Morgan Wallen is country music's biggest star — and resident bad boy. Is that a problem?
At the end of a March episode of Saturday Night Live where he had just performed as a musical guest, Morgan Wallen gathered onstage with the cast as they said their goodbyes. With his trucker hat nearly covering his eyes, the 32-year-old from small-town Tennessee nodded his thanks to host Mikey Madison and darted abruptly from center stage and past the audience.
He seemingly wandered all the way to the airport, where he snapped a photo of a small plane and put it on his Instagram story. 'Get me to God's country,' he captioned it. That sparked a firestorm of responses, memes and eventually merch over the next few days. Was Wallen rude, ungrateful or annoyed with the celebrity worship and lifestyle of New York City? Was he right to be?
The incident, though odd, didn't dull Wallen's shine or put a damper on his massive and ever-increasing popularity. Fresh off the May 16 release of his 37-track record I'm the Problem, Wallen already has both the top song and the top album in the country. In fact, it's the biggest album of the year so far, and every single song landed on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking another record. His latest single, 'What I Want' featuring Tate McRae, has the chance of earning him the honor of 'Song of Summer' for an unprecedented third year in a row.
Wallen faced backlash in 2021 for using a racial slur. In his apology, he asked fans not to defend him, saying it was hour 72 of a 72-hour bender. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless endangerment charges related to a 2024 incident in which he threw a chair off a roof. Wallen's first attempt at performing on SNL in 2020 was nixed because he violated COVID protocols.
Now, he's not just surviving attempts at cancellation — he's thriving. As it stands, his polarizing status has made him even more of a star.
Marcus K. Dowling, country music reporter at the Tennessean, told Yahoo Entertainment that Wallen wouldn't be such a cultural force if he weren't so talented. He's the most successful country crossover artist since Garth Brooks.
'If the songs were not good, if the songs were not catchy, popular, well-written, all of the things, this would not be an issue. But it is an issue, because every time he puts out an album … there is a population of people that very much do not want Morgan Wallen to succeed,' he said. 'But then he puts out another slate of music, and it's very well-produced and the writing is peerless.'
It helps that Wallen is prolific too. By releasing dozens of singles in the last five years, he isn't just driving cultural conversation. He's dominating it.
'You're not talking about a person at that point. You're talking about something that's far greater than that … an avatar of a genre and a movement and society at large,' Dowling said. 'People gravitate toward a bad boy image, first and foremost. Then there's this social construct of country, western, rural, nightlife, college-age entertainment and the relatability of [him singing about how] 'I'm really bad at relationships because I'm in my 20s!' Add that all together, it's a very real thing.'
'If you're playing his songs in Florida, he sounds like your next-door neighbor, but he's singing Drake songs. That's like discovering plutonium by accident. The ultimate mistake of your life,' he added.
Dowling said Wallen masterfully appeals to swaths of Gen Z-ers and millennials that are young, sad and ready to party. He's a distinctly self-aware and talented writer, and that makes him really good at curating vibes.
Wallen curated the first-ever Sand in My Boots music festival in Gulf Shores, Ala., which took place the same May weekend that he released his latest album. All 40,000 tickets sold out in just two hours.
'Gulf Shores is, indeed, God's country, if on the fourth day, God invented Zyn, the fifth day, Michelob Ultra, and on the sixth day, he declared, 'Let there be scantily clad women walking barefoot in the street!'' Billboard's Meaghan Garvey wrote of her experience at the festival.
But if Wallen is the top artist in the country, he's not just dominating towns where people are known to have a good time. He's the most-played artist on TouchTunes jukeboxes across the entire country so far in 2025, according to data the company shared with Yahoo Entertainment. He's racking up nearly double the plays of the next closest act across 65,000 locations nationwide. Chicago is the city where his music is most popular.
His songs are relatable to the young people who drive culture, explained Nathan Green, CEO and co-founder of in-store music curation company New Level Radio.
'Wallen's raspy, soulful voice evokes emotion, and his songwriting often delves into relatable experiences like toxic relationships and the struggles of navigating modern life. … Songs that discuss drunken screwups, small-town living and life's issues elevate his persona to fans who feel like they are going through the same things in life,' he told Yahoo Entertainment. 'Wallen's fans tend to see him as relatable and authentic, especially his ability to portray the 'sad, bad boy' character.'
Wallen's songwriting and sound transcend genre, which is why it's so appealing to such a wide audience.
'His persona blends old-school country grit with that polished, modern pop-country vibe, which makes him appealing to both younger listeners and more traditional fans,' Americana artist Nate Currin told Yahoo Entertainment. 'Add to that his knack for writing catchy, radio-friendly summer tunes, and it's no surprise he's taken the country scene by storm.'
Blending genres isn't just an art form — it's a strategy. Atlanta Cobb, a music consultant and founder of the artistic development program Music Industry Mentor, told Yahoo Entertainment that the fact that Wallen's able to play on multiple genres of radio stations aided his breakout success.
