Hailey James was thinking about a reunion.
The 22-year-old Cottage Grove native, whose music career took off after country star Dustin Lynch called her up on stage to sing a duet of his song, “Thinking ‘Bout You,” at Country Fest in Cadott, Wis., five years ago, hoped she’d one day get the opportunity to re-create the moment that made her a viral sensation.
That chance finally came Friday night at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch when Lynch once again called James on the stage, this time at Treasure Island’s Island Event Center. The result was another unforgettable performance.
“I think this was the reunion that not only I really, really wanted, but I think a lot of my fans, people who follow me, the people who have seen the video — I feel like it was a moment that we all just really wanted to make happen,” James said. “After five years, all the cards just played out in our favor.”
James wasn’t positive it was truly going to happen. But shortly before the show, James got word from Treasure Island she’d be able to attend the pre-show meet and greet, and James took it from there. She said hello to Lynch, and the Academy of Country Music Award winner hadn’t forgotten about their duet.
“He was like, ‘I remember you and I’ve been seeing your stuff. I’ve been following you, and I really love to see it,’” James said. “He was just asking me how things are going in my music career.”
Things have been going pretty well for James since Lynch first called her on stage in 2021. Since then, she’s won five Midwest Country Music Association Awards, including Female Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year in 2022 and 2023. James has performed at U.S. Bank Stadium during Minnesota Vikings games, and she’s opened for many country stars, including Carrie Underwood, Dylan Scott, Terri Clark and more.
Many of those big moments have come at Treasure Island, just 30 minutes from where James grew up in Cottage Grove. It’s where she opened for Underwood in 2023, got the Island Event Center ready for Clark in 2025 and now, just a year later, reunited with Lynch.
“Treasure Island has been so great to me. My first performance there was opening for Carrie Underwood,” James said. “… That just in and of itself showed me just how much Treasure Island has my back and has had my back from the start and wants to see me succeed.”
Perhaps the reunion with Lynch sparks even more success. It comes at a fitting time as James has her newest single, “Lemonade Stand,” set to release on Friday. She’ll be celebrating that release at the Wilkins Bone Lake Bash in Luck, Wis., that day — and yes, there will be a lemonade stand at her tent.
A lot has changed since James was getting her start at Country Nites Saloon in Hastings when she was just 14 years old. But even as the stages gets bigger, James knows she’s right where she’s meant to be.
“Right before (Lynch) had called me up on stage, I took a moment to just kind of take a look at everything and realize: ‘This is my dream,’” James said.