Lainey Wilson & Jelly Roll Major Winners At The People's Choice Awards

While Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Ice Spice were some of the biggest winners at this year’s People’s Choice Awards – let’s not forget that comedy actor Adam Sandler received the People’s Icon Award this year – country music also had its moment.

At Sunday’s ceremony (18 February), Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson won in two massive categories, named the Male and Female Country Artist of the Year, respectively. In the Male Country Artist of the Year category, Jelly Roll was the underdog against Chris Stapleton, HARDY, Morgan Wallen, Cody Johnson, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Zach Bryan.

Wilson was also an underdog, nominated for Female Country Artist of the Year alongside Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Gabby Barrett, Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBride, Carly Pearce, and Megan Moroney.

In her acceptance speech, Wilson said she’s “so proud to be a part of this generation of country music”, while Jelly Roll commented in a special response video:

It's absolutely incredible. Thank you to the fans that voted. Thank you for putting it all over the internet. Thank you for putting it all over your social media, TikTok. Y'all were sharing it for us. That's what y'all have done every single time for me, my entire career. You've never let me down, and I pray I keep making the kind of music that never lets you down. Thank y'all.

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You can read a transcript of Wilson’s acceptance speech below.

In addition to winning the big award, Wilson also performed a medley comprising Things A Man Oughta Know, Heart Like A Truck and Watermelon Moonshine, as well as her latest single, Country's Cool Again. You can watch the performance below.

Jelly Roll will appear on the new season of American Idol, which began on 18 February. In other Lainey Wilson news, the singer will tour Australia for the first time next month, headlining CMC Rocks festival with Chris Young and Tyler Hubbard and playing a string of sideshows.

Lainey Wilson’s People’s Choice Awards acceptance speech for Female Country Artist of the Year:

These last couple weeks have been crazy. I am so proud of country music right now. I am so proud to be a part of this generation of country music. I feel like everybody looks different and sounds different and has a different story, and comes from different walks of life. It truly is the storytelling in country music that keeps drawing people to it.

Thank y'all so much for letting me tell my story and somehow finding your story within the lyrics, within the melodies, within the guitar riffs, whatever it is. Country music makes you feel at home, and I think everybody wants to feel at home. I am so proud of it right now.

Thank you to my momma, my daddy, my family, my hometown, my team, Mandelyn, I love you so much. Duck, I love you back there. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I could not do this without him guiding me every single step of the way. But also, I want to thank the fans. I am telling you right now I couldn't do this without y'all. My wild horses, y'all keep showing up, and I'll keep showing up, too.