Morgan Wallen’s popularity has exploded in the past year, taking the country music world by storm, all in the blink of an eye. It’s high time we get to know more about this artist.
Check out these fast facts you might not know about today’s hottest country star.
1. He’s a native of Tennessee.
Morgan Wallen was born on May 13, 1993, in Sneedville, Tennessee, but he grew up in the Knoxville area. His father is a Southern Baptist pastor who loved to blast some classic hard rock, while his mother was a teacher whose choice of music was more on contemporary gospel songs.
Growing up, it was natural for Wallen to fall in love with music too. He even took piano and violin lessons and started singing in church at the young age of three.
2. His first love is sports.
But it was actually sports that he always believed would be his career. “As soon as I was old enough to move and walk, I went straight to sports,” the singer said. “My mom said I never even played with toys. I remember playing with little army men for a second, but as soon as that was over, it was just basketball, baseball, football – any kind of ball.”
It wasn’t until a pitching accident that resulted in an elbow injury during his senior year of high school that Wallen was forced to hang up his mitt and found his calling in music.
3. He went to the same high school as Kenny Chesney.
Morgan Wallen attended Gibbs High School in Corryton, the same school where country superstar Kenny Chesney graduated.
4. He has a sweet reason why he got a mullet.
Since breaking out in 2017, Wallen has been rocking a mullet, and he has no plans of losing it.
The real reason why he chose the hairstyle will surely move you – it was because of his father, who he considers as one of his best friends, has once sported a mullet. “Me and my dad are very similar people, so I was like, ‘Man, if Dad could do it, I will do it,'” the singer said.
5. He was once a contestant on The Voice.
In 2014, Wallen appeared during season six of the music competition, The Voice.
“My name is Morgan Wallen, I’m twenty years old, I’m from Knoxville, Tennessee, and I’m currently a landscaper,” Wallen introduced himself to America on the stage of The Voice. “I’m just a normal small-town kid, and I really don’t have a clue how to get into music—other than this.”
He auditioned with a husky version of “Collide,” which impressed celebrity judge Usher and competed as part of Usher’s team before being stolen by Adam Levine. Despite being eliminated a month later, Wallen’s fate was sealed. He came home to Tennessee with a slightly higher profile.
6. His mother auditioned him for the show.
Morgan Wallen didn’t have any idea about The Voice until his mother signed him up to audition, convincing him that he’d do well.
Wallen’s mom became her biggest supporter throughout the show. “He really is very emotional with his singing,” Wallen’s mom said. “It’s beautiful.”
7. He’s glad he didn’t advance further in the competition.
Though Wallen appreciates his time on The Voice — saying, “That whole experience kind of kick-started me a little bit” — he’s thankful he didn’t win.
“They wanted me to sing pop music, and I wanted to sing country music,” the singer said. “But it was a big first step — I guess that’s the first time in my life where I realized that maybe I actually have a shot at this.” Being out of the competition indeed helped Wallen figure out who he was as an artist.
8. He’s a single father.
On July 10, 2020, Morgan Wallen welcomed his baby boy, Indigo Wilder, with his former girlfriend, KT Smith. The arrival of his son has helped the country star dad become a “changed man.” He promised his baby that he would be “the Dad you deserve as well as the co-parent your mother deserves.”
9. His net worth is huge.
Since Morgan Wallen first appeared on The Voice seven years ago, the country star has had several successes behind his name. Celeb Net Worths deems Morgan Wallen’s net worth to be about 2.5 million dollars.
10. He’s been learning a lot of things about stardom lately.
Wherever fame goes, so goes controversy, and Morgan Wallen’s short span in the industry has been full of it. In the past year, he has been arrested for his aggressive behavior at a Nashville bar, and then he’s been axed from the SNL show when he was caught partying without a mask at a crowded bar. Just recently, the singer was caught on camera yelling a racial slur.
“I’m embarrassed and sorry. I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back,” Wallen said in a statement. “There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better.”
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