if the word is “get your foot in the door” — but slightly start getting things going? How many years were you here before that started taking place?  

Brittney: I don’t know, I feel like I’m still here. We’re still trying. You and I are both new artists and I’m still finding my way, I’m still finding my people. I don’t know — do you ever feel like that?  

Lainey: I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I “made it.”  

Brittney: Exactly — we’re still trying to figure our stuff out. At least, that’s how I feel. Is that how you feel? You’ve had a freaking incredible year!  

Lainey: It’s been wild, for sure. I’m the same way. I feel like I’m very appreciative and thankful for all the wonderful blessings that have happened in the last year, but I’ve always had the mentality of, “OK, what’s next? Let’s dig in, let’s work a little harder. Let’s figure out how to keep going. Let’s let these wonderful things just be momentum.” I didn’t come to town just to have one successful thing happen to me. I came to town to make some waves. And so did you.  

Brittney: YES! Did you know “Things A Man Oughta Know” would do what it’s done? Did you know it was literally going to open up your entire world?  

Lainey: You know, when we were putting the record together in 2019, “Things A Man Oughta Know” wasn’t even on the list. It literally was not even on the short list. My record was called Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’, and every song on the record was based on the question: “Is this song saying what I’m thinking?” If not, it just didn’t make the record. But I remember exactly where I was — I was on Dickerson Pike in Nashville — and I had this overwhelming feeling that “Things A Man Oughta Know” was supposed to make the record. So I called the label and I said, “I know we’ve already figured everything out but we have to make room for this song. I can’t tell you why, but I just have a gut feeling about it.” When I was writing the song, I was just writing a song about the way that I was raised. It’s about the things my parents taught me to look for in myself and in other people, whether it’s friendships or relationships, people I work with, whatever. So I wasn’t quite expecting it, but I am very grateful that this was the first song that introduced me to people because it really is who I am to my core. 

I want to talk about your CMA performance last year. I’m telling you …. I wanted to be up there with you. What was it like? How was it to collaborate with your friends? Tell me about it.  

Brittney: It was fun! Honestly, I will never forget that my first time getting to sing at the CMA Awards was with Mickey [Guyton] and Madeline [Edwards], and it was because Mickey invited us. That’s just a testament to Mickey’s character and also the creative community in Nashville. People really do actually kind of like each other.  

Lainey: They do!  

Brittney: I feel like so much of my career is because [people], particularly women, have lifted me up. Whether we met online or in person, there have been so many people along my journey who have given me an opportunity and given me a chance and said that my story was something they thought people should hear. I haven’t always had the resources, and I haven’t always had everything in place to make some of these things happen for me in my career, but some people just gave a damn and that has changed my life. So when Mickey asked us to sing, I just wanted to meet the moment. When someone says, “Hey, come and join me for this,” I just want to show up prepared and with myself, my whole self, and really be able to pour into this idea. It was such an incredible time. I remember we sang shortly after you had presented an award and sang “Strawberry Wine”!  

Lainey: With Deana Carter! I about passed out. I kept thinking, “What is life right now?” 

Brittney: I remember hearing y’all and it calmed me down before the performance because I was nervous. I’m always nervous, but I remember hearing y’all out there just talking and just hearing your voice calmed me down and settled me. So thank you. I haven’t even gotten the chance to tell you that.  

Lainey: You’re so sweet.  

Brittney: I’m not sweet; I’m just honest.  

Lainey: Do you have any new music coming out? Are you working on anything right now?  

Brittney: I am. I am so excited about releasing more music. I’m going to do it later this year. I’ve been on the road a whole lot — almost nonstop since July, like you! But now it’s time to buckle down. It’s time to record this record. I’m excited. How about you? Because let me just say, Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ is my joint. I already told you my two songs are “Dirty Looks” and “Sunday Best” — that is my jam! Oh, and “Rolling Stone.” Do you have more music coming out this year?  

Lainey: We do. We’re going back into the studio in a couple of weeks to finish the record. I actually recorded the Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ record in March of 2019, so it has been a long time since I’ve been in the studio. I am so excited to show the growth. It’s been years now. I definitely feel like this is the proudest I have been of my material, and I definitely feel like it’s a step up. I can’t wait for you to hear it! 

Brittney: Let’s talk about fashion, because I love your fashion. First of all, I love the bell-bottoms. I’m here for “Bell-bottom Country” and also, you wear a lot of texture. You’ll wear silk and I think I saw you in some velvet pants one time? Talk to me about your fashion because I’m always into it.  

Lainey: Yes! Bell Bottom Country—it’s Country with a flair, baby! I have always been obsessed with anything vintage, playing with textures and patterns and of course bell-bottoms. My mama bought me a pair of blue leopard bell-bottoms when I was probably 8 years old and she eventually had to say, “OK, Lainey, you have to take them off. We have to wash them at some point.” I’ve just always been a fan of everything throwback. I think things that are throwback always come with a story and I’m a sucker for a good story. So that’s pretty much why I dress up for Halloween every day! [Laughs] 

Let me tell you something: lately, your style has been on point. 

Brittney: I just love texture. I love denim, I love leather, fringe, suede, velvet, silk. I love anything that looks like it feels nice. I’m always wearing long hair and I usually have some plaits with rings and feathers and all kinds of things in my hair. That’s my thing. I like anything that reminds me of the ’70s, which is why I love your bell-bottoms so much. And the ’90s — the ’90s were fire too.  

Lainey: Girl, maybe we need to be a duo? 

Brittney: Are we calling it “Bell-bottom Country?”  

Lainey: I think we might!