'When you combine radio airplay domination with TikTok virality, you've got the perfect combination for becoming the artist (or song) of the summer,' she said. 'His team is incredibly smart about release strategy — dropping hooky, emotionally resonant tracks right before summer, tapping into themes like heartbreak and nostalgia that soundtrack long drives and late nights.'
Wallen easily dominates summer every year because his songs play into the things we associate with the season — going out, driving a truck, drinking whiskey and so on. Dowling said these are common themes in country music because, unlike other genres, it 'remembers its history' and taps into that same iconography.
What people don't seem quick to remember, though, is Wallen's history of controversy. It's also possible that they've weighed his talent against it and decided that his music is more important than the things he's done.
'I think his fan base sees him as resilient, worthy of second (or third, or fourth) chances and as a survivor of so-called 'cancel culture' — which all feels to me like it mirrors what's happening in the political sphere,' Amy Crawford, vice president of creative development at branding agency MassiveMusic, told Yahoo Entertainment. 'His new album is titled I'm The Problem — he is marketing, and his fan base is rooting for his … redemption.'
There are a lot of people who would agree with Wallen's album title and wish he'd go away.
'Depending on where you fall on the ideological spectrum … he's somebody who should be gone. But then you hit play, and 'I'm the Problem' comes on, and you're stuck,' Dowling said. 'Fifteen seconds is all the [music streaming services] algorithm needs. You're done.'
You listen to 'Whiskey Glasses,' his first big hit, and then 'Broadway Girls,' a Lil Durk song he's featured on. Maybe you hear his previous songs of summer, 2023's 'Last Night' and 2024's 'I Had Some Help' featuring Post Malone, and you just keep listening.
'If you hit play, no matter what you think about this person, no matter what you think about race … or culture yourself, you're minimally going to give this song a spin,' Dowling said. 'And you're probably going to like it and play it again.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tim Bagley claims he couldn't audition for 'SNL 'because 'they wouldn't hire openly gay people'
Tim Bagley says any dream of his to join the Saturday Night Live cast was crushed early on. During a recent appearance on SiriusXM's The Julia Cunningham Show, the 67-year-old comedic actor claimed that despite having a promising start as part of the Groundlings — an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe that launched the careers of many SNL stars — in 1989, he couldn't audition for the sketch comedy series because he was out as a gay man. "I was out as a gay man and people knew that they would not hire openly gay people," Bagley alleged about SNL boss Lorne Michaels and late manager Bernie Brillstein. "[They] had kind of a thing where they did not hire gay people, so I never got to audition," the Somebody Somewhere star continued. "All my friends did, and I was always kind of a standout at the Groundlings, but I was out. That [was] the problem with being out back then was there were no guardrails. I mean, if somebody didn't want to have you on their show, they just [didn't have to]. They weren't trying to seek out LGBTQ people back then." As it happens, Bagley is not the first person to accuse SNL and Michaels of having issues with hiring openly queer people during the peak of the show's popularity. Comedian James Adomian told the Daily Beast in 2018 that he thinks being openly gay kept him from getting a spot on the cast, though he did get to audition several times in the early 2000s. "It certainly didn't help that I was openly gay," Adomian said. "I think that Lorne Michaels is afraid of America's dads." Still, Bagley — who has proven his comedic chops with guest appearances on shows like Will & Grace, Seinfeld, and Curb Your Enthusiasm — noted that SNL has boasted its LGBTQ+ representation over the years, especially with cast members such as Kate McKinnon and Bowen Yang becoming prominent figures on the show. "It's taken quite a long time... he was the actual first conscious, you know, gay person hired," Bagley claimed. "It's taken a long time, but the SNL machine has kind of changed or shifted, and I know that there are people that have come out since." SNL's first openly gay cast member was actually Terry Sweeney, who Michaels brought onto the season 11 cast when he returned as executive producer to the show after a five-year hiatus in who had joined the cast after starring on the Logo sketch comedy series The Big Gay Sketch Show, became the first openly lesbian cast member in the history of the show when she joined in 2012. John Milhiser joined the cast as an openly gay man in 2013, followed by more LGBTQ+ cast members such as Yang, Punkie Johnson, and the show's first nonbinary performer Molly Kearney. Other LGBTQ+ cast members who were not out professionally during their time on SNL include Denny Dillon, Danitra Vance, and Sasheer Zamata. Yang started at SNL as a writer in 2018 before being promoted to cast member the next year for season 45, becoming the show's first Chinese American cast member and one of only a few out gay stars in the show's history. He's made a name for himself at the legendary sketch show with impressions of JD Vance and Fran Lebowitz, and out-of-the-box "Weekend Update" characters like the Iceberg That Sank the Titanic and viral baby pygmy hippopotamus Moo Deng. Not to mention, Yang has also scored four Emmy nominations during his time on SNL, including making history in 2021 as the first featured player to be nominated. He's also the lead of a fan-favorite sketch from last year in which the actor "reveals" himself to be a toxic straight man that the night's host fall in love with. The OG sketch featured Sydney Sweeney and the sequel, titled "Bowen's Still Straight," included Scarlett Johansson. Yang can next be seen in Wicked: For Good, coming to theaters later this year. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Will Forte Says ‘SNL' Should Have ‘Retired' George W. Bush Impressions After Will Ferrell, Admits His Version Was a ‘Letdown': ‘It's Like Trying to Replace the Church Lady'
