Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn, and Thomas Rhett aren’t newcomers. They’ve headlined sold-out tours, racked up major awards, and helped shape country music into what it is today. So when fans saw their names listed as openers on Morgan Wallen’s 2025 I’m The Problem stadium tour, it sent a jolt through the country world. Some called it a letdown. Others called it a smart move. But no matter where you land, the fact remains—this lineup says more about the current state of country music than any press release could.
And it starts with one thing: Morgan Wallen isn’t just a headliner. Right now, he is the main event.
Wallen’s Touring Power Has Redrawn the Map
Morgan Wallen’s One Night at a Time World Tour shattered records. Over 3 million fans. Ten countries. The highest-grossing country tour in history. Now, with I’m The Problem set to take over 19 stadiums across North America beginning June 20, 2025, Wallen isn’t riding a wave—he’s creating one.
It’s rare air. Artists like Garth Brooks and George Strait have sold stadiums, but Wallen is doing it with a kind of streaming-era momentum that turns every show into a social media moment and every song into a movement. According to Billboard, his shows are selling faster and bigger than any other artist in the genre right now. That kind of platform is impossible to ignore.
That’s why Brooks & Dunn are playing select dates. Why Thomas Rhett is on board in cities like Cleveland. Why even Miranda Lambert, known for her fierce independence and headliner status, signed on.
This isn’t about taking a backseat. It’s about standing center stage in front of the biggest country crowd 2025 will see.
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Miranda Lambert Didn’t Shrink—She Leaned in
If there was one artist fans didn’t expect to see billed below Wallen, it was Miranda Lambert. She’s been a headliner for over a decade, won more ACM Awards than any woman in country music history, and never needed anyone to prop her up.
So when her name dropped as an opener, the backlash came fast. Tweets accused her of “downgrading.” Others asked why she’d attach herself to someone with Wallen’s controversial history. But Lambert didn’t ignore the noise—she responded. In February, she posted a video on Instagram reading harsh tweets about her tour decision. “It’s not wrong, but it’s not right,” she laughed, acknowledging the weirdness while standing firm.
And honestly, she’s not wrong. This move fits into a broader chapter of reinvention. After dropping her 2024 album Postcards from Texas, which leaned heavily into stripped-down songwriting and rootsier vibes, Lambert seems more focused on connecting with real people than optics. Opening for Wallen might raise eyebrows, but it also puts her in front of 50,000+ people a night—many of whom may not have experienced her live.
Thomas Rhett’s move is more strategic than surprising. His 2023 duet with Wallen, “Mamaw’s House,” was a No. 1 hit and helped bridge the gap between Rhett’s polished pop-country brand and Wallen’s more rugged image. For Rhett, this tour is a way to stay relevant, visible, and connected to Wallen’s younger, high-energy fan base.
And Brooks & Dunn? Legends don’t need to prove anything. Their inclusion feels more like a tip of the hat—one generation giving another its due while still bringing the heat.
This isn’t a hand-off. It’s a moment of alignment. Wallen’s stage is the biggest platform in the genre, and these artists know better than anyone that staying still is the fastest way to get left behind.
