Lainey Wilson may be the reigning superstar of country music, but offstage she’s just a Louisiana girl in love with a former NFL quarterback who answers to “Duck.” Devlin “Duck” Hodges isn’t just the guy smiling beside her on red carpets—he’s the steady, grounded partner who’s been quietly cheering her on since long before the world caught on. The pair started dating in 2021, kept things low-key for years, and are now happily engaged, taking their time on the way to the altar.
How a Budget Date Sparked a Big Love
Their story doesn’t start at some glamorous industry party. It starts at an old-school Nashville spot called Silverados, a dance hall and saloon known for live music and free beer and wine from 5 to 10 p.m. That first date told Lainey a lot: this was a guy who could have anything on a menu, but chose a place that felt fun, simple, and unpretentious. As she’s joked, she realized pretty quickly, “This boy likes to ball on a budget—this is gonna work out.” That mix of humility and good time energy laid the foundation for everything that came next.
The Story Behind the “Duck”
Hodges’ nickname sounds like something out of a country song, and in a way, it is. “Duck” came from his college days at Samford University in Alabama, where his coach saw something familiar in the young quarterback. He reminded him of another favorite QB they used to call Duck, so the name stuck to Devlin too. Soon the whole team was chanting “Duck season!” as he led them through a standout season. It’s playful, but it also signals how respected he was on the field—a leader, a competitor, and a little bit of a legend in his own locker room.
From the Steelers to a New Life
After college, Hodges chased the dream every football kid has: the NFL. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, spending two seasons with the team and even starting games at quarterback. He later joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, then headed north to play for the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks before deciding to retire from professional football in 2022. For many athletes, that transition can feel like a cliff, but Hodges didn’t just cling to the past. He pivoted—hard.
Trading Playbooks for Property Lines
Post-football, Hodges dove into the real estate world. He first worked with Mossy Oak Properties in Louisiana—fitting for a guy who loves the outdoors—before joining Myers Cobb Realtors in 2024. His profile proudly calls out three big loves: football, duck hunting, and country music. It’s easy to see why he and Lainey click: both of them know what it means to grind for a dream, reinvent yourself, and keep your roots close even as your life changes.
Keeping Their Love Offline (At First)
Even as Lainey’s career exploded—with hit songs, awards, and TV appearances—the couple stayed off the public radar. They started dating in 2021 but didn’t go public until May 2023, when they walked the ACM Awards red carpet hand-in-hand. Before that, fans only had hints: Lainey wearing a Steelers jersey at a Pittsburgh show, a few playful tweets exchanged between her and Hodges. She’s said she wanted to make sure he was in it for the right reasons before inviting the spotlight in—and according to her, he passed that test easily.
Red Carpet Partners in Crime
Once they did step into the spotlight, they did it in full style. From the ACM Awards to CMA nights and country music honors, Hodges quickly became a fixture at Lainey’s side—cowboy hat, bolo tie, and that “proud boyfriend” grin. While Lainey slays every carpet in her signature bell bottoms and hats, he balances her shine with classic suits and western flair. Over time, he stopped looking like “Lainey Wilson’s boyfriend” and more like part of the country music family in his own right.
Stealing Her Friends (In the Best Way)
One of the funniest parts of their story is how seamlessly Hodges slipped into Lainey’s friend group. She’s joked that he keeps “stealing all my buddies,” showing up on FaceTime with HARDY, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and more, often out golfing or having a beer. At award shows, he’s high-fiving her fellow artists like he’s been on tour with them for years. That kind of easy comfort says a lot—he’s not just arm candy; he’s someone who genuinely fits into her world.
A Proposal Straight Out of a Country Song
By February 2025, the couple was ready for their next chapter. Hodges planned a romantic proposal complete with photos from their relationship, candles, roses, and a cowboy-hat touch worthy of a music video. They announced their engagement with the caption “4x4xU forever,” a nod to Lainey’s song of the same name. It was intimate, sentimental, and very them—no stadium screens or fireworks, just two people choosing each other for good.
No Rush to the Altar—Just the Right Pace
Even with the engagement news out in the world and fans buzzing about the wedding, Lainey and Duck are in no hurry. She’s said they’re not racing to plan the big day, and when they do, she’s most excited about finding the dress that will (hopefully) leave him “boohooing” when he sees her walking down the aisle. For now, they’re focused on doing what they do best: she’s out there touring and collecting trophies, he’s building his life in real estate and cheering her on from the wings.
Their story isn’t flashy or chaotic. It’s the story of two people with big dreams, bigger work ethics, and a shared love of simple joys—cheap drinks, country songs, hunting trips, and front-porch moments. In a world that loves messy celebrity drama, Lainey Wilson and Devlin “Duck” Hodges are quietly giving us something a little rarer: a love that feels honest, grounded, and built to last.
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