Photo Credit: Dangerous Morgan Wallen Album
Despite being banned from attending or accepting awards, Morgan Wallen won big at the Billboard Music Awards.
Before the Billboard Music awards began, the organizers announced Wallen’s awards. He was nominated in six categories, including:
- Country Artist (winner)
- Song Sales Artist
- Country Male Artist (winner)
- Country Album (winner)
- Country Song (x2 noms)
That last nomination came about with the help of die-hard Morgan Wallen fans, who sent his albums surging to the top of streaming charts. Dick Clark Productions announced in April that Wallen was not invited to perform, present, or accept any awards at the ceremony. The move followed a viral video of Wallen surfacing online, using a racial slur.
In a press release announcing the Billboard Music Awards how winners, an asterisk appeared next to Morgan Wallen’s wins.
A statement from DCP says, “finalists are determined by performance on the Billboard Charts, and are not chosen by a voting committee or membership organization.”
“Morgan Wallen is a finalist this year based on charting. As his recent conduct does not align with our core values, we will not be including him on the show in any capacity (performing, presenting, accepting),” the statement says. “It is heartening and encouraging to hear that Morgan is taking steps in his anti-racist journey and starting to do some meaningful work. We plan to evaluate his progress and will consider his participation in future shows.”
The Billboard Music Awards weren’t the only awards outlet to remove Morgan Wallen, either.
The Country Music Association removed his digital content from its platforms. His record label Big Loud Records suspended him temporarily before reinstating him earlier this month.
“I found this time away to be very valuable to me in many ways, but I feel like I need a little more of it, and therefore will not be performing tour dates this summer,” Wallen wrote to his fans on Twitter. Wallen was slated to open for the Luke Bryan tour this summer, as well as several appearances at various country music festivals across the country.
Despite his apology and promise to step away and evaluate his choices, Wallen appeared unannounced at Kid Rock’s Nashville bar. Wallen’s appearance at the bar was short, only lasting two songs.
But it was his first since the controversy broke on social media, and the crowd seemed happy to have him back as he performed “Wasted on You.” A Wallen spokesperson has confirmed the Nashville bar performance was unplanned.
Here we go again – another boner over Wallen from DMN.
The guy has talent. Too bad he has racist tendencies that he can’t/won’t control. That has happened with many artists, though. And they got blacklisted or banned, as well.
Interessant!
Time to move on. He has been in the penalty box long enough. He definitely has talent.
If you have never made a mistake, then go ahead and bash him. If you have ( like me!) Then let’s be open to forgiveness. It’s only fair and god would applaud that!!
It is being incorrectly reported that Wallen performed two songs at a Nashville club. He performed three: Sand in My Boots, Whiskey Glasses, and Wasted on You; not necessarily in that order. I’ve seen video content of all three. Still wonder why non fans come on and male negative comments regarding these articles. I have never worried about the fans or popularity of other artists that I didn’t like. It is their right of course, but very odd just the same. Gaht!