Morgan Cole Wallen is an American country music singer and songwriter known for his chart-topping albums and distinctive Southern sound. Rising to fame after competing on The Voice, Wallen quickly carved out a successful path in the country music industry, blending traditional influences with a modern edge.
Morgan Wallen was born on May 13, 1993, in Sneedville, Tennessee, to Tommy and Lesli Wallen. Raised in a musical household, he took piano and violin lessons throughout his childhood. Initially aspiring to play college baseball, Wallen shifted focus to music after sustaining an elbow injury that curtailed his athletic aspirations.
Wallen was formerly engaged to Katie Smith. Although the couple separated, they share a son, Indigo Wilder.
In 2014, Wallen gained national attention as a contestant on season six of The Voice. Initially joining Usher’s team and later switching to Adam Levine’s, he was eliminated during the playoffs. Despite his early departure, the exposure paved the way for future opportunities in the music industry.
During his time in California, Wallen collaborated with Sergio Sanchez of Atom Smash, who introduced him to Panacea Records executives Bill Ray and Paul Trust. In 2015, Wallen signed with Panacea Records and released his debut EP, Stand Alone.
In 2016, Wallen signed with Big Loud Records and released his debut single, "The Way I Talk." His first full-length studio album, If I Know Me, was released on April 27, 2018. The album featured a blend of Southern-rock influences and pop-infused country, helping Wallen establish a unique sonic identity. Notable singles from the album include "Up Down" (featuring Florida Georgia Line), "Whiskey Glasses," and "Chasin' You."
If I Know Me took time to climb the charts but eventually reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums in August 2020 after a record-breaking 114 weeks on the chart.
Wallen's second studio album, Dangerous: The Double Album, was released in January 2021. The project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and made history by becoming the first country album to remain at the top of that chart for seven consecutive weeks in the chart's 64-year history.
The album produced several successful singles, including "More Than My Hometown"—released to country radio on May 27, 2020—and "7 Summers," which debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and broke the record for the most first-day streams of a country song on Apple Music.
