2023 CMT Music Awards: Lainey Wilson Admits She's Nervous ...

Lainey Wilson not only won the first award on the CMT Music Awards broadcast -- Collaborative Video of the Year with HARDY for "wait in the truck" -- but she got the news that her current single "Heart Like a Truck" would officially be No. 1 on Monday. So, when she stepped on stage for her solo performance on the awards show, she knew she was singing the No. 1 song in the country.

"I'm nervous, I'll be honest with you," Wilson said before the show. "Like, I'm nervous. I'm excited."

Wilson explained that technically the song would be No. 1 on Monday but that people were already posting the stat, so she felt confident talking about it. She was excited to perform "Heart Like a Truck" with her band -- players she said showed up whenever she asked them to.

"If we have an opportunity, they say, 'Tell me when to be there and how to get there,'" she said before she went on stage. "It's just going to be a powerful performance. There's gonna be some fire."

Wilson took the stage through a foggy haze in metallic animal print bell bottoms. Her long blond hair hung nearly to her waist as she sang about the impact a lifetime of heartbreak had on her. As promised, flames shot from behind the stage. When she finished, the crowd roared and she emotionally patted her heart. 

Shortly after her performance, Wilson won Female Video of the Year with "Heart Like a Truck."

She explained it was filmed, written and directed by women. Then she thanked Jesus, CMT and the fans. 

"I feel like I'm watching my dreams come true right before my eyes," she said.