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Updated Mar 06, 2025Country Star Lainey Wilson Is Engaged to NFL QB Devlin Hodges! See Her Massive Ring
The former athlete popped the question with a cowboy hat ring box.
Lainey Wilson and her boyfriend, Devlin Hodges, are headed to the altar! The country music singer announced her engagement to the former NFL quarterback 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 appeared to take place on the steps of a historic home. "4x4xU forever," she captioned the post, referencing a song off her new album Whirlwind.
The couple's engagement comes nearly two years after they made their public debut as a couple at the 2023 ACM Awards. Although that was their first time walking a red carpet together, the pair have actually been dating since 2021. Look back on their love story here, from their private beginnings to their romantic engagement.
- Lainey Wilson is engaged to Devlin Hodges. They have been together since 2021.
- Lainey Wilson and her boyfriend Devlin Hodges made their public debut as a couple at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2023.
- Lainey Wilson and Devlin Hodges announced their engagement on February 12, 2025.
In this article:
- Lainey Wilson's Engagement Ring Details
- Who is Lainey Wilson's Husband-to-Be, Devlin Hodges?
- How Lainey Wilson and Devlin Hodges Met
- Devlin Hodges and Lainey Wilson's Relationship Timeline
Lainey Wilson's Engagement Ring Details
Lainey Wilson's engagement ring from Devlin Hodges appears to feature at least three 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.
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Who is Lainey Wilson's Husband-to-Be, Devlin Hodges?
Photo: Michael Buckner/Variety | Getty Images
Lainey Wilson is engaged 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
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
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
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 a grand 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 joining post on Instagram, writing, "4x4xU forever."
