Lainey Wilson Ditches Cowgirl Hat, Brings Her Newlywed Glow to 2026 ACM Awards Following Devlin 'Duck' Hodges Wedding

Michelle LeeSun, May 17, 2026 at 11:20 PM UTC

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Lainey Wilson ditches her signature cowboy hat at the 2026 ACM Awards
Credit: David Becker/Getty -

Lainey Wilson is back at the Academy of Country Music Awards

The country superstar, who is nominated seven times and performing, wore a bold fringe Marmar Halim dress for the moment — and left her cowgirl hat at home

The event marks Wilson's first red carpet appearance since wedding Devlin "Duck" Hodges on May 10

Lainey Wilson is feeling like one lucky — and in love — girl at the 2026 ACM Awards.

The "Heart Like a Truck" singer, 33, hit the Las Vegas red carpet at the annual country music awards show on Sunday, May 17, looking glamorous as ever — and beaming with that newlywed glow. Wilson, who tied the knot with Devlin "Duck" Hodges only a week prior on May 10 in Dickson, Tennessee, brought out a bold look for the special night, where she is nominated for seven awards, including Entertainer of the Year, and performing.

Wilson swapped bridal white (she wore Oscar de la Renta on her big day according to Vogue) for something spicier, rocking a red Marmar Halim red strapless pleated laser-cut corset dress with an impressive fringe skirt. And while she brought the fashionable accents to the starry carpet with her Resort 2026 ensemble, she left one important accessory at home — her cowgirl hat.

Lainey Wilson and Devlin 'Duck' Hodges at the 2026 ACM Awards
Credit: David Becker/Getty

Instead of sporting her signature headwear, the artist let her honey blonde locks free and wore them in a simple down hairstyle texturized with waves to show off her statement earrings,

Hodges, 30, went for a classic Western look complete with a black suit teamed with a white shirt, bolo necklace and accent belt.

Stopping on the carpet during Amazon Music's pre-show livestream, Wilson couldn't hold back on commenting about her man — quite literally. When speaking on how she squeezed in a wedding ceremony amid her busy schedule, which also included Stagecoach, she said, "Always just trying to keep my head screwed on straight. I was like, we gotta find a window. I'm like, as long as I got my phone, my keys, my wallet, my man, I'm good."

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Wilson and Hodges began dating in 2021 and publicly stepped out for the first time together at the the ACM Awards in May 2023. They announced their engagement in February 2025.

The proposal was extra special as it nodded to her sartorial roots. She revealed to PEOPLE in August 2025 that her ring was placed in a hat-shaped box. "I will say even the hat box situation, he proposed to me with the little hat box, and so just being able to do that and also at the same time be celebrating our engagement and our love, it feels good."

Devlin Hodges and Lainey Wilson at the 2023 ACM Awards
Credit: SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty

The couple said "I Do" at The Ruskin, a decision that was made after the two saw a billboard for the location. "We dropped by, saw the venue and fell in love with the natural beauty of the cave and the simplicity of the property," she told Vogue, adding that the day was her "absolute dream ceremony."

The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Shania Twain, are streaming live on Prime Video from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”