Lainey Wilson Says Boyfriend Devlin 'Duck' Hodges Is Her 'Biggest Cheerleader' and 'Gives Me a Run for My Money'

Mar. 15, 2025

Lainey Wilsonhas found solid ground withDevlin “Duck” Hodges.In an interview withZane LoweforApple Music 1on Wednesday, Aug. 21, the country star, 32, opened up about her relationship with the former NFL player-turned-real estate agent, 28.“I finally found a guy that gives me a run for my money,” Wilson said of her Hodges. “And he’s my biggest cheerleader. He’s just a good person. And he knows how important chasing down a dream is because even when he was a little boy, football was his life.“Devlin “Duck” Hodges and Lainey Wilson attend the CMT Music Awards on April 7, 2024 in Austin, Texas.Chris Saucedo/WireImageThe “Heart Like a Truck” hitmaker also reflected on how the pair’s romance heated up when her boyfriend was on the Pittsburgh Steelers.“We met at a time where he was still playing with them, but then it all changed,” Wilson recalled. “So it was weird. It was like his life was changing as my life was changing and we were going different directions….“The radio host, 51, noted how it was “a great test” for the couple.“Yeah, it was wild,” the “Watermelon Moonshine” performer replied. “You would think that somebody couldn’t handle that.“Wilson explained that their relationship dynamic is a “whirlwind.““I mean, it’s not normal,” she said. “We don’t get to see each other as often as some couples do, but we also know that have is very special.“Wilson added that “for the most part it’s hard,” but it’s also “easy.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Lainey Wilson and Devlin “Duck” Hodges at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.John Shearer/GettyDespite her thriving romance, fans shouldn’t expect the Grammy winner to be churning out love songs."‘I love you’ has been said in a million different ways and we’re all just trying to find ways to say it different, but I don’t think I’ll ever be the love songwriter that’s super mushy gushy,” Wilson said.The “Country’s Cool Again” singer has been dating Hodgessince 2021. However, they didn’t go public with their relationship until two years later when Wilson’s beau accompanied her to theACM Awardsin May 2023, wherethey made their red carpet debut.Over the past few years, Wilson has largelytried to keep their relationship private.“We want to keep that as sacred as we possibly can between me and him, and so far, it has worked for us,” she said.

Lainey Wilsonhas found solid ground withDevlin “Duck” Hodges.

In an interview withZane LoweforApple Music 1on Wednesday, Aug. 21, the country star, 32, opened up about her relationship with the former NFL player-turned-real estate agent, 28.

“I finally found a guy that gives me a run for my money,” Wilson said of her Hodges. “And he’s my biggest cheerleader. He’s just a good person. And he knows how important chasing down a dream is because even when he was a little boy, football was his life.”

Devlin “Duck” Hodges and Lainey Wilson attend the CMT Music Awards on April 7, 2024 in Austin, Texas.Chris Saucedo/WireImage

Chris Saucedo/WireImage

The “Heart Like a Truck” hitmaker also reflected on how the pair’s romance heated up when her boyfriend was on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“We met at a time where he was still playing with them, but then it all changed,” Wilson recalled. “So it was weird. It was like his life was changing as my life was changing and we were going different directions….”

The radio host, 51, noted how it was “a great test” for the couple.

“Yeah, it was wild,” the “Watermelon Moonshine” performer replied. “You would think that somebody couldn’t handle that.”

Wilson explained that their relationship dynamic is a “whirlwind.”

“I mean, it’s not normal,” she said. “We don’t get to see each other as often as some couples do, but we also know that have is very special.”

Wilson added that “for the most part it’s hard,” but it’s also “easy.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Lainey Wilson and Devlin “Duck” Hodges at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.John Shearer/Getty

John Shearer/Getty

Despite her thriving romance, fans shouldn’t expect the Grammy winner to be churning out love songs.

“‘I love you’ has been said in a million different ways and we’re all just trying to find ways to say it different, but I don’t think I’ll ever be the love songwriter that’s super mushy gushy,” Wilson said.

The “Country’s Cool Again” singer has been dating Hodgessince 2021. However, they didn’t go public with their relationship until two years later when Wilson’s beau accompanied her to theACM Awardsin May 2023, wherethey made their red carpet debut.

Over the past few years, Wilson has largelytried to keep their relationship private.

“We want to keep that as sacred as we possibly can between me and him, and so far, it has worked for us,” she said.

source: people.com