Morgan Wallen's Ups and Downs: From 'The Voice' and Shattering Records to Racial Controversy and Felony Charges (2024)

Morgan Wallen's career has been met with peaks and valleys.

After the "I Thought You Should Know" singer got his start on The Voice and released his hit song "Whiskey Glasses," he's moved his way up to becoming one of the biggest names in country music.

Though he's found much success, the "Neon Star" performer has been met with roadblocks along the way. Between his arrest for public intoxication in Nashville to facing backlash for using a racial slur, the country singer has had to own up to mistakes under the public eye.

"I let so many people down," Wallen, 30, said in a February 2021 apology video after a video surfaced of his using a racial slur. "I let my parents down and they're the furthest thing from ... the person in that video. I let my son down, and I'm not OK with that."

"And one thing I've learned already [and] is specifically sorry for is that it matters my words matter," he added. "A word can truly hurt a person and in my core, it's not what I'm OK with."

Here's a deep dive on his ups and downs throughout his career.

It all started on The Voice

Wallengot his start onThe Voicein 2014 where he formed part ofAdam Levine's team (after being stolen from TeamUsher).

Although he didn't win and was eliminated in the playoffs, he started to gain recognition thanks to that moment — and he was glad he didn't win.

"I didn't even know whatThe Voicewas,"Wallen told PEOPLE in 2019 when he was selected as a Ones to Watch. "That whole experience kind of kick-started me a little bit."

"It was a big first step — I guess that's the first time in my life where I realized that maybe I actually have a shot at this," he added, before saying, "I'm thankful that I didn't win because it gave me a chance to take a couple years after that show and really figure out who I was as an artist and get the right team around me. When I got there, I had no clue what I was doing."

A big feature to kick it off

In 2017 — three years afterThe Voice— the singer enlisted the boys ofFlorida Georgia Lineon his first major hit single: "Up Down."

"Five years ago, I never would have thought that I would have them on my song,"Wallen told PEOPLEthen. "It's really kind of crazy how it all unfolded, and I can't wait to get it out for the rest of the world to see."

Wallen had gone on tour with FGL, stopping at select locations with the duo. The song catapulted Wallen's career and was the second single off his 2018 album,If I Know Me.

'Whiskey Glasses' changes his life

With a now-nine-time platinum certification, his 2018 single "Whiskey Glasses" cemented Wallen in country music.

Ahead of the 2020 ACMs, the singer told PEOPLE the track was hisbreakthrough.

Before that, it kind of felt like we were on the cusp of breaking out and still trying to establish ourselves,"Wallen said at the time. "When that song came around and had the success it did, I feel like it really sent us in a huge, right direction to be cemented in this format."

"With the shows, it's been insane to see how people react to that song and how it doesn't seem to ever get old," he added. "It's changed me and my band's whole life, for sure."

Arrested in Nashville

Problems with Wallen began when he wasarrested on public intoxication and disorderly conductcharges in May 2020.

"I went out downtown last night with a few old friends. After a couple bar stops, we were horse-playing with each other," the singer-songwriter clarified on Twitter the following day. "We didn't mean any harm, and we want to say sorry to any bar staff or anyone that was affected."

The charges were eventually dropped.

He's a dad — and a 'changed man'

On July 10, 2020 the singerwelcomed a baby boy named Indigo Wilder with his ex KT Smith.

Sharing a photo with his newborn, he said he was now a "changed man."

"Since you came into the world Friday, I see mine differently now,"Wallen wrote on Instagram alongside a photo holding his son. "It's not just me anymore, and I'm glad it's not. This year has been the hardest of my life in so many ways, but that's not what I will remember it by. You are. You are a gift and this tough year just made sense."

"Since you were born, I know that every decision I make will be with you in mind," he added. "I promise I'll always protect you, and do my best to be an example of a good, godly man just like my daddy was for me."

He's disinvited from SNL

After being filmedpartying days beforehe was set to perform onSaturday Night Live, Wallen invitation from the showwas revokedfor breakingcoronavirusprotocols.

