If you’ve turned on a country radio station lately, you’ve heard it. That raspy, soulful voice singing about Mason jars and "seventeen" and a love that tasted like a cheap bottle of flavored liquor. It’s a sound that feels like a warm Tennessee breeze. It’s authentic. Honestly, it’s exactly what country music needed.
So, who sings Watermelon Moonshine? The short answer is Lainey Wilson. But the long answer is a bit more interesting because it involves a girl from a town of 300 people who spent years living in a trailer before she became the face of modern Bell Bottom Country.
Lainey Wilson didn't just record this song; she lived it. Released as the second single from her 2022 album Bell Bottom Country, "Watermelon Moonshine" became a massive number-one hit. It isn't just a catchy tune. It’s a time machine.
Why Watermelon Moonshine Feels So Familiar
A lot of people, when they first heard the track, did a double-take. Was it Deana Carter? The comparisons to "Strawberry Wine" were everywhere. It makes sense. Both songs deal with that fleeting, reckless innocence of being young and thinking you’ve found the person you’re going to be with forever, even if you’re just drinking something sweet in the back of a truck.
Lainey has been very open about this influence. She’s a fan of the 90s era. You can hear that "Strawberry Wine" DNA in the production—the slow build, the storytelling, the way the vocals feel like they’re being whispered right into your ear. But Lainey brings a grit that is uniquely hers. She’s got this Louisiana twang that sounds like home.
The Baskin, Louisiana Connection
Lainey grew up in Baskin. It’s tiny. We are talking one stoplight—maybe. Her dad was a farmer, and her mom was a teacher. When she moved to Nashville in 2011, she didn't have a record deal or a fancy apartment. She lived in a flag-adorned trailer parked outside a recording studio. For years. That’s where the soul of who sings Watermelon Moonshine comes from. It’s not a manufactured Nashville product. It’s the result of a decade of "no" before she finally got a "yes."
The Songwriting Team Behind the Magic
While Lainey is the face and the voice, songwriting in Nashville is a team sport. She wrote this one with Jordan Schmidt and Josh Kear. Josh Kear is a heavyweight in the industry—he’s the guy behind Carrie Underwood’s "Before He Cheats" and NeedYou Now" by Lady A.
The goal wasn't to copy the past. It was to capture a feeling.
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They wanted to write something that felt nostalgic but current. The lyrics are specific. "Right there in the middle of a cotton row." That’s a real image from Lainey’s childhood. When she sings about that "pink lemonade" flavored moonshine, she’s talking about those moments where you’re trying to act grown-up but you’re still basically a kid.
The production, handled by Jay Joyce, is intentionally sparse. Jay is known for working with Eric Church and Miranda Lambert. He knows how to let a voice breathe. In "Watermelon Moonshine," the instruments don't crowd the lyrics. You hear the steel guitar. You hear the heartbeat of the drum. Most importantly, you hear Lainey’s phrasing. She lingers on certain words, making you feel the heat of that summer night.
The Music Video and the "Yellowstone" Effect
You can't talk about who sings Watermelon Moonshine without mentioning Yellowstone. Lainey Wilson’s career went into overdrive when she was cast as Abby in the fifth season of the hit Taylor Sheridan show.
She played a musician. She wore her signature bell bottoms. She sang her songs.
It was the perfect marketing machine. Suddenly, millions of people who didn't follow country radio were introduced to her. "Watermelon Moonshine" fits the vibe of the show perfectly—it’s rugged, it’s romantic, and it feels tied to the land.
The official music video for the song doesn't actually feature Lainey as the main character. Instead, it follows a young couple. It stars Rachel Lynn Matthews and Sam Sherrod. It plays out like a short film. The acting is genuinely good, which is rare for music videos. It captures that awkward, beautiful, "first time" energy that the song describes. Lainey appears as a narrator of sorts, singing from a field, looking like she’s reflecting on her own past.
Breaking Down the Lyrics: What It Really Means
The song starts with a memory. A "quarter-mile off of 191."
