Morgan Wallen has dominated the US charts this year, even after famously using a racial slur. Here is a complete timeline of his biggest controversies.
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Morgan Wallen has enjoyed a record-breaking year.
Wallen's success comes even after a string of controversies.
The 30-year-old singer has previously used a racial slur and was once thrown out of Kid Rock's bar.
Morgan Wallen is having the biggest moment of his career.
The country singer's third studio album, "One Thing at a Time," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 upon its release on March 3, and subsequently enjoyed the biggest streaming week of any country album in history.
All 36 of the album's songs also charted on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Last Night," which on March 13 scored Wallen his first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In having all 36 songs on the chart, Wallen, who rose to fame as a competitor on season six of "The Voice," set a new record for most songs on the Billboard Hot 100 by one artist at the same time. The previous record holder was Drake with 27.
Wallen's recent successes come even after a string of controversies, including using a racial slur and being arrested for public intoxication. Here is a timeline of the singer's past behavior.
May 23, 2020: Wallen is kicked out of Kid Rock's bar and arrested.
According to The Tennessean, Wallen was arrested and charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges during a night out in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
Police said Wallen got kicked out of Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N' Roll Steakhouse at about 11 p.m. for "kicking glass items." On the street, he then got into verbal fights with passersby.
"We didn't mean any harm, and we want to say sorry to any bar staff or anyone that was affected," Wallen said in a since-deleted tweet the day after the incident. "Thank you to the local authorities for being so professional and doing their job with class. Love y'all."
Prosecutors later abandoned the charges.
October 3-4, 2020: Wallen is caught partying without a mask during lockdown.
Just one week before Wallen was set to make his debut appearance on "Saturday Night Live" in October 2020, videos of the singer drinking and making out with women at packed bars and parties in Alabama, without a mask, emerged online.
At the time, Alabama had deployed a statewide mask and social distancing mandate to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
October 7, 2020: Wallen's "SNL" appearance is canceled.
As a result of his breaking COVID-19 restrictions, Wallen's "SNL" appearance was canceled and he was replaced with Jack White.
"My actions this past weekend were pretty short-sighted and they have obviously affected my long-term goals and my dreams," he said in an Instagram video after being axed by the show.
October 7, 2020: Wallen pulls out of headlining a festival in Georgia.
The same day Wallen was axed from "SNL," he also canceled his headline gig at the Rome River Jam in Georgia.
According to Billboard, the festival, which allowed fans to gather in their own socially-distanced, open-air pods was expected to be the largest event planned for country fans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Wallen was replaced by Lee Brice on the lineup.
December 5, 2020: Wallen jokes about breaking COVID-19 rules during "SNL" sketch.
After making his postponed "SNL" debut, Wallen poked fun at himself during a sketch about the events that led to his original appearance on the show getting canceled.
In the sketch, Wallen is at an Alabama bar where he's met by two future versions of himself, played by Jason Bateman and Bowen Yang, who warn him of what's about to unfold.
"Someone's going to post a video of you breaking COVID-19 protocols and the whole internet is going to freak out," Bateman said to Wallen.
February 2, 2021: Video emerges of Wallen using a racial slur.
In footage posted on TMZ, Wallen was heard using the N-word to address his friend as they returned to Morgan's house after a night out in Nashville.
"I'm embarrassed and sorry," Wallen said to TMZ. "I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. 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."
February 3, 2020: Wallen's music is pulled from radio stations across the United States.
Stations including SiriusXM and iHeartRadio pulled Wallen's music from the air following the release of TMZ's video. Wallen's music was also removed from streaming platforms Apple Music and Spotify.
February 3, 2020: Wallen is suspended by his record label.
In a statement, Big Loud said: "In the wake of recent events, Big Loud Records has made the decision to suspend Morgan Wallen's recording contract indefinitely."
The statement concluded that Republic Records, which in 2019 partnered with Big Loud to work with Wallen, "fully supports Big Loud's decision and agrees that such behavior will not be tolerated."
February 10, 2020: Wallen issues an apology video.
In a lengthy video shared on his Instagram, Wallen apologized for his remarks and said that he had spoken to leaders in the Black community.
Wallen also shared that was attempting to get sober.
"I have one favor to ask. I appreciate those who still see something in me and have defended me," he said. "But for today, please don't. I was wrong. It's on me to take ownership for this. And I fully accept any penalties I'm facing."
"Our actions matter, our words matter," he added. "And I just want to encourage anyone watching to please learn from my mistakes."
October 28, 2021: Wallen is banned from attending the American Music Awards.
Wallen was a double nominee at the 2021 American Music Awards, receiving nods in the favorite male country artist and favorite country album categories.
He was banned from attending and accepting awards, however, because of his use of a racial slur.
"Morgan Wallen is a nominee this year based on charting," said the show's producers in a statement. "As his conduct does not align with our core values, we will not be including him on the show in any capacity (performing, presenting, accepting).
"We plan to evaluate his progress in doing meaningful work as an ally to the Black community and will consider his participation in future shows."
May 15, 2022: Wallen performs at the Billboard Music Awards.
The performance was Wallen's first at an award show since TMZ released footage of him saying the N-word.
He played two songs, opening with "Don't Think Jesus, a song about a boy turning to religion following regrettable actions, before transitioning into "Wasted on You."
During the awards ceremony, host Diddy said he was "uncanceling" Wallen.
"Love does not rock like that," said the hip-hop superstar. "I'm here to forgive, to unify, to celebrate, and to have everybody be free."
June 29, 2022: Wallen opens up on "dark" time.
"I feel like I'm a pretty resilient person, and I'm a pretty happy person in general," Wallen told Storme Warren during an interview on SiriusXM's "The Highway," reflecting on the past year.
"But that was definitely a really difficult time, you know? But we tried to keep my sight set on better things. I feel like if we just stay true to who I knew I really was, that it would, we would come out all right."
March 13, 2023: Wallen scores his first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Last Night."
Wallen's third studio album, "One Thing at a Time," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 upon its release on March 3.
All 36 of the album's songs went on to place on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Last Night," which reached the top spot.
As of August, "One Thing at a Time" has spent 20 weeks in the Billboard 200's top 10.
April 23, 2023: Wallen cancels his concert in Mississippi minutes before he was slated to take the stage.
Just moments before Wallen was meant to appear at the Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, fans were met with a black-and-white message on the stage's big screen, announcing the last-minute cancelation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately, Morgan has lost his voice and is unable to perform tonight," the message read. "Therefore, tonight's show has been canceled. Please make your way safely to the stadium exits. Refunds for tonight's event will be available at point of purchase."
Wallen later apologized in a statement on Instagram.
"After last night's show I started losing my voice so I spent the day resting up, talking to my doctor and working through my vocal exercise trying to get better," he wrote. "I am so sorry, I promise you guys I tried everything I could."
April 25, 2023: Wallen faces legal action for his last-minute cancelation.
According to court documents obtained by Page Six and TMZ, Brandi Burcham, a fan in attendance at the canceled Mississippi gig, filed a federal lawsuit against Wallen for breach of contract and negligence.
The University of Mississippi, which hosted the concert, promised full ticket refunds, but Burcham's complaint said she has yet to be reimbursed.
Burcham also cited incurring "out-of-pocket expenses" caused by the concert cancellation that won't be covered by the reimbursement.
July 17, 2023: Wallen makes Hot 100 history.
In mid-July, Wallen's "Last Night" spent its 14th non-consecutive week atop the Billboard Hot 100, tying the record for the fifth-longest No. 1 in chart history.
The four other records that have spent 14 weeks atop the chart are: "Uptown Funk!" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas, "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey, and "Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John.
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