One of several songs behind Lainey Wilson's recent rise to mainstream stardom, "Watermelon Moonshine" raised the bar for modern country singles that pay homage to the '90s— a trend that's elevated Cole Swindell, Kane Brown and others. In this case, Wilson hat-tips Deana Carter and her seminal 1996 hit "Strawberry Wine."
"This song embodies what country music means to me, creating a timeless story that will resonate with people for generations to come," Wilson shared in a press release. "This song is about the crazy, young, nostalgic love we all hope to experience."
Lainey Wilson co-wrote the song with Josh Kear and Jordan Schmidt. Its story about a steamy, summertime fling caught the attention of past love interests.
"Every guy I've ever dated in my life thinks this song is about them," Wilson told "Taste of Country." "'No! Don't you realize I dated other people besides you... I'm like, 'Boy, if that butters your biscuit, if that makes you feel good, you're right. I wrote it about you.'"
"Soul Sister" Deana Carter's a Fan
Carter took notice, as well. The "Strawberry Wine" hitmaker shared on TikTok her own rendition of Wilson's acoustic mashup of their two songs.
"So proud of my girl [Wilson] and per request I am returning the [song swap] with all the love in my heart!," Carter wrote in the caption, who adds in the video that Wilson's "knocking it out of the park" as a country singer-songwriter.
"Thank you for your influence, you the queen," Wilson said in her response video for someone she considers a "soul sister." "Beautiful inside and out. That is Deana Carter for you right there, y'all. One of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Loves people, loves the Lord."
Chart History and Industry Awards
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The song was released on May 30, 2022 as the second single from the album "Bell Bottom Country." In October, "Watermelon Moonshine" reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart, making it the first chart-topper by a solo woman since Wilson reached the same heights in 2021 with "Things a Man Oughta Know." "Watermelon Moonshine" stayed atop the chart for three weeks, making it the third multi-week No. 1 this decade by a solo woman, following Maren Morris' "The Bones" and Gabby Barrett's "The Good Ones."
Though neither the song nor its music video has picked up an industry award nomination, they're a key part of "Bell Bottom Country," which won the 2023 ACM award for Album of the Year and is in the running for the same prize from the CMA.