"I'm in New York City, in a hotel room. I was getting ready forSNLthis Saturday, and I got a call from the show letting me know that I will no longer be able to play. And that's because of COVID protocols, which I understand," Wallen said in an Instagram video that has since been deleted.

"I'm not positive for COVID, butmy actions this past weekendwere pretty short-sighted and that have obviously affected my long-term goals and my dreams," he added. "I respect the show's decision because I know that I put them in jeopardy. I take ownership for this."

Taking time to clear his mind

In a lengthy interview with radio show hostBobby Boneson his podcast, the singeropened up about the criticism he faced, saying he turned off his phone and "cleared my head."

"I'm not gonna let people control the way I live my life, [but] I do also want to be mindful," he said, before adding, "And honestly, having a son, obviously now I don't know that I'd be proud to show him those videos."

He described the low moment as "almost a good thing for me."

"I took a while, like almost two weeks, and just turned my phone off and didn't even look at it," he said. "Drove on the tractor, things like that, and just cleared my head. It was really, really good to me."

"There's been times where I would just be like, 'I'm kind of like lonely and I don't know if I even like this,'" he added. "Then you know there's another high and you're like, 'Wow yeah I love this.' It just goes through phases."

Wins CMA new artist of the year

In November 2020, Wallen won a tough category when he beat outCarly Pearce,Jimmie Allen,Gabby Barrettand Ingrid Andress for CMA new artist of the year.

"Well, I did not expect to get this," Wallen said in his acceptance speech. "I'd like to thank the good Lord, first of all. I'd like to thank my mama for always being the one to push me to sing, for my dad for always making the sacrifices for me and my family so I could sing."

He added, "And for my team, and for Nashville for accepting me into your family. It's been a great five years since I've moved here. Thank you guys so much, God bless you."

SNL is back on

A month and a half after being disinvited, the singer waswelcomed backon theSNLstage — and even joked about itduring a skit.

"I am you from the future and I came here to stop you from partying tonight,"Jason Bateman's character said, later adding, "Trust me somebody's gonna post a video of you ignoring COVID protocols, the whole internet's gonna freak out ... Once people hear about the party, you're in big trouble man, you're gonna get kicked offSaturday Night Live."

"Well I don't want to screw up an opportunity like that or let my fans down. I guess I'll leave the party then," Wallen's character said before he was convinced otherwise.

Shattering records

Dropping his double albumDangerous in January 2021, the country star broke several records.

The album debuted No. 1 on theBillboard 200album as it received the largest week of streaming ever for a country album.

Dangerousalso marked the biggest week for a country album sinceCarrie UnderwoodreleasedCry Pretty. Wallen's project became only the 12th album to reach No. 1 in the last five years at the time of its release.

"I didn't want anything else of mine associated with the year 2020," Wallen said in a video for Spotify. "So we decided to wait until now to do it."

Owning up to his mistakes

At the end of January, the singer spoke to PEOPLE about learning from his mistakes.

"I guess that's when I truly figured out that things are different now," Wallen said about theSNLcontroversy. "That was the moment for me. I knew that I was becoming more and more popular, but I didn't realize it was to that extent."

"I'm not a malicious person, just kind of…." he added. "I should have been more aware.'"

Backlash after using racial slur

In February 2021, a videoobtained by TMZshowed the singerusing the N-wordwhile speaking to one of his friends.

Telling PEOPLE he was "embarrassed and sorry," the singer said "there are no excuses to use this type of language, ever."

"I want to sincerely apologize for using the word," he added. "I promise to do better."

But things went downhill quickly career-wise.

The following morning, his music was pulled from the two major radio station networks, he was"indefinitely" suspended by his label and he was madeineligible for the ACM Awardsthis spring.

"This is not his first time using that 'unacceptable' racial slur and we all known that," tweeted fellow country artistMickey Guyton. "So what exactly are y'all going to do about it. Crickets won't work this time."

NAACP offers to meet

After the N-word incident, Wallen received an invitation from Nashville's NAACPchapter to talk about the seriousness of the word he used.

"Even when you look at the other words that were spoken, that one has a certain venom to it that the words just don't have," attorney and Nashville NAACP president Sheryl Guinntold WSMV-TV. "Because he was such a prominent celebrity and an artist here in Nashville, I mean he's living here, we would love for him to have that conversation with us."

