Last Updated: September 6, 2026
Lainey Wilson has built a career on songs about real life, grit, and heart. Fans searching for “Lainey Wilson husband” want the same authenticity in her personal story. The country star is married to former NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges. Their relationship moved from a quiet Nashville blind date to a private waterfall wedding in Tennessee, and it still feels grounded. Here’s the full, straightforward look at the man beside one of country music’s biggest voices.
Table of Contents
Who Is Devlin “Duck” Hodges?
Devlin Hodges, better known as Duck, is a former professional football player turned entrepreneur. He played quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and had stops with other teams before retiring in 2022. The nickname “Duck” stuck from his college days at Samford University and fits his love of duck hunting.
After football, Hodges shifted into real estate, focusing on land and recreational properties. He keeps a lower public profile than his wife, which seems to suit both of them. Friends and reports describe him as steady, supportive, and someone who matched Wilson’s pace without needing the spotlight. At the time of their 2026 wedding, he was 30 while Wilson was 33–34.
How Lainey Wilson and Duck Hodges Met and Fell in Love
The pair were set up through mutual friends in 2021, right as Wilson’s career was gaining serious momentum in Nashville. Their first date started with dinner by the water and ended at a honky-tonk. Wilson later joked that she told him people called her “Goose” just to play off his nickname. It worked. They became nearly inseparable from the start.
They kept the relationship private for more than two years. Wilson has said she wanted to make sure he was in it for the right reasons. Their first major public appearance came at the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards. From there, the relationship stayed low-key but steady through her rising fame, tours, and awards.
Engagement and the Dreamy Tennessee Wedding
Hodges proposed in February 2025 on the front steps of the late George Jones’ former estate in Franklin, Tennessee. He arranged candles, framed photos of their years together, and a custom multi-stone diamond engagement ring that mixed styles Wilson had admired. She has called the moment perfect.
They married on May 10, 2026, at Ruskin Cave in Dickson, Tennessee. The couple spotted a billboard for the venue while driving country backroads and decided on the spot. The ceremony took place on a cobblestone ledge in front of a waterfall. Key details included:
- Wilson arriving in a white horse-drawn carriage and walking down the aisle with her father
- A custom Oscar de la Renta gown featuring Japanese cherry blossoms
- Hodges in a mallard-green bespoke suit with a bolo tie and cowboy boots
- Officiant Wes Williams, a close friend and mentor of Wilson
- Communion shared during the ceremony
- A guest list that included fellow country artists and close family
The reception leaned into Wilson’s Louisiana roots with Cajun food and a lively send-off. Just a week later, the newlyweds appeared together at the 2026 ACM Awards, where Wilson debuted her diamond wedding band.
Key Facts About Lainey Wilson’s Husband and Marriage
Detail Information Full Name Devlin “Duck” Hodges Profession Former NFL quarterback; real estate entrepreneur How They Met Blind date via mutual friends in Nashville, 2021 Engagement February 2025 at George Jones estate Wedding Date & Place May 10, 2026 – Ruskin Cave, Dickson, Tennessee Public Debut as Couple 2023 ACM Awards Current Status Married since May 2026
Why This Relationship Feels Authentic
Wilson and Hodges have kept their private life mostly private even as her career exploded. They support each other’s worlds—hers on stage and red carpets, his in business and quieter pursuits—without forcing the other into a mold. Wilson has spoken about still getting used to calling him her husband in the weeks after the wedding, a small detail that makes the whole story feel human.
In a genre full of polished narratives, their path stands out for its simplicity: a blind date that stuck, a thoughtful proposal at a place that mattered, and a wedding they chose themselves on a Tennessee backroad. As of September 2026, Lainey Wilson’s husband remains the same steady presence fans first noticed years ago. That consistency may be the most country thing about their love story.
Pingback: Lainey Wilson Husband Age Difference: How Much Older Is the Country Star Than Duck Hodges? - GMD Calibration