Lainey Wilson’s ‘Whirlwind’ Spins At NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk Concert’

Country star Lainey Wilson is riding high after the recent release of her fifth studio album, Whirlwind. Wilson continues to cross items off her bucket list with her debut performance on NPR’s beloved Tiny Desk Concert stage.

Whirlwind arrived last Friday and its title stems from Wilson’s life-changing experience reaching superstardom in the wake of her hugely successful 2022 album, Bell Bottom Country. “Whirlwind is kind of the Western sister of Bell Bottom Country,” said Wilson in a press release. “Since that album, I have gotten to experience so many new things and meet folks from different walks of life. Because of that, I’ve become a better songwriter, and I have more understanding. I feel like I’ve truly stepped into what it is that I’m called to be doing. Ironically, I found my path within all the craziness—and that’s the whirlwind.”

Lainey Wilson felt it was important to use her longtime touring band — guitarist/vocalist Aslan Freeman, bassist/vocalist Tommy Scifres, keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Kevin Nolan, drummer Matt Nolan and violinist/guitarist/mandolin wiz/vocalist Sav Madigan — on Whirlwind instead of recruiting session musicians. The unit is tight after several years together and displays their chemistry on the Tiny Desk stage.

The Grammy-nominated Louisiana native opened her Tiny Desk Concert with rollicking Whirlwind cut “Hang Tight Honey.” Wilson then delivers the extremely personal and touching “4x4xU” before showing off her songwriting prowess on the set’s third and final tune from her new album, “Ring Finger,” with its refrain of “I’ve got the ring, he got the finger.” Fittingly, Lainey Wilson performed “Heart Like A Truck,” which she called her “theme song,” to end her visit to NPR Music’s video series.

Watch Lainey Wilson’s Tiny Desk Concert performance below:

Lainey Wilson resumes her biggest headlining tour yet this Sunday, September 1 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. The Whirlwind Tour continues throughout the remainder of 2024.