MORGAN WALLEN BIOGRAPHY
Who Is Morgan Wallen?
Morgan Wallen is a renowned country vocalist noted for his chart-topping tracks such as You Proof,Last Night, and Whisky Glasses. He initially gained recognition through his participation in the sixth season of the NBC singing competition The Voice in 2014. Wallen’s music has achieved widespread popularity, as seen by his 2023 album One Thing at a Time reaching the top position on both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts.
At a certain moment, he managed to have five out of the top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with songs from the album, a feat that has only been achieved by five other artists, such as Taylor Swift and The Beatles. Nevertheless, the vocalist has also incited controversy due to his extraneous conduct, including employing a racial epithet in a documented event that transpired in 2021.
- Quick Facts
| FULL NAME | Morgan Cole Wallen |
| BORN | May 13, 1993 |
| BIRTHPLACE | Sneedville, Tennessee |
| CHILD | Indigo Wilder |
| ASTROLOGICAL SIGN | Taurus |
The Formative Years of Morgan Wallen
- Birth and Childhood
Morgan Cole Wallen was born on May 13, 1993, in Sneedville, Tennessee, to his parents Tommy and Lesli Wallen. Tommy and Lesli adopted his three younger sisters, Ashlyne, Mikaela, and Lacey, in 2021. Morgan’s family then moved to Knoxville, which was in close proximity, during Morgan’s first year of high school. Wallen began singing at the nearby Southern Baptist church at the age of 3, where Tommy was the pastor. Over time, Wallen progressed to singing three-part harmonies alongside Ashlyne and Mikaela. At the age of 5, he was gifted a violin for Christmas and promptly commenced his musical education by enrolling in classes.
Additionally, Morgan Wallen engaged in both playing and practicing the piano during his formative years. His father, an enthusiast of rock ‘n’ roll music, acquainted him with renowned bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Fleetwood Mac, and the Eagles. Initially, Wallen held the belief that his chosen career would be in baseball. He achieved stardom as both a shortstop and pitcher while playing for Gibbs High School in Knoxville, where Kenny Chesney is also renowned as an alumnus.
In his final year of playing, Morgan Wallen experienced a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his elbow, necessitating surgical intervention. After the injury, colleges were disinterested, prompting Morgan Wallen to take a few months off after his graduation in 2011 to contemplate his future. In 2017, Wallen indicated that he engaged in prayer and introspection to discern his plan and purpose. Thus, he commenced his journey into songwriting and guitar playing as a means of expressing his emotions. Morgan Wallen commenced his musical vocation by performing for his mother and acquaintances, who acknowledged his genuine skill. Nevertheless, it was his participation in a widely-watched reality television program that truly paved the way for his triumph.
Highlights of Morgan Wallen’s Acting Career
- A Contestant on The Voice
In 2014, Morgan Wallen embarked on his first flight to Los Angeles to audition for the sixth season of The Voice, a renowned singing competition show broadcasted on NBC. He delivered a rendition of Howie Day’s popular 2003 pop song Collide and left a strong impression on celebrity judges Shakira and Usher. Shakira expressed to him that she believed his voice was unique and unmatched on the radio that day, which was why she turned her chair. She also remarked that his voice had a strong and masculine quality.
Morgan Wallen chose Usher as his mentor. Wallen successfully advanced through the initial and subsequent rounds of competition, delivering renditions of Avicii’s Hey Brother and One Direction’sStory of My Life. Adam Levine, the lead singer of Maroon 5, recruited Wallen to join his group of artists. Nevertheless, Morgan Wallen was ousted during the playoff phase of the competition. However, the event enhanced his reputation and enabled Wallen to establish valuable connections inside the sector. He specifically focused on country music as the genre that most suited him.
In 2020, he informed the media that music may not have exerted the most significant impact on his life. However, as he began composing songs, they exhibited a distinct country feel. Consequently, he made the decision to pursue a career in country music, as it aligned with his own experiences and upbringing.
- Breakthrough With Whisky Glasses and Other Songs
After his appearance on The Voice, Wallen relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, in order to further his career. He established a transient musical ensemble named “Morgan Wallen & Them Shadows” in collaboration with Serg Sanchez from the band “Atom Smash”. Sanchez facilitated Wallen’s introduction to high-level officials at Panacea Records, who subsequently signed the artist in 2015 and provided financial support for the production of an EP titled Stand Alone and the single Spin You Around.
In August 2016, Big Loud Records disclosed their signing of Wallen, then 23 years old, who thereafter maintained his collaboration with music producer Joey Moi. In that same year, Morgan Wallen released his first single, titled The Way I Talk, under the label.
Following that, he released his first official studio album, titled If I Know Me, in April 2018. It reached a position in the top 20 of the Billboard 200 chart and included the tracks Up Down starring Florida Georgia Line and Whisky Glasses. The latter, referring to the song, achieved the top position on the Country Airplay chart and reached its highest position at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019, representing his most significant accomplishment up until that point. Wallen embarked on a tour alongside the Florida Georgia Line in the same year.
Wallen’s place as one of the emerging talents in the genre was solidified when he was awarded the title of New Artist of the Year by the Country Music Association at the November 2020 CMA Awards. Wallen’s second studio album, Dangerous: The Double Album, experienced a significant increase in popularity in January 2021. According to Billboard, the record made its debut at the top spot and achieved the highest streaming week ever for a country album. The album included tracks such as 7 Summers and Wasted on You, which reached the 6th and 9th positions on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, respectively.