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It’s about a first love. But it’s also about the things we use to bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood. Moonshine is the symbol here. It’s illegal, it’s strong, and it represents a "grown-up" world that the protagonists aren't quite ready for.
- The Mason Jar: A staple of Southern life. It’s used for canning, for water, and, yes, for moonshine.
- The Tailgate: The universal Southern couch.
- The "Blurred Lines": The song acknowledges that they were "too young to know any better." There’s a lack of regret in the lyrics that makes it feel honest. It isn't a "warning" song. It’s a "this is what happened" song.
Lainey has said in interviews that "Watermelon Moonshine" is about that time in your life when you didn't have a care in the world. No bills. No "real world" problems. Just a girl, a boy, and a bottle of something that tasted like candy but kicked like a mule.
Lainey Wilson’s Rise to the Top
Before this song, Lainey had "Things a Man Oughta Know." That was her breakout. It won Song of the Year at the ACMs. But "Watermelon Moonshine" solidified her as a superstar. It proved she wasn't a one-hit-wonder.
In 2023 and 2024, she started sweeping every awards show. CMA Entertainer of the Year. Grammy for Best Country Album. She’s the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year in years.
People love her because she’s real. She wears the hats. She wears the flares. She talks about "toughness" and "heart." When people ask who sings Watermelon Moonshine, they aren't just finding a name; they’re finding a movement. She calls it Bell Bottom Country. It’s a blend of 70s rock, 90s country, and modern storytelling.
Critical Reception and Impact
Critics have praised the song for its "vivid imagery." Rolling Stone pointed out how Lainey’s voice has a "crackle" to it that makes the nostalgia feel earned. It’s not polished to death. You can hear the emotion.
It also performed incredibly well on the charts. It wasn't just a country hit; it crossed over. It’s the kind of song that people play at weddings, at graduations, and at backyard barbecues. It has that "timeless" quality that is incredibly hard to manufacture in a studio.
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Common Misconceptions About the Song
Some people think "Watermelon Moonshine" is a party anthem. It’s not. If you listen to the tempo, it’s a ballad. It’s mid-tempo, leaning towards slow. It’s a reflective piece.
Another misconception is that it’s a cover. It’s not. While it pays homage to "Strawberry Wine," it is an original composition.
There’s also a bit of confusion about the timeline. Some fans think it was written specifically for Yellowstone. While it was featured on the show, it was written as part of her album process before she even knew she’d be playing the character of Abby. The show just gave it a massive platform.
How to Experience Lainey Wilson’s Music Now
If you’re just discovering the woman who sings Watermelon Moonshine, you have a lot of catching up to do. She’s prolific.
- Listen to the full album "Bell Bottom Country": It’s not just "Watermelon Moonshine." Tracks like "Heart Like A Truck" and "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" show her range.
- Watch her live performances: Lainey is a powerhouse on stage. She’s been touring relentlessly, opening for Luke Combs and then headlining her own "Country’s Cool Again" tour.
- Check out her collaborations: She’s worked with Cole Swindell ("Never Say Never") and Hardy ("Wait in the Truck"). These songs show her ability to adapt to different styles while keeping her core sound.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to dive deeper into the world of the artist behind this hit, here is what you should do:
- Track her tour dates: She is frequently on the road. Her live show is where the "Bell Bottom Country" vibe really comes to life.
- Follow her on social media: Lainey is very active on TikTok and Instagram. She shares a lot of behind-the-scenes content about her life on the farm and her life on the bus.
- Explore her influences: To understand her sound, go back and listen to Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and The Chicks. You’ll hear the threads of those legends in her work.
- Support local country radio: Songs like this thrive because of local stations. Call in and request your favorite tracks.
Lainey Wilson is more than just the answer to a trivia question. She’s a shift in the genre. She’s bringing back the "story" in country music. "Watermelon Moonshine" is the perfect example of that. It’s simple, it’s sweet, and it’s 100% real.
The next time you’re driving down a backroad and that familiar intro starts, you won’t just know who sings it. You’ll know the years of struggle, the Louisiana dirt, and the 90s inspiration that made it a modern classic. That’s the power of a great song. It stops being just music and starts being a part of your own memory.