Laccase is an important enzyme used in removal of recalcitrant environmental wastes and industrial processes. The development of novel strategies for low-cost laccase production is needed to meet its demand. The solid-state fermentation (SSF) of steam-exploded corn stalk (SCS) significantly enhanced laccase production due that the steam explosion pretreatment disrupted the compact lignocellulosic structure, increased the surface area and soluble compounds accessible to biological utilization by Trametes versicolor. The pretreatment technique also released high level of the phenolic compounds which are putative inducers of laccase. As a result, laccase production from the SCS increased by more than 2.1-fold greater than that from the raw corn stalk. Together these results provide a powerful and low-cost strategy to enhance laccase production through the SSF of the renewable biomass.