Lainey Wilson Got a Huge Johnny Cash Surprise at The Opry [VIDEO]

Lainey Wilson has been having a landmark year, but nothing could compare to the once-in-a-lifetime moment she experienced this week on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

As part of the Opry’s 100th anniversary celebration, Wilson was invited to honor the legendary Johnny Cash. The “Somewhere Over Laredo” singer walked into the historic circle expecting a tribute—but ended up with a memory that will last forever.

Playing Johnny Cash’s Guitar

Rather than picking up her own guitar, Wilson was handed a piece of history: Johnny Cash’s very own acoustic guitar. She paused before performing, visibly moved, and told the crowd:

“This guitar ain’t just any old guitar. This is Johnny Cash’s guitar. And I can’t believe that I’m getting to play it tonight.”

With those words, she strummed the Man in Black’s instrument and delivered a powerful version of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” one of Cash’s more recent classics from 2006.

 

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A True “Made It” Moment

After the performance, Wilson opened her heart to the Opry crowd, admitting that she doesn’t always feel like she’s “made it” in the music industry.

“These are those moments…when people say… ‘When did you think you made it?’ or ‘Have you had that feeling? Have you made it?’ I don’t have that feeling all the time. But being able to stand in this circle, and hold Johnny Cash’s guitar, makes me feel like I made it.”

The audience erupted in applause, recognizing the gravity of the moment not just for Wilson, but for country music itself.

A Connection to Country’s Greatest

Wilson went on to compare the experience to another remarkable milestone in her career: holding Hank Williams’ guitar. She reflected on how these instruments carried the spirit of countless songs already sung—and countless more waiting to be told.

“I felt like there [were] so many songs that were told through that guitar. But I still felt like there were a lot of songs left in it.”

Finally, she summed it all up with words that gave everyone chills:

“It just feels like I’m holding the holy spirit.”

A Night She’ll Never Forget

For Lainey Wilson, it wasn’t just another night at the Opry. It was a spiritual, career-defining moment—a chance to touch the history of Johnny Cash, honor his music, and carry that legacy forward with her own voice.