Watch: Lainey Wilson Reveals Unexpected Surprise For Ashely Cooke
By Kelly Fisher
December 11, 2023
What does Ashley Cooke have in common with Carly Pearce, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson?
Cooke recently got the ultimate surprise when Wilson revealed the answer. Cooke shared a video of that moment on Instagram on Monday (December 11).
“You are the iHeartCountry On The Verge Artist,” the Bell Bottom Country powerhouse revealed as Cooke dropped her jaw. She responded to Wilson: “Dude, thank you for telling me, too. It means a lot coming from you. Holy crap, you guys!”
Wilson told Cooke, who recently performed in the Opry NextStage Class of 2023, that becoming an iHeartCountry On The Verge Artist “was one of the biggest turning points in my life, period. This changed it all. So, I’m so proud for you.”
Cooke wrote in her Instagram caption that she, “didn’t have becoming the next [iHeartCountry] ‘on the verge’ artist on my bingo card for 2023.. let alone having the torch passed down from my girl [Lainey Wilson]. this is truly something I’ve worked so hard for for so, so long and I’m ridiculously honored to have this opportunity. let’s do this 2024!!! 🤟”
Cooke, who joined Luke Bryan’s headlining tour over the summer, released her full-length debut album over the summer, and even shared stories behind her music and revealed snippets of then-unreleased tracks during her exclusive iHeartCountry Album Preview Party hosted by iHeartRadio's Brooke Taylor in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The 24-track album, shot in the dark, includes collaborations with Nate Smith, Colbie Caillat, Jackson Dean and Brett Young. it also includes “it’s been a year,” “moving on with grace,” “getting into,” “your place,” “never til now” and other fan-favorites.
“I've waited my whole life to release my debut album – growing up with this dream and finally getting to see it come to reality is something I can barely believe,” Cooke reflected at the time. “It's not lost on me I'm getting to share my diary with fans during a pivotal time in my life when I'm living out so many emotions and firsts every single day, and that's what's reflected in these 24 songs. The coolest part is that I'll have this time capsule for the rest of my life and I hope listeners get transported to those specific moments and feelings in their own lives, too.”