Will Forte admits Will Ferrell is a tough act to follow. While chatting with fellow 'Saturday Night Live' alum Amy Poehler on her 'Good Hang' podcast, Forte, who joined the show in 2002 after Ferrell's final season, discussed the burden of playing George W. Bush on 'SNL.' More from Variety Amy Poehler Says 'SNL' Actors 'All Played People We Should Not Have... I Misappropriated, I Appropriated': Everything in Comedy Has an 'Expiration Date' 'SNL's' Mikey Day Has Knack for Getting Crazy Characters to Go Viral, But Says 'I'm Not Really Sure Where This Stuff Comes From' Will Ferrell's 'Eurovision' Movie Becoming Broadway Musical 'It was a huge cast,' Forte said. 'It was, like, 17 people, you're trying to get you're stuff on, you're trying to get noticed. And then I got, somehow, the George Bush role.' Although it was a great opportunity to prove himself, Forte explained that impressions were not his strong suit, and that his placement in the role of Bush was 'a match not made in heaven.' On top of that, Ferrell's take on Bush is one of the most iconic impersonations in 'SNL' history, setting Forte's bar impossibly high. 'Will Ferrell was George Bush! He was George W. Bush. He was so good at it. Anybody replacing…it's like trying to replace the Church Lady,' he said in reference to Dana Carvey's immortal 'SNL' character. 'Trying to have somebody else do that…he made it such his own thing. They should have just retired it.' 'But of course, you can't retire the sitting president on 'SNL,'' Forte added. He went on to say that he felt his take on the 43rd president was ultimately a 'letdown.' Forte was on 'SNL' for eight seasons, leaving the show in 2010. Most recently, Forte has appeared in shows such as 'The Four Seasons,' 'The Great North,' 'Bob's Burgers,' 'Sweet Tooth' and 'Clone High.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Where to Eat, Drink and Chill in Kauai's Tastiest Beach Town
Before traveling to Hawaii for the first time, I spent hours browsing through Instagram and TikTok foodie posts. Gathering ideas for all the delicious meals I'd eat, I had high expectations for the food in Poipu Beach, located on the south shore of Kauai. As it turns out, this island's food scene impressed me even more than expected. From nicer, more sophisticated spots like Red Salt Restaurant to quick bar bites at Kalapaki Joe's, check out these best Kauai food and drink spots on your next visit. These must-visit restaurants in Kauai won't let you down. I love Indian food and will make a point to grab it during any trip. This tucked-away restaurant, "That Indian Place", has excellent food and will adjust to your spice preferences. I ordered the butter chicken (mild) and the chicken sagwala (mild), along with some garlic naan bread. The local atmosphere and outdoor dining patio really made this place stand out as one of my favorite spots to eat throughout the whole trip. Top menu items Mango LassiButter ChickenChicken Tikka MasalaChicken SagwalaPaneer Tikka Stop by Brennecke's Beach Broiler as you stroll along Poipu Beach for a lively, vibrant atmosphere. Locals and visitors alike know this top spot as one of the best places for food and drink on Kauai. While crowded, you can grab some phenomenal bites here as well as tropical-style frozen cocktails. I loved the desserts here too. If you plan on doing some appetizer or bar hopping along the main strip, definitely make this restaurant/bar a must-visit spot. Top menu items Seafood Pupu PlatterMango MadnessLava Lava FlowPineapple Rum Upside Down Cake If you want to try a Loco Moco, stop by Red Salt Restaurant, attached to the beautiful Ko'a Kea Resort. This spot served the best Loco Moco I had while in Hawaii. A Loco Moco is a Hawaiian favorite comfort food, made with white rice, gravy, a hamburger patty, and topped with a fried egg. It sounds interesting, but trust me once you try it, you'll want to order it time and time again. The ocean views from this restaurant also set the scene for a nice meal. Top menu items Lemon Pineapple PancakesLoco Moco Acai Bowl Unlike other islands with numerous national chains, Kauai offers a more locally inspired dining scene. This laid-back, down-to-earth island provides numerous options for fresh, local seafood, including mahimahi, ahi tuna, and ono. The island also has many traditional Hawaiian plates to try. I highly recommend trying at least one classic Hawaiian dish, such as the Loco Moco, during your visit. You'll also find spam musubi almost everywhere, another classic food in Kauai. Where to Stay in Kauai, Hawaii's Gorgeous Garden IsleBest Time to Visit Hawaii: A Month-by-Month GuideUnwind & Recharge: Choosing the Ideal Hawaiian Island for Your Family Getaway10 Dreamy Honeymoon Spots in the USA20 Fun Things to Do in Hawaii with Kids The post Where to Eat, Drink and Chill in Kauai's Tastiest Beach Town appeared first on She Buys Travel. Copyright © 2025 SheBuysTravel · All Rights Reserved
