Just watch Lainey Wilson, who oozed over-the-top country exuberance with her performance of “4x4xU” in 2024 at the 58th Annual CMA Awards. It is about a person and their perfect match, like a 4×4 truck. The lyrics convey the joy of being at home and ease in each other’s presence, be it driving through the countryside or just hanging out. That chorus, “In a 4x4xU,” seems like a celebration of this bond — like what you were doing together meant as much as where you were going.
The imagery of a road trip is brought to life in each verse, with Lainey belting out: Carrying a feeling of making a visit from the bayou to Kentucky or even Timbuktu. The song is about loving someone and enjoying the open road, nature, and being together. The song is timeless easy to relate to, and Lainey’s performance at the CMA Awards makes the audience feel like they’re part of the story.
4x4xU (Live from the 58th Annual CMA Awards)
With a fun, upbeat rhythm and Lainey’s lively energy onstage, it’s not just a love song it’s about life. You can tell from her performance that she’s truly living the moment with you. Along with a fast-paced tempo, the lyrics make for the kind of song you can envision yourself singing along to in a roadway with the wind in your hair and the windows down.
After the frenetic energy of “4x4xU,” Lainey Wilson’s “Whirlwind” offers an emotional detour. This track makes a literal rollercoaster out of love and life, with Lainey talking back and forth between emotions and experiences. The music video for “Whirlwind” features Lainey in various charged scenes of her journey, chronicling the highs and lows of living life in the fast lane. These lyrics emphasize how truly living in the moment is both a passion and an intense ordeal at times.
Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind (Official Music Video)
“Whirlwind” conveys the sense of losing control of life’s unpredictability. Lainey’s voice here is powerful and vulnerable, singing words about the excitement and madness that accompanies falling in love and pursuing your dreams. The whirlwind is a metaphor for the wild pace at which life moves, and Lainey is ready to roll with the punches — acknowledging that no matter how crazy things get, she’s there for the ride.
Lainey Wilson knows how to match the down-home seriousness of country music with the enthusiasm of contemporary living. Whether she’s deciding never to marry while driving cross-country or inviting us along for the wild ride of life, her songs have a way of capturing the essence of life. For the latest on Lainey, including music, shows, and news, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter!