Talk about a class act.
Time and time again, Lainey Wilson has proven to be one of the most gracious stars in country music, continuing to exude a humble personality no matter how big she gets. One of her most endearing traditions happens every night on stage when the Louisiana native pulls one little girl out of the crowd during her performance of “Atta Girl” to recognize them as the “Cowgirl of the Night.”
Crowning the young fans with her wide-brimmed hat and instilling them with the song’s empowering message, it’s a moment that never fails to warm the hearts of everyone in the crowd. As if the sentiment couldn’t get any more special, at one of her shows, the young fan Wilson picked just so happened to be someone who needed that encouragement the most.
For those who have yet to watch Wilson’s second and most recent documentary, Keepin’ Country Cool, released this past April on Netflix, fair warning: keep some tissues on standby. During the 83-minute-long biographical film showing the “Watermelon Moonshine” singers’ rise to fame, one clip shows this special behind-the-scenes moment where Wilson discovers the little “cowgirl” she picked out at one of her shows was actually attending the concert with her mother, who had just been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
In the scene, Wilson is decompressing after her almost 2-hour-long performance. While removing her sweaty cowgirl hat from her hair and catching her breath, her photographer, Erick, explains to her that he had been asked by a woman in the crowd to catch a few shots of the mother and daughter duo who were in the front row, explaining, “this mom just found out that she has stage four cancer and she doesn’t have much longer to live and so they’re at this concert together.”
He then notes that Wilson unknowingly picked her as the “Cowgirl of the Night,” calling it the “most moving moment.” Wilson, visibly overwhelmed by the heartbreaking scenario, asks if they’re still at the venue, and with the help of her team, they escort the whole family backstage.
Reflecting on the gravity of the situation, Wilson, looking at photos of the mother-daughter duo, says, “Bless her little heart.” Adding, “She’s not gonna have her mama there to tell her that she’s beautiful and smart and talented and all those things.”
After composing herself and wiping away the tears, Wilson greeted the family and proceeded to say a prayer over them. Huddled with arms around the group, she asked God for “peace that only comes from you, God. I pray for healing. I pray that you just wrap this family in your loving arms.”
The comment section of the clip posted to TikTok echoed the well-deserved admiration for Wilson’s act of kindness and outspoken display of her faith, with many noting, “this is the kind of celebrities we should be gravitating to” and “if I wasn’t already a fan, I am now.”
To watch the full documentary, check out “Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool” streaming now on Netflix.