- Superstardom with One Thing at a Time
The album Dangerous had remarkable longevity, achieving its 86th nonconsecutive week in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart in September 2022, setting a new record for the longest weeks in the top 10. The self-titled album by Peter, Paul, and Mary held the previous record, dating back to the early 1960s. However, Morgan Wallen was not complacent with his accomplishments. The single You Proof was released in May 2022.
Wallen’s song reached its highest position on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his most successful chart-topping hit so far, reaching No. 5. The song Thought You Should Know made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 in the same month and eventually peaked at No. 7 almost a year later. At that point, Wallen had already published his extensive 36-track album titled One Thing at a Time and commenced a global tour consisting of 65 shows, which had been subsequently prolonged.
The album released in March 2023 achieved instant success, swiftly reaching the top position on the Billboard 200 list and placing the song Last Night at the top of the singles chart. Four other tracks, including You Proof, Thought You Should Know, Thinkin’ Bout Me, and the title tune, achieved top 10 positions, resulting in Wallen being responsible for half of the songs in that category. The feat had only been accomplished by Taylor Swift, The Beatles, 21 Savage, Drake, and Juice WRLD.
In May of 2023, as predicted, Wallen was named Male Artist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. Months later, in September, he was nominated for three Country Music Awards: Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as Album of the Year for One Thing at a Time.
- Net Worth
As of July 2024, Wallen’s net worth, as calculated by Celebrity Net Worth, is approximately $12 million.
The Personal Life Trajectory of Morgan Wallen
According to reports, Wallen initiated a romantic relationship with Katie “KT” Smith in 2017. The couple engaged in an intermittent romantic relationship during 2019, but ultimately ended their relationship. They have a kid named Indigo Wilder. Indigo, sometimes known as “Indie,” was born in July 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. Despite the separation between the singer and Smith, Wallen has expressed that they make a concerted effort to fulfill their parental responsibilities together. Additionally, his parents journeyed from their residence in Tennessee to provide assistance in tending to Indigo.
In January 2021, Wallen expressed his desire to provide his son with valuable guidance, similar to the instruction he received from his own parents. He also emphasized the importance of demonstrating love, support, and friendship towards his son. Indigo was hospitalized in June 2023 following a facial dog bite inflicted by Legend, Smith’s dog. According to Smith, he received sutures but was unharmed and sought to find a new home for the cat.
Starting in 2021, Wallen discreetly engaged in a romantic relationship with model and influencer Paige Lorenze. As per rumors, the couple ended their relationship in February 2022, just after making their relationship public.
In June 2023, there were rumours circulating that Wallen was romantically involved with Megan Moroney, a fellow country artist. Nevertheless, Moroney refrained from confirming or denying any romantic involvement during an interview, expressing her profound discomfort with the circulating rumors.
- Controversies
Morgan Wallen has primarily garnered attention for his musical endeavors, but he has also become infamous for a few incidents that occurred outside of his performances. In May 2020, he was apprehended for public intoxication and disorderly behavior after an altercation at a tavern and steakhouse owned by Kid Rock in Nashville, Tennessee.
Morgan Wallen was slated to appear as the musical guest on an episode of the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live in October 2020. However, before to the performance, videos surfaced on social media of Morgan Wallen consuming shots, engaging in physical contact with fans, and neglecting to adhere to social distancing protocols during a football game at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, SNL substituted Wallen with Jack White, the lead singer of The White Stripes. Wallen admitted to his conduct, and after two months, he humorously mocked himself and the incident at his rescheduled appearance on the show in a comedy alongside actor Jason Bateman.
In February 2021, TMZ released a video in which Wallen was recorded uttering racial slurs, including the N-word, and other offensive language while outside his Nashville residence after a night spent with friends. Wallen promptly expressed remorse for his use of the derogatory term, nevertheless, several radio stations and streaming platforms excluded him from their playlists. In addition, he faced disqualification from the 2021 ACM Awards and experienced a temporary suspension from his label, Big Loud.
In July of that year, Wallen conducted his initial interview after the incident with ABC’s Good Morning America and expressed that he did not intend to use the term in a negative way. He claimed that he was in the company of his buddies, engaging in lighthearted banter that they considered to be foolish.
Morgan Wallen subsequently acknowledged that the statement sounded uninformed, but admitted that it originated from a place of ignorance and was incorrect. He further disclosed that he and his companions had consumed alcohol prior to the incident. Wallen claimed to have contributed $500,000 from his album sales, which significantly increased in response to the criticism, to organizations like the Black Music Action Coalition. Additionally, he underwent a one-month rehabilitation program in San Diego. He added that he dedicated a considerable amount of time to deciphering the reasons behind his peculiar behavior. He also questioned whether he had an alcohol dependency or underlying psychological concerns.
In April 2023, Morgan Wallen caused disappointment among his admirers by abruptly canceling a performance at the University of Mississippi due to a sudden loss of his vocal abilities. Several weeks later, the singer disclosed that medical professionals had instructed him to undergo an extended period of vocal rest due to damaged vocal cords and vocal fold stress. He consequently decided to cancel six weeks of gigs on his One Night at a Time World Tour. In late June, he resumed his performances at Wrigley Field in Chicago.