Morgan Wallen is a country singer who has been rising in popularity since his debut on a singing competition TV show that finds new talent called, “The Voice”, in 2014. However he did not end up winning and was eliminated from the final round. Despite his loss on the show, he has gained millions of listeners for his blend of traditional country and modern pop, featuring his Eastern Tennessee accent. Wallen has had countless achievements in the music industry; he won Entertainer of the Year at the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards; his single “Last Night” also set a record for the most weeks at No. one for a non-collaboration song. His album “Dangerous: The Double Album” is also No. one on the Top Billboard 200 Albums of the 21st Century Chart; The same album “Dangerous: The Double Album” would compile 158 weeks in the Top 10.
Wallen has also had many successful collaborations. His most successful song, with rapper/singer Post Malone, “I Had Some Help”, debuted at No. one on the chart dated May 25, 2024, with first-week figures of 76.4 million official streams, 31.1 million radio airplay audience impressions and 69,000 copies sold. He also had successful collaborations with rapper Lil Durk, and they earned a pair of wins for “Broadway Girls” and “Stand By Me” which reached the trio of rosters in 2022 and 2023.
His new album, “I’m The Problem” is set to release in 2025. He announced a tour on Jan. 24, and it’s a 20-date, 10-city, back-to-back U.S. Tour. He is visiting Texas, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona, Washington, California and Ohio. The lead off for the album titled “I’m The Problem” was released Jan. 30. The album is also expected to feature his most recent songs “Lies Lies Lies”, “Love Somebody” and “Smile.”“Love Somebody” is currently No. 10 on the Billboard’s top 100 Songs of this week. The album is expected to do very well.
Wallen is a very successful artist, particularly in the country music genre. However, with his fame, a scandal would follow. On Apr. 7, 2024, Wallen threw a chair from the roof of Chief’s Bar in Nashville Tennessee. The chair landed a yard away from two police officers, who arrested him. After his arrest, Wallen posted a $15,250 bail and was released the next morning. Days later, Wallen made a post on X (formerly Twitter)where he said, “I didn’t feel right publicly checking in until I made amends with some folks. I’ve touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I’m not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility.” Several months later, on Dec. 12, 2024, Wallen appeared in court for his sentencing. He pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, reduced from the three Class E felonies he was initially charged with. He was held in a DUI detention center for 7 days, followed by probation for the next 2 years.
But what do his fans think of this? A video published by “American Report” asks fans in Tennessee what they thought of his drunken outburst. For some fans, it didn’t bother them, or they even thought it was admirable.“He’s a rock star, he’s trying to be a rock star, why not?” said one fan. “That’s my guy, everybody does dumb things now and then,” said another. “I think it’s great, y’know. I think it’s cool we have a real rock star in country music,” one fan said. “I like his mugshot, he was smiling.”
However, not everyone sees it that way. “I’m so disappointed, the situation is awful. I’m a huge fan, it’s very upsetting,” another fan said. “I mean he coulda killed someone, I don’t think you should throw a chair off the 6th floor of a broadway bar, I don’t care if you’re Morgan Wallen or who you are, dude, you could hurt someone. I think he has good music but c’mon man.”
His last tour, “One Night At A Time” had 3.1 million fans in attendance throughout all the shows he performed. His current tour has thousands of fans buying tickets to see him this summer. So, despite all his controversies, it’s not noticeable that fans have given up his music or that they will anytime soon.
