Music Friday: Lainey Wilson Eyes a Diamond and a 'Duck' in 'Counting Chickens'

Country music’s reigning queen of storytelling, Lainey Wilson, delivers a whimsical heartfelt ballad in “Counting Chickens,” the ninth track off her 2024 album Whirlwind. In true Music Friday fashion, we’re spotlighting this tune not just for its emotional pull, but for its glittering lyrical nod to a diamond — and, quite possibly, a wedding to come.

“Far as I know, you ain’t bought a diamond / You ain’t sat my daddy down and asked if it’s alright,” Wilson sings in the song’s very first line, setting the tone for a track that reads like a journal entry from someone a few steps ahead in a relationship. She admits to mentally fast-forwarding to a future filled with shared porch views, cross-stitched hearts and, yes, baby names.

In “Counting Chickens,” Wilson playfully confesses to dreaming about married life with boyfriend Devlin “Duck” Hodges, the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. At the time of the song’s release in August 2024, the couple hadn’t made it official. But in a sweet twist of fate, the proposal did come — in February 2025.

The engagement ring? A custom-designed, multi-stone cluster beauty that perfectly suits Wilson’s eclectic style. Featuring a bouquet of pear, marquise, oval and round diamonds, the ring is as multidimensional as her lyrics — romantic, vintage-tinged and unabashedly feminine.

The song closes with a wink and a punchline: “One chicken, two chickens, three chickens / Oh shoot, I think that’s a duck.” It’s a cheeky, not-so-subtle nod to Hodges, lovingly nicknamed “Duck,” and the final clue that the song is a musical love letter aimed straight at him. According to Wilson, Hodges took it all in stride — and was flattered.

While Wilson hasn’t spoken in-depth about "Counting Chickens," she has described Whirlwind as a deeply personal record, one born from a period of profound change and reflection following the meteoric rise resulting from the success of her 2022 album, Bell Bottom Country. Whirlwind is full of tender confessions and joyful anticipation, but “Counting Chickens” stands out for its sincerity and giddy hope.

Born in Baskin, LA, Wilson grew up immersed in country music, inspired by legends such as Buck Owens and Glen Campbell. From singing as a Hannah Montana impersonator to living in a Nashville camper trailer while chasing her dream, Wilson’s rise to stardom is a testament to grit and storytelling talent.

In fact, Wilson was named Variety magazine's Storyteller of the Year at the "Variety Hitmakers" event in December 2024.  Variety's executive music editor Jem Aswad praised her as one of the most important new voices in country music. 

Now a Grammy winner and CMA Entertainer of the Year, Wilson continues to charm fans with her blend of tradition and modern flair.

Please check out the audio track of Lainey Wilson performing "Counting Chickens." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"Counting Chickens"
Written by Dallas Wilson, Jon Decious, Lainey Wilson and Trannie Anderson. Performed by Lainey Wilson.

Far as I know you ain't bought a diamond
You ain't sat my daddy down and asked if it's alright
I don't mean to jump the gun on perfect timing
But if you brought up Vegas I'd be on a plane tonight

I'm already counting chickens pecking corn in our backyard
Hanging up a frame with both our names cross stitched in a heart
Might be off my rocker dreaming 'bout a hilltop front porch view
Baby maybe cart and horsing ain't the smartest thing to do
'Cause they ain't even hatched yet but my eggs are in one basket
And I'm loving counting chickens with you

Tell my heart to slow down but it's tripping
I can't help but be full steam ahead and halfway down the road
Boy I'd be fibbing if I told ya that I didn't
Have a laundry list of baby namеs that I saved in my phone

I'm already counting chickеns pecking corn in our backyard
Hanging up a frame with both our names cross stitched in a heart
Might be off my rocker dreaming 'bout a hilltop front porch view
Baby maybe cart and horsing ain't the smartest thing to do
'Cause they ain't even hatched yet, but my eggs are in one basket
And I'm loving counting chickens with you

Oh and I ain't tryna scare ya
Make you high tail fly the coop
But I'm counting on ya, baby
Hope you're counting on me too

I'm already counting chickens pecking corn in our backyard
Hanging up a frame with both our names cross stitched in a heart
Might be off my rocker dreaming 'bout a hilltop front porch view
Baby maybe cart and horsing ain't the smartest thing to do
'Cause they ain't even hatched yet but my eggs are in one basket
And I'm loving counting chickens with you
Yeah, I'm loving counting chickens with you

One chicken, two chickens, three chickens
Oh shoot, I think that's a duck

Credit: Photo by Ben Childers, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).