2023 was a big year for Lainey Wilson, and she enjoyed a lot of success in the public eye. But Lainey was also keeping something—or more like someone—hidden in plain sight. Why didn’t Lainey want anyone to know about her boyfriend, Duck Hodges, last year?
His real name is Devlin Hodges, and he was once an NFL quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But his nickname and football career weren’t why Lainey kept Duck a secret. According to a Whiskey Riff report from last June, Lainey revealed in an interview that she “made that boy wait.”
The interview was with Katie Neal for the Katie & Company podcast. Lainey did confess that she’d kept Duck private “for two and a half years now.”
But Katie couldn’t believe Lainey could keep her boyfriend hidden for that long. So Lainey had to set the record straight and tell the real truth.
Lainey told Katie, “I just kept it close to my chest.” That’s because, as Lainey said, “I share a lot of my life with the world.” Duck was “one thing that means a whole lot” to her. She wanted to keep it to herself for a while.
Lainey also admitted she wanted “to be very careful” with her relationship and bringing her love life to the spotlight. Her fans did get a clue, like when Katie began wearing Duck’s #6 Steelers jersey at a show in Pittsburgh last April.
She admitted to Katie, “I did feel like, okay, this is time to share with the world,” explaining that she wanted to let everyone know that Devlin was her “biggest cheerleader” and “biggest champion.” Lainey also called her boyfriend Duck “the person I get to go home to once or twice a year.”
Lainey and Duck Made Their Red Carpet Debut in 2023
In case you missed Lainey’s big chat with Katie, she also admitted that she was willing to talk about Duck, but “not too much.” So, is Lainey still with her boyfriend, and is she still keeping most of her private life private?
On January 3, 2024, People Magazine updated an article on “Who is Lainey Wilson’s Boyfriend?” They first published this article in May 2023, after Lainey and Devlin’s big reveal at the ACM awards. According to People, Lainey and Duck’s “red carpet debut” was one of the most “talked-about moments” of the night.
Lainey also spoke to Bobby Bones about her boyfriend, and she confirmed that Duck is a “good dude” who’s “been around for a while.” His nickname has been around since Devlin played college football at Samford University in Alabama. Devlin got nicknamed Duck for two reasons.
Devlin’s college football coach gave him the same nickname as another favorite quarterback on the team, who was also called Duck. But Devlin is also an “avid duck hunter” and “champion duck caller,” which made his nickname even more appropriate.
In an exclusive interview with People, Lainey revealed that mutual friends in Nashville set her up with Duck. Their first date was at a “dance hall and saloon” called Silverados. It is famous for live music and other things patrons love to guzzle.
According to Lainey, the drinks were “free” from 5 to 10 pm at Silverados. She liked that Duck loved a good deal and could “ball on a budget too.” Lainey told People she had a gut feeling that it was “gonna work out” for her and Devlin.
Lainey’s Friends Love Duck
Lainey still had to be sure that Devlin was “the one,” and the reason is that she’s become so famous. She told People about waiting for two years to see if Duck was “in it for the right reasons.” She admitted, “he is,” and that “it feels really good to talk about it.”
Still, Lainey made a shocking confession to People that Duck had stolen something from her! Lainey joked that Duck had slowly been “stealing all my buddies,” including Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Cole Swindell, and HARDY.
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When they made their red carpet debut as a couple, Lainey said someone told her “how funny it was” when they saw Duck high-fiving all of her “artist friends at the ACMs.” Lainey corrected them and said, “Those are [Duck’s] friends!”
She confessed that she’s FaceTimed her boyfriend and found that he’s already on there with all her “buddies.” Lainey said, “They’ll always be out golfing and drinking a beer.”
All jokes aside, Lainey says it’s a “big blessing” that her famous friends like Duck. She told People, “I don’t have to convince anybody to like him. He’s a very lovable person.”
In the People interview, Lainey talked about her “healthy relationship” with her boyfriend, and shockingly, she said he’s also changed her music-making for the better. Lainey confessed that she was “never really able to write love songs” because, sadly, she didn’t know for sure if she’d “actually felt” true love. Since she met Duck and fell in love, Lainey confessed, “I’m writing me some love songs,” and she said she’s “grateful for him” for getting her there.
Lainey Has Repeatedly Thanked Duck in Her Speeches
In November 2023, Lainey had one of the best nights of her life—personally and professionally. She and Duck got decked out in all-black looks and cowboy hats for the CMA Awards, and Lainey won the night’s biggest award for entertainer of the year.
Lainey and Duck shared a tender kiss, and People reported that he beamed “with pride” as Lainey went on stage to accept the Entertainer of the Year statue for 2023. Lainey fought back tears, admitting that the award was all she “ever wanted.” She added, “It finally feels like country music is starting to love me back,” Lainey also said, “I love you, Duck.”
Taste of Country reported that Lainey also gave a shout-out to Duck in February 2024. On Sunday, February 18th, Lainey took her boyfriend to the People’s Choice Awards, and she enjoyed another huge night. In addition to performing a medley of her biggest country hits to date, Lainey also took home the People’s Choice trophy for Female Country Artist.
Lainey Loves Her Life with Duck
Lainey has made it clear to the media and her fans that she’s a private person. She even joked to People that she looked “awkward” during her red carpet debut with Duck because PDA freaks her out. But Lainey got personal at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards, and it’s getting more obvious that she’s falling deeper in love with Devlin every day.
Lainey got emotional when she accepted the trophy for Female Country Artist. She thanked her “mama,” “daddy,” her family, and her “hometown” and “team.” She also thanked her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who Lainey said guides her “every single step of the way.”
It sounded like Lainey has a tight circle of family and friends whom she loves dearly. But in her acceptance speech, Lainey singled out two people.
One person who she “loves” is her manager, Mandelyn. Lainey also confessed that her man was on her mind when she revealed, “Duck, I love you back there.”
That was a romantic moment, but Lainey also told Taste of Country about her everyday life with Duck in Nashville. She admitted, “I put him to work.” Lainey talked about the “long list of things,” including taking the trash out, mowing the lawn, feeding the dogs, and even pulling weeds from the flower beds.
It sounds like Duck is in it for the long haul. Their love can go from an awards show to household chores just like that!
