Two-time GMA Dove Award winner and CCM/country singer-songwriter Anne Wilson teamed with reigning CMA and ACM entertainer of the year Lainey Wilson to create a visual component to complement their collaboration “Praying Woman. In the process, the pair highlighted the importance of women uplifting and supporting women, whether spiritually, emotionally, or musically.
The song, featured on Anne’s recent album Rebel, was inspired by a conversation the two artists had regarding their respective families — and in particular, their faith-filled mothers.
“I loved working with her,” Anne previously told Billboard. “I met Lainey on Instagram in 2020. Then we met [in person] last year, and we wrote the song the same day… We were talking about our moms, and we both remember our moms praying a lot when we were kids, getting on their knees and praying for things, and we got to write a song to honor our moms and talk about what it means to be a woman who prays and faith.”
Kentucky native Anne Wilson and Louisiana native Lainey Wilson wrote “Praying Woman” with Trannie Anderson, Jeff Pardo and Matthew West.
The two singer-songwriters filmed the video for “Praying Woman” backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, in the Opry’s “Women of Country” dressing room, which features photos of women artists including Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood. The setting was appropriate, given that Anne is a member of this year’s Grand Ole Opry NextStage program, which supports the discovery of new artists across the brand’s platforms. Lainey was a member of the program in 2021 and has continued supporting artists that are part of the program. Meanwhile, Lainey was also inducted into the Grand Ole Opry earlier this month.
“When Lainey and I wrote this song last year, I knew it was a special one. But to perform it in the Women of Country dressing room, where so many of the greats came before us, was a feeling I’ll never forget,” Anne said in a statement. “Lainey is like a big sister to me and I’m so blessed to have a mentor like her in my corner.”
In addition to “Praying Woman,” Anne’s Rebel project includes her top 5 Billboard Christian Airplay hit “Strong,” while Rebel debuted at No. 10 on the top Country Albums Chart and spent three weeks at the pinnacle of the Top Christian Albums chart.
Watch Anne Wilson’s video for “Praying Woman,” featuring Lainey Wilson, below:
