Morgan Wallen Opens Up About Sobriety And Fatherhood After Getting Embroiled In Various Controversies

Nov 15, 2022 by apost team

Morgan Wallen has become one of the fastest-rising country music stars, building a name for himself in only a few years' time. Unfortunately, he faced various controversies which drastically affected his career. But it seems he's made up for all his previous mistakes as he began setting foot on stage again and performing for his fans in a sober state.

Born in Sneedville, Tennessee, Wallen joined the sixth season of "The Voice" where he was initially part of Usher’s team until he later became a member of Adam Levine’s team. Sadly, he was eliminated during the playoffs.

Even though he didn’t win the competition, he still landed a deal with Panacea Records. He went on to become a mainstream country star and even made it to the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with his song "7 Summers."

But Wallen himself has been embroiled in various controversies. In May 2020, he was arrested outside a bar in downtown Nashville for public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

Months later, in October 2020, Wallen was criticized for partying maskless at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic alongside college girls.

Wallen was slated to make his debut performance on "Saturday Night Live" but was pulled out due to the incident. 

"I got a call from the show letting me know I will no longer be able to play," Wallen said. "I respect the show's decision, because I know that I put them in jeopardy and I take ownership for this." 

Perhaps his most controversial issue to date was when he was caught uttering racial slurs while entering his home in Nashville in January 2021. In a video released by TMZ, he was heard saying the n-word. 

Following the incident, Wallen penned an apology that he sent to several media outlets.

“I’m embarrassed and sorry. I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back,” the “Whiskey Glasses” artist said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight.

Despite his apology, fans and fellow country music artists remained disappointed in him. Wallen, who received the New Artist of the Year award in 2020, was barred from attending the Country Music Awards in 2021.

“The Academy of Country Music will halt Morgan Wallen’s potential involvement and eligibility for this year’s 56th Academy of Country Music Awards cycle,” the Academy’s statement read. “The Academy does not condone or support intolerance or behavior that doesn’t align with our commitment and dedication to diversity and inclusion.”

In April 2021, Wallen donated around $500,000 to various Black-led organizations, including the Black Music Action Coalition, in a bid to make amends following the incident.

In July 2021, he appeared on Good Morning America where he opened up about what happened.

"I was around some of my friends, and we just ... we say dumb stuff together," Wallen said. "And it was — in our minds, it's playful ... that sounds ignorant, but it — that's really where it came from ... and it's wrong." 

Extra caught up with Wallen at the Country Music Awards in November 2022 where the musician admitted that performing on stage sober made him the proudest out of all the great things that happened to him in 2022.

“I think we played probably like 75 shows, something like that, this year, and I did them all mostly in a sober state of mind. I was really, really focused,” he said. 

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“I kind of treated it like an athlete would, you know, a season, and I think that was that was really key to me. I feel like I really thrived in that, so I think that’s really stood out to me,” he added. 

In the same interview, he opened up about a number of things including being a father to his child Indigo “Indie” Wilder, among others. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Wallen said he is simply thankful for having been given the opportunity to become a dad to his little one. “My family, my little boy. That’s gotta be my number one,” Wallen said.

Wallen went on to share that he wants to instill in his son the values that his parents taught him because he wants him to grow up with more than he had. He welcomed his son with ex-girlfriend KT Smith in July 2020.

“I didn’t really have a whole lot growing up, so I got to learn the importance of values, and I just hope I can really instill in him the same, you know, that my parents did,” he told Extra.

In time for his 29th birthday in May 2022, Wallen released the song "You Proof" which talks about "drinking away the memory of a previous lover.” The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs.

He delivered a moving performance of the song, with his son cheering him on in the comforts of their own home since he couldn’t come to watch his dad perform live.

Smith shared a video of their son on Instagram stories, proving that Indie is his dad’s biggest fan and that he will always be there for him no matter what!

What are your thoughts on Morgan Wallen’s journey toward sobriety and making amends? Let us know your thoughts and pass this on to fans who might be interested to read this.