Lainey Wilson on Keeping Her Relationship with Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges Private

Lainey Wilson considers her romantic relationship to be “sacred.”

In a cover story with Billboard, the country star, 31, opened up about her relationship with Devlin “Duck” Hodges — with whom she went public at the ACM Awards in May 2023 — and what she chooses to keep to herself.

Wilson has looked to Dolly Parton, whose relationship with husband Carl Thomas Dean has largely been private throughout their 57-year marriage, for guidance.

“When it comes to mine and Duck’s relationship, there’s going to be some things that we can’t escape and people are going to say and do whatever, but me and him are on the same page about the less we put out there, the less that we’re going to have to deal with people making anything up and saying anything,” she told the publication. “We want to keep that as sacred as we possibly can between me and him, and so far, it has worked for us.”

The “Jolene” artist, 78, also spoke about her admiration for Wilson in the article.

“In this business, as in any other, you have to sacrifice and compromise to get things done,” Parton said. “But I believe Lainey, like myself, will never sacrifice her principles and values for a dollar bill.”

Wilson has been dating the former NFL player-turned-real estate agent since 2021, but they didn’t go public with their relationship until two years later when Hodges accompanied Wilson to the ACM Awards in May 2023, where they made their red carpet debut.

Speaking to host Bobby Bones about their private relationship, the Grammy winner said Hodges is “a good dude” who has “been around for a while.”

Wilson added, “But I’ll tell you, he is good as gold. Supports me, would never come in between anything that I’m trying to do.”

In an interview with PEOPLE, the “Dirty Looks” musician spoke about how much her other half’s support meant to her: “Duck is the kind of dude who high-fives me on the way in the door and on the way out and says, ‘Go get it.’ He knows how important this dream is to me.”

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On Thursday, May 9, Wilson announced her fifth studio album, Whirlwind, sharing the news on Instagram alongside the cover artwork.

She captioned the post: “That’s what my life has been the last couple years. I hope this record brings peace to your ‘whirlwind’ and wraps its arms around you like it did me when I was writing and recording it. August 23. Pre-order and pre-save it now!”

In addition to her upcoming record, the “Dirty Looks” musician will open Bell Bottoms Up, a three-story restaurant and bar in Nashville and she will star in the Hulu special Lainey Wilson: Bell Bottom Country, which will air May 29 — just two days prior to the kick-off of her Country’s Cool Again Tour on Friday, May 31.