Lainey Wilson may be enjoying the Whirlwind of her career now, but getting her start in the industry certainly wasn’t easy.
This week, as the Watermelon Moonshine singer joined Reba McEntire as a Mentor during The Voice Playoffs stage, she revealed that she auditioned for The Voice seven times and never made it past the stage, where the judges would show their interest by turning their chairs.
Discussing Wilson’s failed auditions, McEntire said in the rehearsals with Wilson (via NBC), “You tried out for The Voice seven times, and look where you are now!”
Wilson replied, “I tried out seven times; it’s pretty crazy!”
McEntire said, “That shows you [that] if you want something, you’ve gotta fight for it. You gotta stay in there. You’re gonna get a lot of ‘Nos.’ That’s what we keep telling everybody when we have to make decisions!”
In a video on The Voice’s Instagram account, contestants expressed excitement about discovering that Wilson was their Playoffs Mentor for season 26. Watch to see the advice she gives them below.
Wilson previously revealed that she was also rejected by American Idol seven times, never making it past the first round. However, as she has a relationship with The Voice now (and with Reba McEntire), her past on the latter show is getting more attention.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she said of her rejections from The Voice: “I didn’t even make it to the part where they turn the chairs around. But hey, it just lit a fire under me, and I said, ‘Ya gotta keep on going.’”
Wilson performed on the finale of The Voice season 25 earlier this year when Reba McEntire invited her to join the prestigious Grand Ole Opry.
In a tear-jerking moment for Wilson, McEntire said, “I was so proud of you at the ACMs the other night, and I couldn’t be more proud to be the one that helps you continue to bridge the gap between our generations. I’d like to be the person to invite you to be an official member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
Reacting to the invitation, Wilson said that her family was in the audience for her performance on The Voice and commented that she knew she wanted to join the Grand Ole Opry one day.
“I wanted to do it, and it was so crazy that you were asking me to be a member because I look up to you so much,” Wilson told McEntire. “I’m not talking about just musically, but the way that you carry yourself and your work ethic. You inspire me every day.”
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