Lainey Wilson's New Song: A Wizard of Oz Connection You Won't Believe!
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Country music sensation Lainey Wilson is making waves with her new single, "Somewhere Over Laredo." But what many fans might not realize is the song's clever connection to a timeless classic: Judy Garland's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz.
The Laredo-Rainbow Link
Wilson herself pointed out the playful similarity, noting that saying "somewhere over the rainbow" rapidly sounds like "somewhere over Laredo." This sparked the idea for a song that captures a sense of nostalgia and longing, themes central to both tunes.
Songwriter Andy Albert, who co-wrote the track, found the rhyme to be both challenging and perfectly aligned with the original. He envisioned a compelling story waiting to be unfolded.
From Theme Park to Hit Song
The concept for "Somewhere Over Laredo" surprisingly emerged while Albert and Trannie Anderson were waiting in line for the VelociCoaster at Universal Orlando. During a brief lull between performances, they brainstormed song ideas, and the "Laredo" concept took flight. They envisioned Lainey Wilson as the ideal artist to bring the song to life.
Anderson created a melancholic piano progression that set the tone. Lainey Wilson officially co-wrote the track with Andy Albert, Trannie Anderson, and Dallas Wilson, with Harold Arlen and E.Y. “Yip” Harburg also credited as co-writers due to the reference to the original song.
More Than Just a Place
"'Laredo' isn't just a place — it is a feeling," Wilson explains. "It speaks to anyone who has ever looked back or remembered something and let that memory shape who they are. It also connects to all of those [small American] towns and people who are just trying to find their way home."
- The song is already climbing the charts, currently sitting at No. 24 on the Country Airplay chart.
- "Somewhere Over Laredo" will be featured on the deluxe version of Wilson's album, Whirlwind, set to release on August 22.