Days later, Jason Isbell, whose song "Cover Me Up" Wallen covered on hisDangerousalbum, revealed he'd bedonating his profits off the album to the organization.

"So... A portion of this money goes to me, since I wrote 'Cover Me Up,'" Isbell tweeted. "I've decided to donate everything I've made so far from this album to the Nashville chapter of the @NAACP."

Don't defend me

On Feb. 10, 2021 — more than a week after the video of him surfaced —Wallen posted a 5-minute video apologizingfor using the racial slur, also revealing that he has been sober for nine days.

"I let so many people down," he said. "I let my parents down and they're the furthest thing from ... the person in that video. I let my son down, and I'm not OK with that."

"And one thing I've learned already [and] is specifically sorry for is that it matters my words matter," he added. "A word can truly hurt a person and in my core, it's not what I'm OK with."

The singer revealed he accepted invitations from organizations to meet about the racist language he used.

"I'll admit to you I was pretty nervous to accept those invitations," he said. "They had every right to step on my neck while I was down, to not show me any grace. But they did the exact opposite — they offered me grace, and they also paired that with an offer to learn and to grow."

Wallen also asked his fans to not defend him and that he should continue to be held accountable for his actions.

"I appreciate those who still see something in me and have defended me. But for today, please don't. I was wrong," he said. "I fully accept any penalties I'm facing."

He reveals he went to rehab

During an appearance on Good Morning America in July 2021, Wallen sat down with Michael Strahan to talk about the controversy and revealed that he checked into a rehabilitation center after the incident.

"For 30 days, I spent some time out in San Diego, California, you know, just trying to figure it out ... Why am I acting this way? Do I have an alcohol problem?" he said. "Do I have a deeper issue?"

Further explaining the controversial video, Wallen said that he and his friends would "say dumb stuff together" and "in our minds, it's playful. That sounds ignorant, but that's really where it came from, and it's wrong."

He added that he didn't use the word frequently, and he "didn't mean it in any derogatory manner at all" when he directed the racial slur at a friend while they were "clearly drunk."

During the interview, the former NFL star said he had been called the N-word before. "It makes you mad. It makes you angry. It doesn't make you feel good at all," Strahan explained to Wallen, before asking, "Do you understand why it makes Black people so upset?"

"I don't know how to put myself in their shoes because I'm not, you know," said Wallen. "But I do understand, especially when I say I'm using it playfully or whatever, ignorantly, I understand that that must sound, you know, like, 'He doesn't understand.' "

Wallen shared that he donated the money he earned after a spike in sales on his album to organizations including the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC).

Dangerous wins ACM album of the year

After being banned from the show in 2021, Wallen took home the award for album of the year for Dangerous: The Double Albumat the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards in March 2022.

"When I started this album, I was a kid. By the time I put it out, I was a father," Wallen began in his acceptance speech.

"That's become more important to me than anything else," he continued. "To my son, this album and this award will signify that his daddy was a fighter, and he chased his dreams and worked hard to make them a reality."

Wallen added, "I want to say a special thank you to all of the songwriters, producers and musicians that played on this album. I wish you were standing here next to me now. This project would not be complete without each of them."

"I'd also like to thank my good lord and savior Jesus Christ, my family, my friends, my team in Nashville, country radio and everyone who has shown me grace along the way," he said. "Most importantly, I have to address my fans personally and directly: thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Award show comeback

The "'98 Braves" singer returned to the stage for his first awards show performance since coming under fire for using a racial slur.

Wallen performed "Don't Think Jesus" — a song about a boy turning to religion following regrettable, shameful actions — and his hit song "Wasted on You" at the BBMAs in May 2022.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonightabout the performance on the red carpet, Wallen said "Don't Think Jesus" was inspired by his experiences over the last couple years.

"I think that kind of just speaks for my story — 10 years but especially the past couple. I feel like that song is really a big representation of a lot of things that I've been through and the attitude that I've approached it with," he told the outlet. "So, I hope that comes across."

