Morgan Wallen went from a rejected reality-show contestant to one of the biggest names in country music, with multiple chart-topping albums and record-breaking tours. Along the way he's also made headlines for reasons that have nothing to do with music.
Here's a fact-checked look at his career, his personal life, and the controversies that have followed him.
Morgan Cole Wallen was born on May 13, 1993, in Sneedville, Tennessee.
He grew up in East Tennessee and started writing his own songs at a young age, developing an early passion for music.
He attended Gibbs High School in Corryton, Tennessee, and was offered a chance to play baseball in college before choosing to pursue music instead.
In 2014, Wallen competed on season 6 of NBC's "The Voice," auditioning with a cover of Howie Day's "Collide." He joined Team Usher before later moving to Team Adam Levine, and he was eliminated before the live shows.
His debut single, "The Way I Talk," launched his career but only reached number 30 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, not number one.
Wallen signed a recording contract with Big Loud Records in August 2016.
His debut studio album, "If I Know Me," was released in 2018 and eventually reached number one on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.
His second album, "Dangerous: The Double Album," was released in January 2021 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
"Dangerous" features guest appearances from Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, and Jason Isbell.
Wallen won New Male Artist of the Year at the 2020 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards.
His song "Whiskey Glasses" became one of his biggest hits, surpassing a billion streams on Spotify.
He was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct outside a Nashville bar in May 2020.
Wallen has a son, Indigo Wilder, born in July 2020.
In October 2020, Wallen was pulled from a scheduled "Saturday Night Live" appearance after being seen violating COVID-19 safety protocols; he later rescheduled and appeared as musical guest that December.
In February 2021, a video surfaced showing Wallen using a racial slur, sparking widespread backlash. He publicly apologized and said he was working to educate himself.
He has written or co-written songs recorded by other country artists, including Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line.
Wallen has performed at major festivals such as Stagecoach and CMA Fest, and has appeared on late-night shows including "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
His songs "More Than My Hometown," "7 Summers," and "Sand In My Boots" all earned nominations at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards.
Wallen has several tattoos, including a cross on his right arm, a skull in a cowboy hat on his left arm, and an eagle with an American flag on his chest.
Outside of music, Wallen enjoys hunting, fishing, basketball, and golf, and he owns two dogs.
He has a younger sister named Mikaela.
As of 2023, estimates placed Wallen's net worth at around $4 million, but that figure has climbed substantially since as his albums and tours have continued to break sales records.
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