Lainey Wilson has transported us to Kansas…but of the South! The country singer recently released the official video for her latest single, “Somewhere Over Laredo.” Wilson is no stranger to a big moment, but her latest release might just be her most cinematic yet.
If the title rings a familiar bell, you’re not dreaming. With a note to Judy Garland, Wilson trades rainbows for Rio Grande skies and delivers a special country reinterpretation that feels both heartfelt and unmistakably southern. She swaps out Kansas twisters for rodeo dust and southern sunsets.
“When I’m flying between shows I catch myself looking out the window, talking to God, dreaming, or even reminiscing. “Somewhere Over Laredo” tells a story that speaks to that,” Wilson said on Instagram.
“I’ve always been inspired by putting myself into other people’s shoes and telling stories from others’ perspectives, but I’ve found a new creative avenue with this one, putting myself back into a pair of shoes that I wore years ago.”
Toto, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore
For those of you who need a little refresher on how big of a star Wilson is, the singer is the bell-bottomed powerhouse behind hits like “Heart Like a Truck” and “Watermelon Moonshine.” Hailing from Baskin, Louisiana, the singer-songwriter has climbed the country charts with her blend of gritty storytelling and magnetic charm, winning over audiences across the globe. Not to mention the Academy of Country Music, Billboard, and GRAMMY voters. She’s a triple threat that we don’t mind following at all.
“Somewhere Over Laredo,” co-written with Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, and Andy Albert, marks a new kind of chapter. It’s equal parts tear-jerker and toe-tapper, filled with the kind of lines only Wilson could deliver, singing, “Couple wrong for each other / Lone Star-crossed lovers / Born to get gone from the get-go/But you’re on my mind every time I’m chasing this neon rainbow.“
The track honors the classic while blazing its own trail, which is a very Wilson move. It actually became her biggest stream debut.
A Little Bit of Magic for Lainey Wilson
The music video dropped like a Texas thunderclap. It brought a dreamy visual to match the song’s nostalgic tone, full of color and dreamy lighting. In true Wilson fashion, it’s a mix of grit and glamour.
Speaking with People about the inspiration behind the video, Wilson said she had the time of her life while filming it. “I was doing all kinds of things. Pretending to be falling through the air, the sky, and all these crazy things that I had never done before,” she revealed.
The video clearly shows the singer riding through candy-colored skies while sitting in a bed right in the center of a field, showcasing dreamy visuals and “Wizard of Oz” vibes.
“I had not had the opportunity to make a video that I felt deserved that kind of trippiness. When you think about “The Wizard of Oz” and you think about the “Yellow Brick Road,” of course you think of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” This song is an interpolation of that. It’s a way for us to tip our hat to that and acknowledge how timeless the song is. It was important for me to kind of draw the parallel between songs,” she revealed.
Fans flooded the comments section with praise, admiring Wilson for the beautiful lyrics and visuals. “Hippie chasing a butterfly is our mood for the day,” one wrote. Another shared, “You have the voice that makes all women proud.”
What’s Next for the Queen of Country Cool?
With “Somewhere Over Laredo” quickly becoming a fan favorite, Wilson is showing no signs of slowing down. “I’m proud of this song, and I felt like it was a special moment when we finished it,” she said.
Wilson is currently on tour with multiple summer festival headliners and is also in the middle of planning her wedding to football star Devon Hodges. She’s set to tour several venues in the US, finishing the “Whirlwind Tour” in November in Orlando, Florida. Joining her on stage are special guests Muscadine Bloodline, ERNEST, Lauren Watkins, Drake Milligan, Zach Meadows, Kaitlin Butts, and Maddox Batson.
Wilson is also getting ready to release her new deluxe edition version of “Whirlwind,” which comes out on August 22. The album will feature “Somewhere Over Laredo,” as well as five brand-new tracks!
It looks like Wilson’s rainbow has a few more colors left to shine.
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Lainey Wilson Drops ‘Somewhere Over Laredo’ Video Inspired by Judy Garland