Fans and music critics alike have high praise for newcomer Lainey Wilson's new project ‘Sayin' What I'm Thinkin',’ but the Louisiana native might say she owes some of that to Dolly Parton. Lainey counts Dolly among her biggest influences, going so far to include an ode to the legendary entertainer on the new album.
You might say "WWDD" (What Would Dolly Do) envisions a kinder, softer, and um, sassier world. Just have a look at the opening lyrics:
Big heart, big smile
Big voice on the radio dial
Like a country music modern day apostle
Yeah, I leaned in like it was gospel
WW double D
That's the bottom line for me
My go-to compass and my golden rule
When life rings my southern bell
I just gotta ask myself, hell
What would Dolly do
If you couldn't tell, Lainey looks to Dolly for guidance on just about everything. And the reasons, she tells Cody Alan, should be obvious to anyone who's paying attention.
"Everything about her––her style, her personality, her sense of humor––I mean, of course she's talented," Lainey explains. "She's a business woman and has it going on, but more importantly she's just got a heart made of gold. You can tell in just the way she carries herself."
Lainey covers that famous Dolly Parton drive, too:
Didn't let dirt poor hold her back
And getting told no, it don't mean jack
Ain't scared of nothing ain't nobody's fool
"She's really always been [a] compass for me," Lainey continues. "I don't know anyone who doesn't love her. Let's be honest. If we were all a little bit more like Dolly Parton, we'd be doing alright."
Check out Lainey Wilson's "WWDD" below. Locate your CMT Radio station here to listen for her debut single "Things A Man Oughta Know."
Photo Credit: Getty Images.