Lainey Wilson’s fiancé Devlin “Duck” Hodges went the extra mile when he proposed to the country star. And not just in the ring department.
Roughly four years after meeting through mutual friends and going on their first date at a Nashville sports bar known for its free beer specials, the couple announced their engagement in February 2025. And Wilson, an Opry member who’s among many other icons performing at NBC’s Opry 100: A Live Celebration, clearly could not have been more thrilled with how it all went down.
Devlin “Duck” Hodges proposed to Lainey Wilson on the steps of a country legend’s home
Hodges chose a sentimental location to propose to Wilson, popping the question in front of George Jones’ former home in Franklin, Tennessee, which can be seen in photos shared on Instagram.
The “Heart Like a Truck” singer is famously a big fan of Jones, who was known as “The Rolls-Royce of Country Music” and was behind classics like “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Jones, nicknamed “The Possum,” died in 2013 at the age of 81. Wilson released a song for the country legend in 2024, titled “Keep Up With Jones,” describing the track as a “tip of the hat to George Jones.”
“I feel like The Possum and me would’ve been great friends,” she says in a video for the tribute song. “George is an influence of mine and I think it’s important to acknowledge some of the best storytellers that ever existed. I think George would approve of ‘Keep Up With Jones’ because it’s a good ole drinking song.”
The Jones family also approved of their engagement location. “Congratulations! That house looks familiar,” Jones’ wife Nancy commented on Wilson’s Instagram post. Hodges then replied, “Very very cool house.”
In a TikTok set to Wilson’s song “4x4xU,” the singer (dressed in flared jeans and a cowgirl hat with a long red aztec-patterned coat) adorably acts as if she’s struggling to carry something heavy before revealing her gigantic engagement ring. She later shared a video of the newly engaged couple driving away in a pick-up truck. “He did it!” she says from the car window while pointing to her ring finger.
Who is Lainey Wilson’s fiancé Devlin “Duck” Hodges?
Hodges, who also goes by the nickname “Duck,” is a former NFL quarterback. After playing for Samford University in Alabama, Hodges was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019. He was briefly on the Los Angeles Rams roster and later joined Ottawa Redblacks in 2021.
In April 2022, Hodges announced he was retiring from professional football. “I’m excited to see what the future holds, but I know that the next chapter in my life is going to be fun,” Hodges said in a statement at the time.
Currently, Hodges works in real estate for an Arkansas-based agency, according to his LinkedIn profile, and is licensed to sell properties in both Tennessee and Arkansas. And as his nickname suggests, he’s an avid duck hunter and a world champion duck caller. “I enjoy the outdoors and love to hunt!” his LinkedIn bio reads.
Hodges is also very supportive of Wilson’s music career, often traveling to shows with the country star and attending award shows together. “Duck is the kind of dude who high-fives me on the way in the door and on the way out and says, ‘Go get it,’” Wilson told People. “He knows how important this dream is to me.”
