Somewhere Over Laredo
{{Infobox song
| name = Somewhere Over Laredo
| cover = LaineyWilsonSomewhereOverLaredo.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Lainey Wilson
| album = Whirlwind
| released = May 27, 2025
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Country
| length = 3:46
| label = BBR
| writer =
- Andy Albert
- Trannie Anderson
- Harold Arlen
- Yip Harburg
- Dallas Wilson
- Lainey Wilson
| producer = Jay Joyce
| prev_title = 4x4xU
| prev_year = 2024
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|stc7K1_jH14|"Somewhere Over Laredo"}}}}
}}
"Somewhere Over Laredo" is a song by American country music singer Lainey Wilson. It was released as a single to country radio impacting on May 27, 2025, from the upcoming deluxe re-issue of her fifth studio album, Whirlwind.{{cite magazine|url=https://bulletins.billboard.com/country/country_update_2025_0523.pdf|title=Billboard Country Update|magazine=Billboard|date=May 23, 2025|access-date=May 27, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://x.com/USRadioUpdater/status/1925797863478399304|title=@laineywilson’s “Somewhere Over Laredo” is going for immediate airplay at US Country Radio, serving as the first radio single from the deluxe edition of ‘Whirlwind’.|author=USRadioUpdater|date=May 23, 2025|website=Twitter|access-date=May 27, 2025}}
Background
Wilson co-wrote "Somewhere Over Laredo" with Andy Albert, Trannie Anderson, and Dallas Wilson. Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg also received writing credits as the song interpolates the melody of "Over the Rainbow", which was originally written for the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, and performed by Judy Garland.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/lainey-wilson-somewhere-over-laredo-rainbow-song-1235346539/|title=Lainey Wilson Interpolates a Judy Garland Classic in 'Somewhere Over Laredo'|author=Joseph Hudak|date=May 23, 2025|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 27, 2025}} The title directly references Laredo, Texas{{cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/lainey-wilson-2025-amas-performance-somewhere-over-laredo/|title=WATCH: Lainey Wilson Battles Wind Machine During AMAs Performance|author=Jess Rose|date=May 27, 2025|website=Taste of Country|access-date=May 27, 2025}} and also includes a lyrical nod in the chorus to "Over the Rainbow" with a reference to chasing a "neon rainbow". Wilson said the song was influenced by her downtime flying between shows and "looking out the window, talking to God, dreaming, or even reminiscing".{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ-2WlGNE9q/|title=When I’m flying between shows I catch myself looking out the window, talking to God, dreaming, or even reminiscing. “Somewhere Over Laredo” tells a story that speaks to that. I’ve always been inspired by putting myself into other peoples’ shoes and telling stories from others’ perspective, but I’ve found a new creative avenue with this one putting myself back into a pair of shoes that I wore years ago. Somewhere Over Laredo is available now 🌈✈️|author=Lainey Wilson|date=May 22, 2025|website=Instagram|access-date=May 27, 2025}}
Wilson began teasing the track on her social media accounts, starting on May 12, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DJj0dSUt5AL/|title=You’re on my mind every time I’m chasing this neon rainbow… 🌈|author=Lainey Wilson|date=May 12, 2025|website=Instagram|access-date=May 27, 2025}} The song was digitally released on May 23, 2025,{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/0aGIy8kll4HYDnNTDlf2vU|title=Lainey Wilson – Somewhere Over Laredo|date=May 23, 2025|website=Spotify|access-date=May 27, 2025}} and Wilson announced the deluxe re-issue of Whirlwind the following day.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DKDJIzMyEbi/?img_index=1|title=I’m finding out the Whirlwind never stops. The more I walk through it, the more my feet stay planted on the ground and my eyes to the sky. In honor of the one-year anniversary of Whirlwind’s release, I will be dropping my Whirlwind (Deluxe) album on August 22!|author=Lainey Wilson|date=May 24, 2025|website=Instagram|access-date=May 27, 2025}}
Music video
A performance video for "Somewhere Over Laredo" premiered alongside its release.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stc7K1_jH14|title=Lainey Wilson - Somewhere Over Laredo (Performance Video)|date=May 22, 2025|website=YouTube|access-date=May 27, 2025}}
Live performances
Wilson performed the song live for the first time on the American Music Awards on May 26, 2025.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lainey-wilson-performs-somewhere-over-laredo-2025-amas-1235346975/|title=Lainey Wilson Transports Us 'Somewhere Over Laredo' at 2025 AMAs|author=Joseph Hudak, Tomás Mier|date=May 26, 2025|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 27, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zSusL3JY8Y|title=Lainey Wilson - Somewhere Over Laredo (Live from 2025 American Music Awards)|date=May 26, 2025|website=YouTube|access-date=May 27, 2025}}
Chart performance
"Somewhere Over Laredo" was the most-added song at country radio upon release, pulling in 129 first-week stations,{{cite magazine|url=https://bulletins.billboard.com/country/country_update_2025_0527.pdf|title=Billboard Country Update|magazine=Billboard|date=May 23, 2025|access-date=May 27, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://assets.countryaircheck.com/public/231f59f4-1276-485d-b9fe07908880253d/8acb653c-2dfa-4569-b635a4d7d7018a66/Issue-962-May-27-2025.pdf|title=Country Aircheck Weekly May 27, 2025, Issue 962|date=May 27, 2025|website=Country Aircheck|access-date=May 27, 2025}} and debuted at number 21 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated June 7, 2025.{{cite magazine|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/bulletins.billboard.com/country/country_update_2025_0530.pdf|title=Billboard Country Update|magazine=Billboard|date=May 30, 2025|access-date=May 31, 2025}}