His third studio album, One Thing at a Time (2023), has topped the Billboard 200 for 12 concurrent weeks as of May 31, with all of its 36 tracks entering the Billboard Hot 100. This broke the record for most songs by an artist on the chart at one time. The single "Last Night" peaked atop the Hot 100 in 2023, becoming Wallen’s first single to do so. Morgan's 12-week run has broken several records, including a 31-year one set by Billy Ray Cyrus.
Wallen was born to Tommy and Lesli Wallen on May 13, 1993 in Sneedville, Tennessee. As a child, Wallen took piano and violin lessons. He aspired to play baseball in college, but after injuring his elbow he chose to pursue music.
In 2014, Wallen competed on Season 6 of The Voice, initially as part of Usher's team and later Adam Levine's team. He was eliminated during the playoffs.
While in California to appear on The Voice, Wallen began working with Sergio Sanchez of Atom Smash. Sanchez introduced Wallen to Bill Ray and Paul Trust of Panacea Records. In 2015, Wallen signed to Panacea Records where he released an EP Stand Alone on August 24, 2015. "Spin You Around" was Wallen's debut single under Panacea Records and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on April 21, 2021. In 2015, Wallen's manager, Dirk Hemsath of Working Group Artist Management, sent a demo of Wallen to Big Loud Shirt’s Seth England, who had Wallen audition for his partners in Big Loud Records. They signed Wallen to the label and the publishing company.
In 2016, Wallen signed to Big Loud Records where he released his debut single "The Way I Talk". He co-wrote the A Thousand Horses single "Preachin' to the Choir". In April 2017, Wallen released a music video for "The Way I Talk". He joined Florida Georgia Line on their Dig Your Roots Tour. In 2017, Wallen co-wrote the Jason Aldean single "You Make It Easy" with Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley and Jordan Schmidt.
On April 27, 2018, Wallen released his debut album, If I Know Me. The second single from the album, "Up Down", recorded with Florida Georgia Line, peaked at #16 on Billboard. On July 30, 2018, Wallen released the album's third single, "Whiskey Glasses." The song reached #1 on Country Airplay in June 2019 and was Billboard's 2019 top Hot Country song and Top Country Airplay song. In 2019, Wallen joined Florida Georgia Line on their Can't Say I Ain't Country Tour. On December 3, 2018, Wallen appeared in an episode of WWE Raw. Wallen’s single "Chasin' You" was released in July 2019 and peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts. Wallen was a co-writer on Dallas Smith's song "The Fall".
In August 2020, If I Know Me reached #1 on the Top Country Albums chart after a record-breaking 114 weeks.
On May 27, 2020, Wallen released "More Than My Hometown" to country radio as the lead single to his upcoming second studio album. On August 14, Wallen released the song "7 Summers" and it broke the record for the most first day streams for a country song on Apple Music. It earned him his first top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, debuting and peaking at #6. The song was also chosen by the Time as one of the best songs of 2020. On November 11, Wallen announced that his second album would be a double album titled Dangerous: The Double Album, set for release on January 8, 2021. Wallen announced the release date for the album as an Easter egg in the short film for "7 Summers".
The Double Album debuted atop the US Billboard 200 and the Canadian Albums Chart. It would remain atop the Canadian chart for four consecutive weeks, and the US chart for six consecutive weeks, marking the first new album from a country artist to do that since Garth Brooks' The Chase in 1992. Wallen graced the cover of Billboard, whose headline read: "Is Morgan Wallen Country's Next Global Star?". Wallen soon became the first artist to ever chart six songs within the top 10 of Hot Country Songs at the same time in the week after his album's release, with "Wasted on You", "More Than My Hometown", "Somebody's Problem", "7 Summers", "Sand in My Boots", and "Warning". Wallen also charted 23 tracks from the album on the Canadian Hot 100, and 19 tracks on the Hot 100 in the U.S., including "Cover Me Up" and "This Bar". Despite his racial slur controversy in early February, Wallen remained wildly popular. In the week following the controversy, album sales of Dangerous: The Double Album surged. In some cases, the physical as well as digital album sales went up over 100% in the week following the controversy. During the week of February 13, 2021, Wallen remained atop the Billboard charts despite the controversy; Dangerous: The Double Album remained atop the Billboard 200 chart, and Wallen's debut album If I Know Me entered the top 10 for the first time. In the following weeks, Dangerous: The Double Album remained #1 on the Billboard 200, and as a result, Wallen captured the most weeks atop the chart for a male artist since Drake's Views in 2016.
