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Lainey Wilson and Duck Hodges Wanted Their Western Wedding to Feel Like a Window Into "Our World"

In an interview with The Knot, the country singer discussed her nuptials to the former NFL player.
sarah hanlon entertainment and celebrity editor the knot
by
Sarah Hanlon
sarah hanlon entertainment and celebrity editor the knot
Sarah Hanlon
Entertainment & Celebrity Editor
  • Sarah is the Entertainment & Celebrity Editor for The Knot, with special focuses on pop culture and celebrity wedding news.
  • Before joining The Knot Worldwide, Sarah was a contributing writer for Bravo at NBC Universal.
  • Sarah has a degree in journalism and resides in New York City.
Updated May 14, 2026

Lainey Wilson and Duck Hodges' wedding was a window into their world—and they wouldn't have had it any other way. Just over a year after the country music singer and former NFL quarterback announced their engagement, the couple's nuptials took place on May 10, 2026, at the Ruskin Cave in Dickson, Tennessee, per Vogue.

In an interview with The Knot shortly before her wedding, Wilson—who partnered with Pinterest to curate a "country cool wedding" vision board—opened up about the inspiration behind their bucolic celebration. "We're really trying to make it feel like our world. To me, the best moments are the ones that feel real and not too overdone," she said. "We just want it to feel honest, like if you walked in, you'd say, 'Yep, that's them.'" Read on for more details about Lainey Wilson's wedding, along with insight into the couple's love story.

At a glance:

  • Lainey Wilson is married to Devlin "Duck" Hodges, a former NFL quarterback. Their wedding took place on May 10, 2026, in Tennessee.
  • Lainey Wilson and Devlin Hodges made their public debut as a couple at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2023.
  • In an interview with The Knot, Lainey Wilson described her wedding vision as "a little bit bold, a little bit Western."

In this article:

Duck Hodges and Lainey Wilson's Wedding Details

Lainey Wilson and Duck Hodges
Photo: Courtesy of Pinterest,
Photo: CeCe Dawson

Like many other to-be-weds, Lainey Wilson was one to imagine what her future wedding could look like before she got engaged. "I think I've always had a picture in my head of what my wedding might feel like, but I wasn't pinning things to the wall until we really got down to planning," she explained ahead of the big day. "It's been so fun to put everything together and look at it side-by-side on Pinterest. I'm so excited to see the vision come to life."

Throughout her wedding planning experience, Wilson pulled inspiration from Pinterest's 2026 Trend Report, which echoes many of the findings in The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study. The biggest goal Wilson and Hodges shared was curating an immersive environment that feels like an authentic reflection of everything they love. This is one of the top rising wedding trends according to The Knot Real Weddings Study data, as our study found that the third most-important priority to-be-weds have is planning a wedding that feels like a true reflection of their relationship. (Guest experience takes the top spot, and budget is the second biggest priority.) Hospitality-driven ambiance is also one of the biggest trends that experts predict will define future weddings. "For us, it's about weaving in the everyday things we love—music, food, the way we like to spend time together—and finding little ways to bring that into the day," Wilson said. "We're also excited about the atmosphere of it all: how it looks, sounds, smells and feels."

When it came to the soundtrack of the big day, the bride-to-be wasn't sold on taking the stage at her own reception. However, she did rely on fellow musical experts to set the tone for the party. "I've always believed the best celebrations are the ones where people feel like they're part of it, not just watching it happen," she said, adding, "As far as me grabbing the mic…I mean, I am a singer, so you never know. But I also really love the idea of letting the night unfold naturally, with a great band or DJ keeping the energy up and everybody just being part of it in their own way. That feels a little more like us."

As for the fashion, Wilson's bridal attire undoubtedly mirrored her signature Western wardrobe. "I've always loved fashion that tells a story, so I'm excited that bridal style is moving in that direction," she says. (The Knot Editors noted the same trend after viewing new wedding dress styles at New York Bridal Fashion Week in April 2026.) She also said that she's drawn to statement headwear. And since searches for "custom wedding hats" are up 155% on Pinterest, it was no surprise that she threw on a cowboy hat to accessorize her Oscar de la Renta dress later in the night. "I'm not afraid of a Western moment, that's for sure," she said. "I'm all about having fun with it, and whatever I wear, I want it to feel like me."

All About Lainey Wilson's Engagement Ring & Proposal

Lainey Wilson's engagement ring from Devlin Hodges features multiple diamonds in a cluster setting on a thick, diamond-encrusted chunky band. "Lainey's ring embraces the bold, multi-stone trend with its distinctive and unconventional look," says Pamela Catlett, Chief Brand Officer of Brilliant Earth. "Each diamond appears to be approximately 1.5-2 carats for a total of 5-7 carats. We estimate the ring to be in the price range of $50,000 to $80,000." Leaning into his fiancée's country music stardom, Hodges presented the ring in a cowboy hat-shaped ring box.