MRC Live & Alternative, a division of MRC that produces the BBMAs and several other awards shows, said the decision to book Wallen followed a "thorough review."

"We oppose discrimination, harassment, or racism of any kind," MRC said in a statement toBillboard. "We believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect. After a thorough review and robust discussions internally and with the artist's team, in which we found a demonstrated and ongoing commitment to meaningful work and outreach, we extended an invitation to participate in this year's show."

One Thing at a Time breaks records

After its release in March 2023, Wallen's One Thing at a Time spent the first 12 weeks at No. 1 through early June, according to Billboard. This marked the most weeks at No. 1 for a country album in over 30 years, since Billy Ray Cyrus’ debut album from 1992,Some Gave All,which peaked at 17 weeks.

The album finished the year as both the No. 1 year-end Billboard 200 album and Luminate's year-end top album, per the outlet.

He's cleared to sing on tour again after weeks-long vocal rest

In June 2023, Wallen shared he was cleared to perform after postponing several of his One Thing at a Time tour dates to go on vocal rest.

The month prior, Wallen revealed he had suffered vocal fold trauma, which "is caused by excessive and improper use of the voice," per the National Institute of Health.

"I'm just gonna go ahead and get straight to it. I got some bad news from my doctors at the Vanderbilt voice center yesterday. After taking 10 days of vocal rest, I performed three shows last weekend in Florida and by the third one I felt terrible," the "Me to Me" singer said in the Instagram video.

He added, "So I went in and got scoped yesterday, and they told me that I injured my vocal cords and that I have vocal fold trauma. Their advice is that I go on vocal rest for six weeks, so that's what I'm going to do. They don't want me to talk at all, but they said that if I need to it's OK for something like this."

Reflecting on his mistakes — and says there's 'no excuse'

In a cover story interview with Billboard, the "Keith Whitley" singer reflected on his use of the racial slur and says he realized “just how much that people listen to me."

Wallen, who said that person "is definitely not the same person I am now," also realized how much his "words matter" — but that doesn't diminish the pain it caused.

“There’s no excuse. I’ve never made an excuse. I never will make an excuse," Wallen told the publication of using the slur. “I’ve talked to a lot of people, heard stories [about] things that I would have never thought about because I wasn’t the one going through it."

"And I think, for me, in my heart I was never that guy that people were portraying me to be, so there was a little bit of like, ‘Damn, I’m kind of actually mad about this a little bit because I know I shouldn’t have said this, but I’m really not that guy,’" he said, referring to being being branded as a "full-blown racist."

"I put myself in just such a s--- spot, you know? Like, ‘You really messed up here, guy.’ If I was that guy, then I wouldn’t have cared. I wouldn’t have apologized. I wouldn’t have done any of that if I really was that guy that people were saying about me.”

Arrested on felony charges in Nashville

On April 7, the "Stand Out" singer was arrested in Nashville on three felony charges after he allegedly threw a chair off the roof of a six-story bar on Broadway.

According to a post on Xby Metro Nashville police, two officers were standing in front of Chief's Bar, owned byEric Church with AJ Capital Partners, around 11 p.m. local time and watched the chair fall from the rooftop to street level.

He was subsequently charged and arrested with three counts of reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct, facing a $15, 250 bail, according to court records obtained by PEOPLE.

“At 10:53p Sunday evening Morgan Wallen was arrested in downtown Nashville for reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct," a statement by his attorney, Worrick Robinson, said. "He is cooperating fully with authorities.”

Wallen is due in court on May 3 for a "settlement." According to a legal expert, the felony charges could carry one to two years in prison per count, as well as probation. However, the chances of him being sentenced to the maximum and serving all of those sentences consecutively are "very remote."

After the incident, PEOPLE learned that Wallen was not at Chief's long before he threw the chair and that few other patrons or staff members were aware of what happened at the time. His arrest came days afterhe kicked off the 2024 legof hisOne Night at a Time World Tourin Indianapolis, Indiana with a 25-song setlist.

"Morgan is generally a nice, fun person to hang out with, but when he gets going he doesn't know when to stop," a source told PEOPLE. "Morgan and alcohol is a problem and it's been a problem that keeps coming back around."