NC musician plays big part in country music star Lainey Wilson's music, performances

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The 59th Country Music Awards are live Wednesday night on ABC11.

Hosting this year is Lainey Wilson. ABC11 spoke with her music director and guitarist, who's from Sanford.

The North Carolina native rocks out every show with Wilson, the famed country star.

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"I'm so blessed to have the success that I have and to be able to do the things that I always wanted and dreamt of," said Aslan Freeman.

Freeman's love for music started as a child. He played the drums, piano, and guitar. He went on to college for music, going on to tour with punk rock bands and teaching himself to produce music.

"Once I started playing guitar when I was around 15, 16, that's when I started actually writing songs. That was when I really got bit by the bug, as it were," Freeman said. "We talk a lot about the people that end up doing this full-time or just the people who are the most stubborn and have no plan B, and that was me as a teenager."

Freeman met Wilson through Kasey Tyndall, whom he met through the company Deep South. In the studio, they write from the heart and create magic.

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"The collaboration is so fun. Getting to have my hands in every part of what ultimately it was my dream. I get to record, I get to write, I get to perform," said Freeman.

Freeman helps create the vision of what fans see on stage. The influence of his roots, passion and energy overflow in every performance.

Freeman said he and Wilson were looking forward to the "Country Music Awards." It's a chance to celebrate history and Wilson's success.

"Everybody's excited for everybody to win, no matter who it is. And the performances are always awesome. They put so much into the production of everything, and we've had a really killer performance planned. I'm excited," said Freeman.