Lainey Wilson fiancé Devlin Hodges steps into spotlight as couple shares engagement journey
Lainey Wilson credits her fiancé, Devlin “Duck” Hodges, with bringing a new sense of warmth and steadiness into her life, though the couple is in no hurry to plan their wedding. In an August 2025 conversation with PEOPLE, Wilson said that despite their February engagement, they are taking their time before moving toward the aisle.
Wilson and Hodges first began dating in 2021 but chose to keep their relationship private for over two years. Their public debut came at the 2023 ACM Awards, where Hodges accompanied her on the red carpet. Wilson told PEOPLE that Hodges helped her truly understand love and inspired her to write more honest love songs.
Hodges’ nickname, “Duck,” originated during his time playing football at Samford University. Wilson explained on The Bobby Bones Show in June 2023 that his coach compared him to a former quarterback he admired, who also went by “Duck,” and the name stuck with the team. Wilson later joked to Southern Living in October 2025 that she teased Hodges by claiming her friends called her “Goose” on their first date.
After college, Hodges played two seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. He later played in the CFL for the Ottawa Redblacks and retired from professional football in April 2022. Following his retirement, he began working in real estate, first with Mossy Oak Properties in Louisiana and later joining Myers Cobb Realtors in April 2024.
Wilson recalled in a June 2023 PEOPLE interview that she and Hodges met through mutual friends in Nashville. Their first date took place at Silverados, a local spot known for inexpensive drinks and live music, which she said made her feel confident they were compatible. Although they connected quickly, Wilson chose to keep the relationship private, telling PEOPLE she wanted to be sure Hodges was “in it for the right reasons.”
The pair confirmed their relationship publicly at the 58th ACM Awards in 2023, where Wilson earned four wins out of six nominations. Since then, Hodges has grown close with many of Wilson’s friends in the country music community, something she has joked about, telling PEOPLE that he has “stolen” buddies like HARDY, Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs.
Hodges has joined Wilson at several major events, including the 2023 and 2024 CMA Awards. He was with her when she won Entertainer of the Year in 2023, a moment during which she thanked him from the stage. He also supported her as she hosted the 2024 ceremony and took home Female Video of the Year.
In February 2025, the couple announced their engagement through a joint Instagram post captioned “4x4xU forever,” referencing Wilson’s song of the same name. In her August 2025 PEOPLE interview, Wilson said they are not rushing to marry but shared that she is especially excited about choosing her wedding dress, adding that she hopes Hodges will be emotional when he sees her walking down the aisle.