Morgan Wallen Celebrates New Album By Breaking Multiple Records

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Morgan Wallen performs at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Ryan Smith

Country superstar Morgan Wallen released his third studio album, One Thing At A Time, on Friday (March 3).

To celebrate, he invited 19,292 fans to a free show at Bridgestone Arena, setting an all-time attendance for the arena according to EVP of Entertainment & Venues David Kells. In addition to the near 20,000 fans who filled the stadium on Friday, over a million tuned in on Wallen’s livestream of the event.

In addition to breaking the Bridgestone Arena attendance record, Wallen also smashed a few Spotify records, with One Thing At A Time becoming the platform’s most-streamed country album in a single day by a male artist and the largest streaming debut of any genre in 2023.

Morgan Wallen performs at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Ryan Smith

The energy in Bridgestone Arena was electric with anticipation until Wallen made his way to to a small, circular stage in the middle of the venue. The crowd went berserk when the 29-year-old appeared on screen, as he was backstage preparing to start the show. When he emerged and made his way to the stage, the volume of the crowd was deafening.

Of the new, 36-song album, Wallen played 15 selections, making sure to perform examples of the album’s themes of heartache, redemption, romance and hell-raising. The crowd already knew many of the lyrics to the hours-old songs.

He kicked things off with the album-opener, “Born With A Beer In My Hand” and followed it with the title track. Fans really seemed to enjoy “Keith Whitley,” a song about the singer’s impact on his own life and career.

He shared, “Keith Whitley is one of my favorite artists of all time. I always felt he died too young and had a whole lot more magic left in him…this is one of my favorite songs on this record.”

Later in the set, Wallen dedicated new song “Dying Man” to his two-year-old son. “In ‘Dying Man,’ I’m singing to a woman. In real life, this song is dedicated to my son. He has changed everything for me and has been a real blessing. He’s here tonight, so I’m sending this song out to him.”

Morgan Wallen performs at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Ryan Smith

To reflect Wallen’s hip-hop influences, he played the album’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” “Sunrise” and “180 Lifestyle.” The crowd really went crazy for the new one, “Last Night,” which has been circulating on TikTok for the last few weeks.

One of the most well-received tunes was “Tennessee Fan.” Volunteer fans in the audience, who guessed Wallen would play it, flashed their UT gear as the camera panned around the stage.

Wallen was also able to perform his latest No. 1 song “Thought You Should Know” as well as other past hits “Sand In My Boots,” “Chasin’ You,” “More Than My Hometown,” “Whiskey Glasses” and “Wasted On You.” He closed out the evening with “You Proof,” which thrilled the packed crowd.

Wallen will launch his “One Night At A Time World Tour” overseas on March 15. For dates for the 63-show tour, click here.

LB Cantrell
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