What Happened to the Letter Lainey Wilson Wrote to Tim McGraw?

Lainey Wilson was determined to make her country music dreams a reality from a young age. So determined, in fact, that she wrote a letter to Tim McGraw asking for his help when she was a teenager.

Lainey Wilson Wrote a Letter to Tim McGraw

In a clip from Wilson’s Netflix documentary Keepin’ Country Cool, she shared not only the letter she wrote, but the story behind it.

See, Wilson and McGraw are both from the state of Louisiana and they actually come from towns that are — just a 30 minute drive.

It wasn’t a terrible idea. After all, their small town Pelican state connection could have been the perfect “in” for her.

What Did Lainey Wilson Write in Her Letter to Tim McGraw?

In the documentary, Wilson pulls out her phone to read the letter word-for-word. It’s likely she either saved a copy of the letter or there was a photo of it saved somewhere in the family archives.

Here’s what the letter said:

Dear Mr. Tim McGraw,

My name is Lainey Wilson from Franklin Parish, Baskin, Louisiana. I am 18 years old and have just entered my first semester at Louisiana Delta Community College of Monroe to pursue a nursing degree. 

I have been writing songs since I was 9 years old. When you listen to my CD, I want you to know that this is a sample of what I write. I have many others and they are just as good.

Please consider meeting with me and my family. Singing, writing and performing are the most important things in my life. All I need is the opportunity and I can do the rest.

Sincerely, Lainey Wilson

Did Tim McGraw Ever Respond to Lainey Wilson’s Letter?

A quick look at the history of Wilson’s career and you’ll see that despite her efforts, she did not break through in country music at the age of 18. She moved to Nashville when she was 19, and it would be another 10 years before her breakthrough single “Things a Man Oughta Know” would hit No. 1 on country radio.

From there she would go on to win New Female Artist of the Year at the 2022 ACM Awards and the rest, as they say, is history.

And she’s done it without McGraw’s help.

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It’s unclear if the 2026 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee ever received Wilson’s letter and CD, but what we do know if that he didn’t respond if he did.

Wilson jokingly revealed this in an Ask Me Anything on social media following the release of her documentary. “Me still looking for @thetimmcgraw” is written over a video of her looking around the room for the country veteran.

Of course, with the power of social media, this could open up a door for the two to meet and maybe even work on a song together.