Last night, while many members of the country music community got dressed to the nines and enjoyed a night out in Texas for the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards, Lauren Alaina was watching the celebration from the comfort of her home. While the first-time mom-to-be was happy to see so many of her friends earn trophies she couldn’t help but feel sadness for what she was missing out on.
In a vulnerable new video, which she shared to Instagram after watching the show, Alaina gets real about the reality of working so hard to achieve her dreams, and still feeling left behind in the industry she loves.
“First of all, I just want to say I’m at home watching the ACMs and I’m so proud of everyone tonight. Everyone that’s performed, everyone that’s won, I get so excited for everyone because I have the same dream and I want to be there, and I want to be getting these awards and having these performances and presenting the awards when I’m home, 37 weeks pregnant. So I’m home this year, and I just want to be honest about something. I’m feeling left out. I’m feeling sad.”
While her life has seen some incredibly big changes over the past year, as she’s lost loved ones, gotten married and is now expecting her first child, this feeling is nothing new to her. Alaina goes on to admit that with the current state of the music industry, she has become too familiar with the constant pressure to stay visible and relevant in an era that demands so much more than just the music.
Her emotional message reveals both a longing to inspire her soon-to-be-born daughter and the mental toll of trying to keep up.
“I’m feeling so many feelings because I have this little girl in here and I want her to dream big, and I want her to believe in herself and go for whatever she wants to do. And the last couple of years have been a year of transition for me with music and all these things,” she explains honestly. “And I just feel like kind of left behind because I’ve got to create all this content and do all these things to try to have these moments online. And it’s not just about writing music and putting songs out anymore, you have to do all these other things. And I really just feel out of, I don’t know, I’m probably going to regret even posting this.”
An Important Reminder To Others
The “Those Kind Od Women” singer concludes her vulnerable video by sending a reminder to others that if they have or are experiencing something similar, they are not alone. Her words are offers a dose of powerful encouragement to anyone who’s ever felt stuck on the sidelines.
“I just want to say if there’s someone out there who has a big dream and you feel like people are getting in front of you and ahead of you, and it’s not a competition, but if you feel like you want to be somewhere and you’re not there, I see you and I feel you.”
Alaina assures her listeners that the emotions she was feeling in that moment were not due to the baby she’s currently growing, because she felt the same way last year when she did not attend the 2024 ACM Awards. It’s been a bittersweet experience to see so many of her friends and fellow songwriters get their well-deserved recognition, but at the same time she can’t help but wish she was one of those artists being celebrated for their hard work.
“I just desperately want to be there, and I want to be up for these awards and being able to even present the awards and walk the carpet and be with my friends, and I’m just feeling sad and excited because like I said, some of my dearest friends in the industry are there and they’re winning. And I know what that means to them because that’s what I want as well. And I don’t want them not to have that.”
Finding Understanding In Fellow Artists
Her comment section was flooded with fellow artists sharing that they completely understand where Alaina is coming from and thanking her for the vulnerability.
Ashley Cooke wrote, “love you and thank you for being vulnerable. this is everything.”
Caylee Hammack said, “I wrote a song about this exact feeling, thank you for sharing this bc it’s a weird feeling & I feel seen in this post 🧡”
“I love you, Junior. ❤️” added Trisha Yearwood.
“💙I feel you sister, it’s a roller coaster ride for sure,” said Priscilla Block.
Lauren Alaina just wrapped up her time on the road for Rascal Flatts’ 25th Anniversary Life Is A Highway Tour. With her little girl set to arrive on May 29th, she will not be touring throughout the summer, nor will she make an appearance at Nashville’s annual CMA Fest this year.
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