Lainey Wilson Review

Lainey Wilson brings rock ‘n roll swagger to sold-out RodeoHouston concert

Lainey Wilson drew one of this year's biggest crowds.

Courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Despite being one of the weirdest and most talked-about rodeo seasons in recent memory — marked by county government sideshows and barenaked carnival crowds — 2026 has been a great year for female artists at RodeoHouston, all things considered.

Houston’s own Lizzo (69,362), Kelly Clarkson (70,007), Megan Moroney (69,125), and now Lainey Wilson (70,130) have drawn huge numbers compared to some of the male acts. Wilson’s debut RodeoHouston appearance in 2024 was a verified sold-out Saturday matinee, attracting 74,940 fans.

Slightly surprising, Christian artist Forrest Frank has been the biggest draw so far in 2026 with 70,707 fans packing in for his Sunday matinee on March 8. Russell Dickerson, who rode into Times Square to introduce RodeoHouston to the world, pulled in 53,063 folks off the street for his debut. Stalwart Chris Stapleton’s all-too-brief show on March 12 pulled in a reliable 70,077.

Creed and Clarkson are tied at 70,007, which bodes well for even more millennial nostalgia acts waiting in the wings.

Will anyone next year beat the 75,600 Jonas Brothers fans that invaded NRG Stadium in 2024? Don’t worry, we’ll have our RodeoHouston 2027 wishlist online in the next few days.

Coming into the last Thursday of the season, Wilson’s face could be seen everywhere at NRG Center, from huge banners above the Ford activation near the carnival, inside the Cavender’s booth touting her Wrangler western wear collaborations, not to mention her pitchwoman work for Whataburger and Tractor Supply.

Wilson is also the subject of a new Netflix documentary, Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool, which premiered at SXSW this past week. It chronicles the making of the Whirlwind album and features scenes from the road and the recording studio as the last few years of her life unfolded. Produced by Houston native Kent Kubena, Lainey fanatics will have to wait until it officially premieres on the streamer on April 22.

The 33-year-old’s hippie-billy evolution from 2021’s Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin, 2022’s breakout Bell Bottom Country, and into 2024’s Whirlwind has seen her stretch her distinctive voice into bombastic new territories, into some late ‘80s Lita Ford vibes. When’s the power ballad duet with Dave Grohl happening?

Wilson kicked off Thursday night with the punchy brand-new single “Can’t Sit Still,’ which just dropped on streaming services last Friday, riding onto the dirt in the back of a Ford truck, naturally. Nerdy music writer note: the song lifts a little bit of lyrical flavor from Taking Back Sunday’s “Liar (It Takes One To Know One).” Who knew 2000s screamo was still giving us gifts?

The AC-D-She stomp of “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” got a big-budget stadium makeover. "4X4XU," which sounded like it was straight from a classic ‘80s Spotify playlist, was the first major singalong of the evening. In another lifetime, she would be the world's greatest frontwoman of a Guns N’ Roses tribute band. There’s a revival of harder-edge ‘90s female rock in the wind lately, so its probably not a coincidence that Wilson might be drinking from that well for the new album. On “Dreamcatcher,” her band went into full Rock & Roll Hall of Fame All-Star Jam mode.

Recent #1 hit "Somewhere Over Laredo” (“caught me a red eye flight outta Houston” got a huge roar) saw Wilson taking flight on one of the starred stage’s pointed lifts. During “Atta Girl,” Wilson pulled a lucky little girl named Presley out of the chute seats to be crowned her “cowgirl of the night” to a wall of cheers, gifting her one of her signature Charlie 1 Horse cowboy hats. It’s become a tradition at Wilson shows.

As closer "Heart Like a Truck" hit maximum altitude and Wilson hit the highest highs, her horse for the night was led out to the stairs next to the stage for Wilson’s now-customary victory lap around the stage and ride off into the bowels of NRG, leather fringe and all.

Setlist

Can’t Sit Still
Wildflowers and Wild Horses
4X4XU
Smell Like Smoke
Dreamcatcher
Watermelon Moonshine
Hang Tight Honey
Somewhere Over Laredo
Atta Girl
Good Horses
Things A Man Oughta Know
Heart Like A Truck

rodeohouston concert review lainey wilson

Movie Review

An all-star cast delivers clever laughs in new comedy The Invite

Photo courtesy of A24

Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton in The Invite.

Once upon a time, well before scandal embroiled him, Woody Allen made great comedies aimed at adults. That type of film — which is different from the raunchy, R-rated comedies of the 21st century — has fallen out of favor in Hollywood, but as the new film The Invite proves, when done well it can be as funny as anything else out there.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) are an unhappily married couple living in San Francisco. As we meet them, Joe has arrived home to Angela preparing for a visit from their upstairs neighbors, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Piña (Penélope Cruz), who have moved in relatively recently. Their impending arrival starts a new round of arguing between Joe and Angela, something they can barely contain once the other couple comes to their door.

What proceeds is a getting-to-know-you process that is mostly awkward as Joe and Angela continue sniping at each other while Hawk and Piña put in their two cents in a much calmer manner. A sticking point between the two couples — the loud sex Hawk and Piña have on an almost nightly basis — turns the film on its head with an unexpected invitation.

Directed by Wilde and written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, the film is a fast-paced chamber piece that takes place almost entirely in Joe and Angela’s apartment. Wilde, the writers, and the actors speed the story along not with action but through almost non-stop dialogue that often has the characters overlapping each other’s lines. The rapidity of the speech fuels the humor of the situation and establishes the differing personalities of each person.

Sex is very much top of mind for each of the characters for most of the film, but the filmmakers approach the topic in such a way that it never feels salacious. Each of the characters is a rational adult who can talk about sex in a mature manner while also acknowledging their unique feelings on the matter. And it’s the discoveries each of them makes along the way that brings about the most comedy.

But, like any comedy for adults, the film also has a dramatic tilt to it, and Wilde edges the story back-and-forth between the two tones extremely well. Joe and Angela fighting is played for laughs at times, but the sadness of their relationship comes through loud and clear. Hawk and Piña are much more intimate with each other, but the funniness of their openness is juxtaposed with a depth that arises through their conversations.

In the 2020s, Rogen has managed to make the transition from goofy stoner to stoner with real acting chops. In a stacked cast, he is the one who sells every moment the best. That’s not to say that Wilde, Norton, and Cruz don’t measure up, though; each of them inhabits their respective roles magnificently. The four actors play off each other as if they had been working together for years.

While The Invite will likely play better to those who have experience with long term relationships, its insights — and occasional bawdiness — make it a comedy that can be appreciated universally. With four actors at the top of their games and a razor-sharp script made even better by some well-done improv, it proves that you don’t need to go low to get great laughs.

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The Invite is now playing in theaters.

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Lainey Wilson Review

Lainey Wilson brings rock ‘n roll swagger to sold-out RodeoHouston concert

Movie Review

An all-star cast delivers clever laughs in new comedy The Invite

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