Lainey Wilson is on the brink of releasing her new album, Whirlwind, and she recently shared her feelings of both excitement and anxiety about it.

Lainey Wilson has quickly become a leading figure in country music. Since her breakout album, Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’, in 2021, she has achieved remarkable success. She has won a Grammy, six ACM Awards, and seven CMA Awards, including the Entertainer of the Year.

Now, Lainey Wilson’s fifth studio album, titled Whirlwind, is set to drop on August 23. She has described it as her “most cathartic and personal piece of art” to date. Because of this, she is a bit more anxious to share it.

During an interview with Newsweek, the Opry member likened the experience of releasing an album to sending your child off to school. At first, there’s excitement for the journey ahead, but as the moment gets closer, the anxiety begins to creep in.

“Somebody actually explained it to me the other day. They said [an album is] like your four-year-old kid who is about to go to preschool,” she shared. “There’s a time where you’re like, ‘Man, I can’t wait for them to go to school.’ And the closer it gets to actually sending them off to school, you start getting a little anxious. And that’s kind of where I’m at right now.”

Reflecting on her songwriting process, Lainey revealed that her current relationship has inspired her to explore new themes in her music. After the success of her Grammy-winning album Bell Bottom Country, she found herself writing love songs that express her newfound happiness.

“I wanted to show that I do have that side of me too,” she explained.

Creating her Whirlwind album has provided Lainey with a sense of stability amid the chaos of her life.

“Writing and recording this record just brought me a lot of peace during a time of my life that was constantly changing and spinning around and around, like a whirlwind. So it made me feel grounded and it made me feel at home. And that’s how I hope people feel when they hear it,” Lainey revealed.