Lainey Wilson is the most popular female country artist to come around in a decade. She's released five studio albums - 2024's Whirlwind is her latest - racking up CMA Awards and a Grammy and selling out arenas globally. That's no small feat in a world where country radio is king and rarely plays two female artists back to back. In 2023, she was named Entertainer of the Year at the CMAs, becoming the first woman to win in more than 10 years. She's nominated for three Grammys at the 2026 awards - and, keeping on theme, is the only woman nominated for Best Country Solo Performance. Wilson, 33, is thriving in other arenas, too. Her longtime boyfriend, Devlin "Duck" Hodges, popped the question this year, and she's continuing her acting career in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's Reminders of Him. Wilson made her onscreen debut with a recurring role on Yellowstone in 2022, playing aspiring country singer Abby, a part creator Taylor Sheridan based on her own life. Both women rock what Wilson refers to as her superhero costume: "When I have the bell-bottoms on and the hat goes on, that's when I feel like, 'Now I can whoop some ass,'" she tells Us. But that's not the stuff that defines her. Wilson says nothing would be possible without philanthropy. In 2023, as her career was taking off, she founded the Heart Like a Truck Fund under the Middle Tennessee Community Foundation to support causes that can change people's lives. "My family taught me to treat the janitor like you would the CEO," says Wilson, who's made goodwill part of her everyday routine. Among her charitable efforts is her work with Musically Fed, which takes leftover food from her gigs and distributes it to the unhoused community in whatever city she's playing. Since its inception, HLAT has raised over $600,000 and donated to over 80 organizations. "Kindness might be one of my superpowers," Wilson says. "Kindness has definitely gotten me a lot further than the opposite." The country superstar sat down with Us to share how her upbringing shaped who she is today and explain how even the smallest gestures can have a major impact. CECE DAWSON, COURTESY OF LAINEY WILSON You grew up in the very small town of Baskin, Louisiana, which, according to Google, has a population of just 200. How did that shape you? Believe it or not, it's actually 157, so a few people left. I learned a lot about the importance of community and taking care of each other. From the time I was a little girl, I got to see it both from my family and church. ... I'm very proud of where I come from. My daddy's a farmer - corn, wheat, soybeans, oats - my mama was a teacher. They taught me the importance of hard work, the difference between right and wrong. I am who I am because of the place that raised me. How did church inspire you to give back? A lot happened at Baskin Baptist Church. My parents got married there, and I got saved as a little girl there. It was full of good people - the kind that would give you the shirt off their back. Every year, we'd do a shoebox Christmas for folks who were less fortunate than we were. Everybody would bring an old shoebox and fill it up with small stuff. Even though we weren't rolling in dough, my parents made sure giving was a priority. My daddy was the guy who would cook 10 or 12 turkeys every Thanksgiving or Christmas and deliver them. Growing up with that kind of faith taught me a lot about kindness and compassion, respect, generosity. How important is community in country music? Where I'm from, giving back wasn't something you just talked about - it was something you did, and the country music family has taught me that too. They just bond together. They are there for each other. They lift each other up. They pull each other over those walls. It is really special. Lainey Wilson Thought Reba's Grand Ole Opry Invite Was Just a Birthday Gift When you're on the road, how do you fit giving back into your daily routine? There are times when I'm like, "I need to do something for somebody else." It makes my job easier when I can lend a helping hand or make it about somebody else. Every city that the tour has stopped in, we've been able to help all these different organizations. It feels good to be able to do that, to pour back into the city that has come forward and sold all of our shows out. It's the least I could do. What effect do you think kindness can have on the world? Oh, my gosh, it's everything. I wish everybody could lead with love. ... You never know what somebody's going through, and something you say or do for that person that day could change their entire life. If we were all aware of that and reminded of how important and powerful words are - even a pat on the back - I think we'd all be leading with a little more kindness. I have a lot of really kind people around me, and even just my fan base that I've gotten to know and meet, they're the kind of people you want in your corner. Is leading with kindness something you have to make yourself