American Nights
Morgan Wallen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Marlboros if you want 'em
Go on and take a drag
A little small town freedom
A little taste of dreamin'
No need to preach
No need to shout we believe in
Cuttin' down Main St. in the dark
Muscle shoals, muscle cars
Earnin' our stripes underneath these stars
Faded Levi's, worn out Chucks
20 in my pocket, feels like a million bucks
Blue-eyed beauty, lean in to me
Our own show in the back row
Miss the whole damn movie
American nights, wanted alive
Cuttin' down Main St. in the dark
Muscle shoals, muscle cars
Earnin' our stripes underneath these stars
American nights
American nights
American nights
Pray the morning don't come
These colors don't run
Stay up and stay young
American nights
American nights, wanted alive
Cuttin' down Main St. in the dark
Muscle shoals, muscle cars
Earnin' our stripes underneath these stars
American nights
American nights
American nights
Pray the morning don't come
Stay up and stay young
In "American Nights," Morgan Wallen portrays the thrill of small-town living and youthful freedom. The song's lyrics are reflective of the "live in the moment" mentality of young people who seek adventure and experiences. Wallen paints a vivid picture of a typical night out in a small town, from blue ribbon bottles and Marlboro cigarettes to cruising down Main Street and catching a show at the back of a movie theater. The song captures the essence of American life, especially for those living in small towns, where everyone knows each other, and the night feels endless, a world away from the stresses of daily life. The chorus repeats the phrase "American nights, wanted alive," emphasizing the desire to keep the night going forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue ribbon bottles, big block throttles
Celebrate with the best beer and give your car the finest performance with high-powered engines.
Marlboros if you want 'em
Smoke a cigarette brand that has become synonymous with the American spirit of freedom.
Go on and take a drag
Take a puff and appreciate the little moments of life.
A little small town freedom
Experience the feeling of freedom in a small town environment.
A little taste of dreamin'
Allow yourself to dream a little and set your sights on your goals.
No need to preach
There's no need to lecture about patriotism when it comes naturally.
No need to shout we believe in
Believe in the ideals and values that make America what it is without making a fuss about it.
American nights, wanted alive
Live the American way of life with all its vibrant and exciting cultural aspects.
Cuttin' down Main St. in the dark
Drive down the main street and enjoy the thrill of adventure, even if it's dark outside.
Muscle shoals, muscle cars
Feel the power of the American automobile industry and drive cars that embody strength and endurance.
Earnin' our stripes underneath these stars
Make achievements and reach the height of success under the auspicious banner of the American flag.
Faded Levi's, worn out Chucks
Sport vintage clothing that represents the classical American style, even if it's a bit weathered.
20 in my pocket, feels like a million bucks
A little bit of cash in your pocket feels like a fortune when you're young and free-spirited.
Blue-eyed beauty, lean in to me
Find love and companionship with someone who embodies the best of America's physical and spiritual beauty.
Our own show in the back row
Create your own magical moments in the back rows of the movie theater, where you can enjoy your own show.
Miss the whole damn movie
Get lost in the moment and forget about the movie you came to see.
Pray the morning don't come
Wish that the night would never end and you could keep enjoying the freedom of the moment forevermore.
These colors don't run
The colors of the American flag symbolize honor, liberty, and pride; they will never be forgotten or abandoned.
Stay up and stay young
Stay up late and enjoy the thrill of being young, vibrant, and free in America.
Contributed by Jordan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
landon
on Whiskey Glasses
hi i love your song