Watermelon Moonshine

"Watermelon Moonshine"
Single by Lainey Wilson
from the album Bell Bottom Country
Released	May 30, 2023
Studio	Neon Cross Studios (Nashville)
Genre	Country
Length	3:28
Label	BBR
Songwriter(s)	Josh Kear Jordan Schmidt Lainey Wilson
Producer(s)	Jay Joyce
Lainey Wilson singles chronology
"Save Me" (2023) "Watermelon Moonshine" (2023) "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" (2023)
Music video
"Watermelon Moonshine" on YouTube

"Watermelon Moonshine" is a song recorded by American country music singer Lainey Wilson. It was released in May 2023 as the second single from her third studio album, Bell Bottom Country.^[1] It was written by Wilson, Josh Kear, and Jordan Schmidt, and was produced by Jay Joyce.^[2]

Background and content

Lyrically, "Watermelon Moonshine" is a nostalgic description of a young and reckless love and has been compared to Deana Carter's signature hit "Strawberry Wine" from 1996.^[3] Wilson said: "This song embodies what country music means to me, creating a timeless story that will resonate with people for generations to come. This song is about the crazy, young, nostalgic love we all hope to experience".^[4]

The track was first released on August 12, 2022, as a promotional single alongside the announcement of Bell Bottom Country.^[5]

Music video

The music video was directed by Alexa King Stone and Stephen Kinigopoulos and premiered on July 11, 2023.^[6] It stars Rachel Lynn Matthews and Sam Sherrod, who act out the storyline of the song, depicting the unfolding of a young love, while scenes of Wilson performing the song in a field are interspersed as she narrates the story.^[7]

A visualizer for the song premiered on August 12, 2022, before its release as a single.^[8]

Chart performance

"Watermelon Moonshine" pulled in 63 first-week adds at country radio^[9] and debuted at number 55 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated June 3, 2023.^[10] It later reached number one in October on that chart, making it Wilson's third chart-topper, as well as the first chart-topper by a solo female artist since Wilson's own "Things a Man Oughta Know" two years prior.^[11] It also spent two additional weeks at number one on the chart, making it only the third multi-week chart-topper by a solo female in the 2020s, after "The Bones" by Maren Morris and "The Good Ones" by Gabby Barrett.^[12]

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Watermelon Moonshine" Chart (2023) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] 47 Canada Country (Billboard)[14] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[15] 21 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[16] 1 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17] 7

Year-end charts 2023 year-end chart performance for "Watermelon Moonshine" Chart (2023) Position US Billboard Hot 100[18] 100 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[19] 36 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[20] 32 2024 year-end chart performance for "Watermelon Moonshine" Chart (2024) Position US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[21] 100

Certifications

Certifications for "Watermelon Moonshine"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22]	Gold	35,000^‡
Canada (Music Canada)[23]	Platinum	80,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. https://twitter.com/FiddleSabre/status/1655937431500361732
2. Bjorke, Matt (2022-08-17). "Lainey Wilson "Bell Bottom Country" Tracklist and Cover Art". RoughStock. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
3. Jon Freeman (August 12, 2022). "Lainey Wilson Writes Her Version of 'Strawberry Wine' With Nostalgic New Song 'Watermelon Moonshine'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
4. Alysse Gafkjen (May 30, 2023). "Lainey Wilson serves up nostalgic 'Watermelon Moonshine'". Rural Radio. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
5. Wendowski, Andrew (August 12, 2022). "Lainey Wilson Releases "Watermelon Moonshine" From Upcoming New Album 'Bell Bottom Country' [Listen]". Music Mayhem Magazine.
6. "Lainey Wilson - Watermelon Moonshine (Official Music Video)". YouTube.
7. Lauren Jo Black (July 11, 2023). "WATCH: Lainey Wilson's 'Watermelon Moonshine' Music Video Captures The Innocent Passion Of Young Love". Country Now. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
8. "Lainey Wilson Releases Nostalgic 'Watermelon Moonshine' From Just-Announced New Album, 'Bell Bottom Country'". Country Now. August 12, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
9. "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
10. "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
11. Asker, Jim (September 29, 2023). "Lainey Wilson Distills Her Third No. 1 on Country Airplay with 'Watermelon Moonshine'". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
12. Lauren Jo Black (October 6, 2023). "Lainey Wilson Follows Gabby Barrett and Maren Morris as the Only Female Artists This Decade with Multiple Weeks at No.1 Billboard Country Airplay Chart". Country Now. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
13. "Lainey Wilson Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
14. "Lainey Wilson Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
15. "Lainey Wilson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
16. "Lainey Wilson Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
17. "Lainey Wilson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
18. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
19. "Country Airplay – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
20. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
21. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
22. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
23. "Canadian single certifications – Lainey Wilson – Watermelon Moonshine". Music Canada. Retrieved July 15, 2024.