The snow from last week’s winter storm may still be frozen, but Lainey Wilson is definitely feeling the heat after one recent red carpet Grammys interview.
Before heading into the 68th annual award show, the “4x4xU” singer was asked by a USA Today reporter, “Lainey, how’s everyone in Nashville doing?”
In the brief walk-by, Wilson answered optimistically, “Everybody is doing OK. People’s power starting to come back on, so prayers up for ‘em.” The ten-second clip, which has since gone viral after Sunday night’s show, currently has over 5.3 million views on TikTok.
Safe to say, with many now two weeks later, after the catastrophic snow in Nashville, still facing the repercussions of lost power and icy roads, there has been a massive amount of backlash from viewers. Users sounded off in the comments with confused statements about what is being perceived as a “tone deaf” statement on Wilson’s behalf.
“Perhaps she meant another Nashville??? because I’m in Nashville & Nashville is indeed NOT OK?????”
“I don’t even live in Nashville and I know they are NOT ok”
“It clearly hasn’t affected her one bit”
“Nashville is not ok. 9 days without power.”
“Girl … you are out of touch! Nashville is not ok”
“Lainey is doing okay. Nashville is not.”
“Based on these comments Nashville isn’t doing ok 🤨”
While it may be frustrating for some to understand, it’s not uncommon for celebrities to be out of touch with serious situations like this. After all, as a six-time Grammy nominee with a Netflix documentary set to release, new music on the way, and her Whirlwind Worldwide 2026 Tour gearing up soon, there’s a good chance Wilson wasn’t even in Nashville during the storm and its aftermath.
Despite the terribly unfortunate circumstances, the huddle of Nashville citizens sounding off with sassy comments is a pretty entertaining read through. While those affected by the rough conditions have more than a right to be upset, despite what many see as a “tone-deaf comment”, Wilson is not the culprit. Her response was a byproduct of a loaded question thrown at her, in a brief passing moment. On carpets like these, celebrities are just thrown questions one after the next, and they’re trained to keep the responses light, so it’s understandable that she kept it simple with an uplifting ‘prayers up for ’em.’
A few commenters stood up for Wilson amidst the flood of hate, or at least recognized her uneducated answer in a more understanding light:
“Too be fair the reporter was the one that asked the dumb ah question knowing she is a millionaire that does not have to deal with the same problems as normal people”
“Is she supposed to be In contact with everyone in Nashville cause everyone I know I’m from Hendersonville is okay. Yeah some people aren’t but everyone I know is. So idk.”
“It’s 50/50 honestly. (Yes I live in Nashville) a lottttttt of Nashville is nottttt okay though soooo”
“she’s been in Florida or Cali for the last 2 weeks lol”
“She has a positive mindset and is only knows what she hears”
The star, who moved to Nashville in 2011, starting out in a camper and upgrading in 2025 to a rhinestone-studded Bell Bottom-lovers dream home, has yet to further comment on the thousands of homes in Nashville with lost power. Escaping the frost from her fans for more cold, the Louisiana native is headed to Auckland, New Zealand, for the first stop of her headlining tour tomorrow, February 6.
Watch the interview clip here: