d+ “I Slept for 13 Hours at Miranda Lambert’s Ranch”: Lainey Wilson Reveals the Day of Exhaustion That Sparked the Song That Changed Everything
In the whirlwind of fame, it often takes another artist — one who’s been there before — to remind you to slow down.
That’s exactly what happened when Miranda Lambert invited Lainey Wilson to her Texas ranch for a much-needed break, a gesture that unexpectedly led to the creation of one of Wilson’s most heartfelt songs, “Good Horses.”
A Year Without Rest
For Lainey Wilson, 2023 was the kind of year most artists dream of — and fear in equal measure. Between touring, filming Yellowstone, and promoting her record-breaking hits, she was living her dream but barely sleeping through it.
“This was the year I was just crazy busy,” Wilson shared on Southern Living’s Biscuits & Jam podcast. “I think that year I slept in my bed 15 nights.”
Exhausted but determined, Wilson barely had time to breathe. Then came a phone call from one of country music’s most respected icons — Miranda Lambert.
“She called me and said, ‘I want you to come out to my farm where there’s hardly any cell service. I want you to take a nap, and we’re gonna feed you,’” Wilson recalled with a laugh. “Her husband is a great cook.”
A Nap That Turned Into 13 Hours
Wilson accepted the invitation — and what was supposed to be a nap turned into a deep 13-hour sleep.
“When I woke up, they were knocking on the door asking, ‘Is she alive?’” she said, laughing.
But when Wilson finally woke up, something had shifted. She felt lighter. Clearer. And in her words — “ready to create again.”
She had carried an idea for a song called “Good Horses” in her notebook for months, inspired by an episode of Yellowstone. That day, surrounded by the quiet comfort of Miranda’s ranch, she finally brought it to life.
The Birth of “Good Horses”
The two artists sat down with songwriter Luke Dick and turned that long-held idea into a song about finding home — not just as a place, but as a feeling.
“‘Good Horses’ is about finding your way back home, no matter where you are,” Wilson said in a press statement.
For Lambert, it struck a chord as well: “It’s about the people who love the comfort of home but also need to be free,” she shared. “Lainey is so genuine — I love watching her dreams come true, and it’s an honor to be a small part of that.”
The song eventually found its place on Wilson’s 2024 album Whirlwind, standing out as one of its most soulful and introspective tracks.
Sisterhood in the Country World
Beyond the music, “Good Horses” became a symbol of something deeper — the bond between two powerhouse women in country music.
Wilson spoke lovingly about her friendship with Lambert: “We have so much in common — our love for the Western way of life, for coming home, for grounding ourselves before going back out into the world again.”
Miranda, who has long been vocal about self-care and balance, reminded Wilson of the importance of staying grounded.
“She’s always that voice telling me, ‘You can’t do it all. You’ve gotta come home, saddle your horse, scoop the poop, and remember what makes all the rest of it worth it,’” Wilson said.
That advice hit home — literally. For Wilson, who had spent years chasing success, the ranch became more than a resting place. It became a reminder of who she was before the spotlight.
From Exhaustion to Inspiration
When Wilson finally left Lambert’s ranch, she didn’t just take a new song with her — she took a renewed sense of purpose.
“She gave me something I didn’t even realize I’d lost — rest,” Wilson said. “Sometimes you’ve got to stop running to remember why you started.”
Fans quickly connected with “Good Horses” for its message of healing and returning to your roots. The collaboration with Lambert and Dick became one of the most talked-about highlights of Wilson’s Whirlwind era.
Finding Home Again
Today, both Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert are icons of modern country — women who carry grit and grace in equal measure. But beneath the fame and awards, their friendship shows something rarer: the power of women helping each other slow down, breathe, and come back home.
Maybe “Good Horses” isn’t just a song — maybe it’s a lesson.
That sometimes, the best thing you can do for your art… is to rest long enough to feel alive again.
