Lainey Wilson’s Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit: Tough As Nails
A look back at the outfits, childhood items, and career memorabilia featured in Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Last Updated: September 7, 2026
Lainey Wilson’s Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit, Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails, was displayed at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville from July 18, 2025, through June 2026. The exhibit traced Wilson’s story from growing up on her family’s farm in Baskin, Louisiana, to building her career in Nashville and becoming one of country music’s biggest stars.
The exhibit brought together childhood keepsakes, stage outfits, award-show fashion, Grand Ole Opry memorabilia, and other items connected to important moments throughout Wilson’s life and career. Although Tough As Nails has now closed, here’s a look back at what fans were able to see inside the Lainey Wilson exhibit.
Lainey Wilson Exhibit — Quick Facts
Exhibit: Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails
Dates: July 18, 2025 – June 2026
Location: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville
Status: Exhibit has ended
Focus: Lainey Wilson’s childhood, music career, stage fashion, and rise to country music stardom
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum designed the exhibit to explore both Wilson’s early years in Louisiana and the work that went into building her career in Nashville. Museum CEO Kyle Young pointed to Wilson’s talent, determination, and years of work in Nashville as important parts of the story told through the exhibit.
Wilson described having an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as a “dream come true” and said it was especially meaningful to have items from her Louisiana childhood included alongside pieces representing her career.
What Was Inside the Lainey Wilson Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit
The Tough As Nails exhibit covered several stages of Wilson’s life, from her childhood in Louisiana to some of her biggest career moments.
Career Milestones
CMA Awards red-carpet outfits
Grand Ole Opry debut attire
Yellowstone wardrobe
Stagewear from major performances
Personal and Early Life Items
Childhood journal
Cheerleading uniform
Childhood saddle
First performance program
One of Wilson’s early hats
Her first electric guitar
Lainey Wilson Fashion and Stagewear
Wrangler stage ensembles
NFL Thanksgiving halftime outfit
Whirlwind album photoshoot look
Disney Legends ceremony outfit
CMA Awards fashion
The museum also displayed Wilson’s first electric guitar, which was given to her by her father when she was 11, along with the program documenting her first public performance at her kindergarten graduation.
Lainey Wilson’s 2023 CMA Awards Outfit
The exhibit featured the Carolina Herrera-designed strapless satin bell-bottom jumpsuit with ruffled pant hems that Lainey Wilson wore on the red carpet at the 2023 CMA Awards.
Lainey Wilson’s High School Cheerleading Outfit
One of the more personal pieces in the exhibit was Wilson’s cheerleading outfit from Franklin Academy, her high school in Franklin Parish, Louisiana.
Lainey Wilson’s 2024 Disney Legends Stage Outfit
The exhibit also included the vest, sleeveless top, denim necktie, jeans, belt, and hat Wilson wore during the Disney Legends ceremony on August 11, 2024. Wilson performed “Best of Both Worlds” as a tribute to Disney Legends honoree Miley Cyrus.
Other Items Featured in Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails
The Lainey Wilson exhibit included an extensive collection of clothing, keepsakes, and memorabilia representing different stages of her life and career.
The first tooled leather saddle Wilson used as a child.
A Montana Silversmiths custom-made silver and gold belt buckle engraved with the brand of her family’s farm in Baskin, Louisiana, which Wilson wore to the CMA Awards in 2022.
Wilson’s journal from when she was 16, documenting her goal of becoming a country singer and songwriter.
A program from Baskin School’s kindergarten graduation, which listed Wilson’s performance of “Butterfly Kisses.” The museum identified it as her first public performance.
One of Wilson’s first hats, given to her by another musician and hatmaker.
A fringed Go Vicki! jacket belonging to Wilson’s mother that Wilson wore during a 2018 performance at Saddlebags in Savannah, Georgia.
A rhinestone-covered Wrangler trench coat, denim vest, jeans, and Charlie 1 Horse by Lainey Wilson hat worn during the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants Thanksgiving Day halftime show on November 28, 2024.
The sequined tank top Wilson wore while impersonating Hannah Montana in the late 2000s.
The floral-pattern shirt, studded bell bottoms, and rhinestone-covered belt Wilson wore for her Grand Ole Opry debut on February 14, 2020.
A rhinestone Wrangler vest, feather-and-rhinestone Wrangler jeans, and metallic bustier worn during her “Country’s Cool Again” performance at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on June 1, 2024.
The Wrangler denim vest and studded jeans Wilson wore as Abby in the series finale of Yellowstone while performing “Hang Tight Honey” at Billy Bob’s Texas.
A Dolce & Gabbana leather shirt and Alice + Olivia suede bell bottoms worn during the photoshoot for Wilson’s 2024 album, Whirlwind.
A patchwork-pattern Norma Kamali blazer and matching bell bottoms worn during Wilson’s first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in May 2022.
Together, the pieces showed how Wilson’s personal style became part of her career while also giving fans a look at items from long before she became a nationally known country artist.
Lainey Wilson Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit FAQ
Is the Lainey Wilson exhibit still open?
No. Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails opened July 18, 2025, and remained on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum through June 2026.
What was in the Lainey Wilson exhibit?
The exhibit featured items from throughout Wilson’s life and career, including childhood keepsakes, stagewear, CMA Awards outfits, Grand Ole Opry memorabilia, her childhood saddle, journal, first electric guitar, and clothing from major performances.
Where was the Lainey Wilson exhibit?
Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails was displayed at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
What Lainey Wilson outfits were displayed?
The exhibit included several recognizable Lainey Wilson outfits, including her 2023 CMA Awards look, Grand Ole Opry debut stagewear, 2024 Thanksgiving halftime outfit, Disney Legends ensemble, Yellowstone wardrobe, and clothing connected to her Whirlwind album.
When did the Lainey Wilson exhibit close?
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum listed Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails as running through June 2026.
Lainey Wilson: Tough As Nails offered fans a look at the personal items, clothing, and career memorabilia behind Wilson’s journey from rural Louisiana to country music stardom. Even though the exhibit has ended, the collection provides a look back at the moments and personal pieces that helped tell her story.