Let’s take you back to seven years ago with Morgan Wallen’s ‘The Voice’ audition.
Without the mullet and cut-off shirt we’ve known him for, Wallen was instead sporting a button-down shirt, skinny tie, and grandpa sweater. The country star, who was only 20 years old then, introduced himself as a landscaper from Knoxville, Tennessee.
He went on explaining how he started singing at a young age because of his mother and even won a competition that offered him a record contract, which they turned down as his mother wanted him to have a normal childhood.
Wallen’s mother and grandmother were also there, being his biggest cheerleaders, staying by his side until he stepped on stage to sing Howie Day’s “Collide.”
It All Started on The Voice
Morgan Wallen‘s voice was still raspy, but it sounded a little softer and more soulful at the blind auditions. Though it has less twang, judges know he’s a superstar in the making.
And with just one line from the song, Colombian pop star Shakira was quick to turn her chair for Wallen, making the singer’s family scream with excitement. Then, another judge, R&B singer Usher, followed at the very last minute.
Shakira and Usher then fight it out for the young singer to choose their respective teams, with Shakira saying that there’s no sound like Wallen’s voice on today’s radio while Usher noted that Wallen has the potential to be any type of artist he’d like to be. Meanwhile, fellow judges Blake Shelton and Adam Levine already missed out on working with the future country star as they didn’t have any more room on their team.
For You
Taking a minute for himself, Wallen eventually decided to join Usher’s team.
However, He Wasn’t Billed As A Country Singer
Morgan Wallen kept his spot with a cover of Avicii’s “Hey Brother.” However, during the second Battle Rounds – where he sang One Direction’s “Story of My Life” – his coach Usher picked against him, which means Wallen had to go home. But things took a turn for Wallen with a last-minute steal from Adam Levine, keeping him on the show.
The problem is that they wanted Wallen to sing pop music, but “I decided to sing country because that’s what I wanted to do anyway,” he said. Unfortunately, Wallen was eliminated after a performance of “Stay” by Florida Georgia Line.
Yet His Career Skyrocketed After The Voice
Thankfully, getting eliminated from the reality show turned out in Wallen’s favor, with his country career looking more and more promising.
Showing off his smart songwriting abilities and powerful vocals, it wasn’t long for Wallen to land a publishing and record deal. Eventually, Wallen started making an impression on the radio, especially with his song “The Way I Talk.” Soon enough, he was already collaborating with hit-making duo Florida Georgia Line on the single “Up Down,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard Country Airplay while peaking at No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
And the success of Morgan Wallen songs keeps on coming! His latest project, Dangerous: The Double Album, made history for making its debut at No.1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, at the same time earning the largest streaming week for a country album in history.
But that would have never happened if he didn’t step on the stage of The Voice in 2014. You can watch his audition below.
