In the span of a few short years, reigning CMA entertainer of the year Lainey Wilson has lit up television screens as part of the hit television series Yellowstone, on awards show stages, and in her own music videos. But on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 11), Wilson will get one of her biggest television spotlights yet, thanks to a cameo in the upcoming Coors Light Super Bowl ad, which will feature the return of the Coors Light Chill Train, and Billboard has an exclusive behind-the-scenes photo above.
“I think my family’s going to freak out when they see me on a commercial during the Super Bowl,” Wilson tells Billboard. “It was such a dream to be in my first big game day and just help reintroduce the Coors Light iconic Chill Train to bring a little bit of that chill that everybody needs. We need that chill out from time to time.”
Wilson is highlighted in the ad, in a scene that features the singer-songwriter in the middle of a photo shoot when the Coors Light Chill Train whizzes by, leaving Wilson in the frost.
“I was doing a photo shoot with my old trusty guitar and a horse that Coors Light hooked me up with,” says Wilson, who filmed her cameo at Los Angeles’ Paramount Studio. “We had some really cool frosted makeup effects and we got to do a lot of fake snow in my hair and eyelashes and stuff. I got to do something that I’ve never done and got to be creative in different kind of ways, which is always fun for me.”
Wilson’s cameo in the Coors Light Super Bowl ad is part of a larger, multi-year partnership between the musician and Coors Light, which will also serve as the official partner for her 2024 Country’s Cool Again tour, which launches May 31 at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater.
Wilson will get to see the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers in person this year when she attends the game in Las Vegas.
“I’m excited to see me some [Super Bowl Halftime Show performer] Usher, and I’m excited for the game, too,” she said. “This is my second year to ever go to the Super Bowl, and any time you get invited to go to the Super Bowl, you go. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I’m getting to go with some of my friends and other artists. It’s going to be a party.”
Speaking of parties, Wilson also dished on some of her favorite Super Bowl party snacks.
“I’m from Louisiana, so we’re going to keep it spicy and then cool it down with a bit of Coors Light. I love jalapeño poppers, the jalapeños with the cream cheese and wrapped in bacon. I could eat my weight in those, and then some good chips and salsa, some queso — anything with a little kick in it.”
As for which team Wilson might be rooting for during the Super Bowl, she quips, “Oh Lord have mercy. I’m going to be wearing red either way, right? I will say I did get to meet [Chiefs players] Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. They came to a show of mine last summer and they’re really great people. So, if I had to root for somebody, it might be them.”
Not only will fans see Wilson in the new Super Bowl ad, they can be part of it, too. The new Coors Light Super Bowl spot will also harness the power of CGI, allowing 100 “passengers” to “book” a seat on the Coors Light Chill Train — including seats next to Wilson. Coors Light will release an extended “slo-mo” version of the ad online on game day so that viewers can see all 100 passengers on board as the Coors Light Chill Train rolls by. Coors Light will open up new batches of seats for booking daily at 1 p.m. ET through Friday, Feb. 2, at coorslightchilltrain.com. Once a “passenger” confirms a seat, they can upload a photo of themselves, which will be dropped into the advertisement through CGI. Passengers who secure a seat will also receive an official contract, $500 in talent fees for being in the spot and limited-edition commemorative swag.
Prior to launching her Country’s Cool Again tour, Wilson will head to Australia and Europe for a run of shows. She has also been in the studio working on new music, saying, “I feel like I’m always writing for the next record, and I’m so excited about the stuff we are working on now.”
Given the success of not only her solo hits, but her collabs with artists including Jelly Roll (their Grammy-nominated track “Save Me”) and HARDY (the multiple CMA Award-winning “Wait in the Truck”), Wilson says she’s hopeful her next project will feature some collabs, too.
“I’m excited to have some collaborations of my own, hopefully,” Wilson says. “Fingers crossed, we can get it all worked out, but the more the merrier. I’m all about collaborating.”
