Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

There’s a song called “Country’s Cool Again” on Lainey Wilson’s new album, “Whirlwind.” It’s not one of the record’s autobiographical songs, but maybe it should be, because Wilson herself is a major reason why country music is enjoying a resurgence in culture. In a genre that has traditionally been male-centric and hasn’t really produced a new female superstar since Maren Morris burst onto the scene in 2016, Wilson has become the current standard-bearer for women in country. And she’s done it not by chasing pop crossover, but by staying so true to her roots that she’s attracted fans from all over the world who had no idea that a hardcore Louisiana accent was needed in music right now.

Wilson's hot streak began when her major-label debut single, "Things a Man Oughta Know," hit No. 1 three years ago, while she's earned recognition with a small recurring role on "Yellowstone" and several early song syncs on the series. Collaborations have played a role in her rise (she's shared Top Five hits with Jelly Roll, Hardy and Cole Swindell), but no outside aides are needed when audiences really only believe in Wilson — a sweet-voiced cross between Miranda Lambert and Dolly Parton who's as good-natured as she is sassy, whose talk of horses and 4x4s somehow makes her even more appealing to city slickers, and who's got a damn good sense of song.

“Whirlwind” is another superb example of Wilson’s ongoing collaboration with producer Jay Joyce, and how it generates grabbags of songs that sound completely different from song to song and yet are all authentically country and totally her. She’s already won everything there is to win within the genre, so could this finally be a moment where the Grammys get it right and nominate her in one of the best all-genre categories, after completely blowing it by passing her over for a best new artist nomination?