Wilson announced her engagement to Hodges just ahead of Valentine's Day on February 12, 2025. In a photo dump shared on Instagram, the Grammy Award-winner shared a collection of images from the private proposal, which took place on the steps of a historic Tennessee home once owned by country music singer George Jones. "4x4xU forever," she captioned the post, referencing a song off her album Whirlwind.

Who is Lainey Wilson's Husband, Devlin Hodges?

Lainey Wilson with her boyfriend Devlin "Duck" Hodges
Photo: Michael Buckner/Variety | Getty Images

Lainey Wilson is married to Devlin "Duck" Hodges. The former NFL athlete acquired his nickname while he was a student athlete at Samford University in Alabama. Wilson revealed its origins during an appearance on The Bobby Bones Show, saying, "His college football coach was like, 'You're one of the best quarterbacks I've ever worked with. And you remind me a lot of one of my favorite quarterbacks I got to work with years ago, and we called him Duck.' And so he and the team just kind of started calling him Duck."

After college, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He stayed with the team until 2021 before joining the Los Angeles Rams, and later the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League. Following his retirement from the sport, Hodges has taken up a career in real estate.

How Lainey Wilson and Devlin Hodges Met

Given their shared love of country music, it's incredibly fitting that Lainey Wilson's relationship with Duck Hodges blossomed in Nashville. The couple met through mutual friends in the country music capital of the world. They began seeing each other in 2021, but didn't take their relationship public for two years.

Devlin Hodges and Lainey Wilson's Relationship Timeline

Devlin Hodges and Lainey Wilson
Photo: SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP | Getty Images

Lainey Wilson was smitten with Devlin Hodges from the beginning. Look back on their relationship timeline, from their low-key first date to their swoon-worthy engagement.

2021: Lainey Wilson and Devlin Hodges Have Their First Date

After they were introduced by mutual friends, Lainey Wilson and Devlin Hodges began dating in 2021. The songstress later opened up about their first date, which took place at a dance hall and saloon, in an interview with People. "We went to this old place called Silverados, and it had free beer and wine from 5 to 10 p.m.," she recalled. "I was like, 'This boy likes to ball on a budget too. This is gonna work out.'"

Although the sparks flew instantly, Wilson was adamant about keeping their relationship under wraps in the early days. "I said, 'We gonna see if you're in it for the right reasons,'" she continued. "Turns out, he is. It feels really good to talk about it."

May 2023: Lainey Wilson and Devlin Hodges Make Their Red Carpet Debut

Lainey Wilson and Devlin Hodges at the red carpet of the 2023 ACM Awards
Photo: Jason Kempin | Getty Images

Two years later, Lainey Wilson and her boyfriend debuted their relationship at the 2023 ACM Awards. (Fans had actually been tipped off to their romance a few weeks earlier when Wilson wore his Steelers jersey at a Pittsburgh concert.) Wilson stepped onto the red carpet in a silky green ensemble with her signature bell bottoms, while Hodges opted for a light blue suit jacket with a bolo tie and a cowboy hat.

The following month, Wilson opened up about how she "made him wait" to hard launch their romance during an appearance on The Bobby Bones Show. "He's a good dude. He knows what it's like chasing a dream because he's done that for himself," she said. "He is good as gold, supports me, would never come in between anything that I'm trying to do."

November 2023: Lainey Wilson Thanks Her Boyfriend in CMA Awards Speech

Lainey Wilson giving an acceptance speech at the 2023 CMA Awards
Photo: Christopher Polk/Variety | Getty Images

Later that year, Wilson was named "Entertainer of the Year" at the CMA Awards. When she took the stage to give an emotional acceptance speech, she candidly thanked her boyfriend in front of the crowd. "This is all I've ever wanted. It finally feels like country music is starting to love me back," she said adding, "I love you, Duck."

January 2025: Lainey Wilson Jokes About Proposing to Her Boyfriend

Considering they'd been together for about four years, an engagement was on Lainey Wilson's mind at the beginning of 2025. During a CMT interview with Bunnie XO, wife of fellow country star Jelly Roll, Wilson joked about taking matters into her own hands. "No pressure, brother! No pressure, I might have to propose to him. We waiting," she joked. Bunnie voiced her confidence in Hodges, saying, "No, Duck's going to do it. I could feel it," to which Wilson replied, "I like that."

February 2025: Duck Hodges Proposes to Lainey Wilson

That's Future Mrs. Duck to you! At long last, Duck Hodges (finally) proposed to Lainey Wilson. He popped the question on the front porch of country singer George Jones' Tennessee home, which was decorated with candles, red roses and framed photos of the couple. The fiancés announced their engagement shortly before Valentine's Day with a joint post on Instagram, writing, "4x4xU forever."

May 10, 2026: Lainey Wilson Marries Duck Hodges

Lainey Wilson's wedding to Duck Hodges took place on May 10, 2026, at the Ruskin Cave in Dickson, Tennessee. She bride wore an Oscar de la Renta dress for the occasion, while the groom opted for a bespoke suit from D. Lacquaniti with a custom bolo tie. They celebrated with fellow country music stars, including Jelly Roll and Ella Langley.