Lainey Wilson Sings “Just To See You Smile” For Tim McGraw’s CMHOF Induction
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Lainey Wilson helped celebrate fellow Louisiana native Tim McGraw as he was officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The CMHOF Class of 2026 was formally welcomed into the hall with a medallion ceremony on Sunday, October 18th. The invitation-only event was hosted in the Museum’s CMA Theater and brought together friends, family, colleagues, and fellow Country Music Hall of Fame members for the occasion.
Additionally, bronze plaques bearing the inductees’ images were unveiled for the first time during the ceremony, to be hung permanently in the Museum’s Rotunda.
This year’s esteemed CMHOF inductees are:
- Tim McGraw – Modern Era Artist
- The Stanley Brothers – Veteran Era Artist
- Paul Overstreet – Songwriter
When Tim McGraw was announced as part of the class of 2026, he gave credit to the women in his life and shared:
“Everyone who knows me knows that I wouldn’t be standing here today if it weren’t for great women in my life… From my grandmother, to my mom, my sisters, my daughters, and most of all, my wife…thank you baby. I would not be standing here today if it wasn’t for you, nor would I want to be. And, I can’t wait for the day when I’m sitting there, and you’re standing here.”
Lainey Wilson’s Surprising Connection To Tim McGraw
Beyond hailing from the same state, Lainey Wilson and Tim McGraw share an unexpected connection. McGraw’s hometown of Start, Louisiana, is just a 20-minute drive from Baskin, where Wilson calls home.
Coincidentally, her stepmother used to babysit McGraw when he was young. Being 25 years apart in age, Wilson even wrote the country star a letter when she was 18, which included a CD, asking him to listen to her music.
Despite the family connection, the pair did not meet until 2026, when they united backstage at CMA Fest in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lainey Wilson Performs At The Class of 2026 CMHOF Induction
With their kismet story and shared success in country music, Lainey Wilson was the perfect choice to perform in Tim McGraw’s honor. She joyfully delivered a rendition of “Just To See You Smile.”
McGraw released “Just To See You Smile” in August 1997 as the third single from his fourth studio album, Everywhere. The song set what was then a record for being the longest-running single on the Billboard country chart, spending 42 weeks in the top 10. Additionally, it became the longest chart run for any country single in the 1990s.
Before she performed, Wilson shared that McGraw’s show was her very first concert, and she was so young that her mother took her and her sister in a double stroller. While she sang, the new CMHOF honoree watched on with his wife, Faith Hill, and their daughters by his side.
Watch Lainey Wilson perform “Just To See You Smile” during Tim McGraw’s CMHOF induction below!
@laurenbraddock Great night at the country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony. Lainey Wilson performing for Tim McGraw. #musicnewsfrommusiccity #laineywilson #timmcgraw #countrymusichalloffame ♬ original sound – Lauren Braddock (Havey)❌💜
