Country Star Lainey Wilson's Playful Nickname Lie That Won Over Fiancé

In an interview published on October 2, 2025, country music star Lainey Wilson, 33, shared details about her relationship with her fiancé, Devlin "Duck" Hodges, 29. Wilson revealed that on their first date, she fabricated a nickname for herself, telling Hodges that people call her "Goose," in order to win him over.

Hodges, a former NFL player-turned-real estate agent, actually got his "Duck" nickname from his college football coach, who said he reminded the coach of a talented quarterback named Duck. Wilson admitted that Hodges "fell for" her made-up nickname, and she joked, "I think he was like, 'Oh, I'm in love.'"

The "Somewhere Over Laredo" singer also lamented her lack of cooking skills, but said Hodges doesn't mind since he is an accomplished cook himself. "My fiancé definitely likes me for a lot of other reasons, because if he was dependent on my cooking, he'd be gone by now," Wilson said.

Wilson and Hodges announced their engagement in February 2023 and have been dating since 2021. Wilson is set to host the 2025 CMA Awards in November, and she expressed pride in the current state of country music, saying, "Country music is having a moment, and I'm proud to be a part of that moment."