Ahead of the April 22 premiere, Cowboys & Indians spoke exclusively with Lainey Wilson about Keepin’ Country Cool.
Lainey Wilson is opening up like never before. In her new Netflix documentary Keepin’ Country Cool, Wilson dives deep into everything from her own “overnight” success and the ups and downs of fame to mental health and fertility.
But why share it all when she’s at the top of her game? Wilson spoke exclusively to Cowboys & Indians at an advance screening of the film in Nashville and explained that getting personal in the doc was as much for the fans as it was for herself.
Lainey Wilson attends the Lainey Wilson: Keepin' Country Cool SXSW Premiere on March 17, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Credit: Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Netflix.
“I went into this thinking I would give people a little peek behind the curtain, and [ended up with a] peek behind my own curtain,” she says.
With never-before-seen childhood footage and stories from those who knew her when, Keepin’ Country Cool is a look into Wilson’s 14-year journey to “overnight” success. From her early days onstage in her small hometown of Baskin, Louisiana, to her global success with hits like “Heart Like a Truck” and “Watermelon Moonshine,” fans will have a chance to see where the star cut her teeth.
The doc isn’t just about Wilson. It’s a love letter to the people around her. Her parents, sister, and nephews make appearances in the film, as does her fiancé Devlin “Duck” Hodges. Hodges, who proposed to Wilson on February 12, 2025, (as seen in the documentary) even showed the filmmakers the ring before getting down on one knee months later. Wilson said she was shocked to see the footage.
Lainey Wilson and Mandelyn in Lainey Wilson: Keepin' Country Cool. Credit: Netflix.
“I was like, ‘I don't know if I can trust you anymore,’” she laughs. “I did not know that our relationship was going to be woven in there as much as it was, which was cool for me, because that's one of the things I'm most proud of.”
Keepin’ Country Cool offers up a lot of personal and career highs for Wilson, but it also doesn’t shy away from the tough topics. The singer opens up about her struggles with mental health in the film, sharing that for over a year she suffered from crippling panic attacks. It’s a topic that can be touchy in the country music space, but Wilson knew it was important to detail the dark times.
“I want people to put themselves into the story, into the situations,” she says. “I want them to feel comfortable talking about things. It's a scary thing and I've had to have four therapists and tons of years under my belt to even get to the point to where I admit some things that I might be struggling with.”
Lainey Wilson performs onstage during the Lainey Wilson: Keepin' Country Cool SXSW Premiere on March 17, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Credit: Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Netflix.
She also brings fans along for the journey as she freezes her eggs. In the film, Wilson shares that she’s always wanted to be a mom, but that her timeline changed when fame hit. Now, she’s taking steps to ensure she can have it all: the husband, the kids, and the career success.
By opening up about all of it, Wilson is inviting fans even further into her world, and she hopes it deepens their connection with her.
“I want my fans to feel like they can trust me, and I want to trust them. I want them to know they’re not alone,” she says. “The music is the vessel and I'm the vessel for the music. The songs might be helping them, but they're also helping me through it. Even though I'm the one on the stage, I want the relationship to feel equal.”
Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool was produced by Teton Ridge Entertainment — part of Teton Ridge, the parent company of C&I — in collaboration with Sandbox Studios and MakeMake, and begins streaming exclusively on Netflix on April 22.
