Lainey Wilson Soars with Heartbreak and Nostalgia in New Ballad “Somewhere Over Laredo”

Fresh off her Entertainer of the Year win at the 2025 ACM Awards, Lainey Wilson is proving she’s not just riding the wave of success — she’s redefining the sound of modern country. Her latest single, “Somewhere Over Laredo,” is a poetic, pain-soaked journey through memory, heartbreak, and distance, wrapped in the soft shimmer of a lullaby we all know by heart.

Country fans have seen a rising trend of “sampler” songs — modern hits that borrow from iconic classics. Think Cole Swindell’s nostalgic nod to Jo Dee Messina in “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” or Kane Brown’s Phil Collins-inspired “I Can Feel It.” Wilson joins the conversation with a haunting, high-altitude take on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” blending its wistful tone with a dusty Texas love story that’s long since slipped through her fingers.

In “Somewhere Over Laredo,” Wilson isn’t dreaming in color — she’s flying 30,000 feet above it, physically leaving Texas behind but emotionally anchored to the dusty border town of Laredo and the man she can’t forget. From a lonely seat on a red-eye flight, her voice is full of ache as she sings of “Lone Star-crossed lovers” and the rodeo nights that once lit up her world.

“Somewhere over Laredo / Dreamin’ about those rodeo nights…”

“Born to get gone from the get go / But you’re on my mind every time I’m chasing this neon rainbow…”

There’s no mention of ruby slippers or tornadoes, but the emotional pull is just as powerful. Like Dorothy longing for Kansas, Wilson’s character finds herself chasing something just out of reach — a love lost to time, distance, and fate.

The ballad shows off Wilson’s storytelling prowess, using minimalistic production to let her vocals shine. It’s not just a nod to Judy Garland — it’s a full-circle moment for Wilson, now fully cemented as a voice capable of crafting her own cinematic worlds.

And if “Somewhere Over Laredo” weren’t enough, Wilson also recently dropped “Trailblazer,” a powerhouse collaboration with Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire — further evidence that she’s not just making hits, she’s making history.

Whether you’re a die-hard country fan or just discovering the genre, “Somewhere Over Laredo” is a must-listen — a modern-day Western lullaby that proves heartbreak can still sound beautiful at 30,000 feet.