Morgan Wallen made his triumphant return to the stage on Thursday (June 22) at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, following a six-week vocal rest that forced him off the road.
The country superstar was all smiles as he stepped onto the stage in front of a near record-breaking crowd of 41,538 fans in Windy City, resuming his sold-out One Night At A Time World Tour. The show marked the first of two nights at the iconic stadium.
Following baseball-style introductions for his band, Wallen made his grand entrance to the MW-shaped stage and was welcomed by a sea of screaming fans, who were thrilled to see the East Tennessee native.
Donning a camouflage hat, brown shirt and a pair of ripped blue jeans, Wallen burst into his first-ever No. 1 hit, “Up Down,” prompting an immediate sing-along from the sold-out crowd as fireworks erupted around him lighting up the massive stage.
“WE BACK!”
Wallen was overcome with gratitude as he earned a roaring applause after performing “I Wrote The Book” and paused for a moment to take it all in before addressing the audience.
“Thank you for the kind welcome, that means a lot to me. ‘Bout six weeks ago, I wasn’t really sure when I was gonna be able to sing again, but WE BACK!’” Wallen exclaimed.
He went on to graciously thank his fans for sticking by his side and for their dedication to his music.
“I see more of y’all’s support, so I could not make it through without everything y’all do for me, so thank you. I’m really, really happy to be here,” he continued. ”Thank you so much for showing up.”
His Vocals Sounded Better Than Ever
Despite recently being faced with vocal cord trauma, Wallen’s voice sounded strong, healthy and better than ever as he delivered a 24-song set, not missing a single note. His set list spanned his entire catalog and featured songs from all three of his studio albums.
Wallen kicked things off with “Up Down,” a track from his debut album, If I Know Me, a project that he performed three other tunes from. The 30-year-old singer/songwriter was also sure to incorporate several fan-favorites from his record-breaking sophomore project, Dangerous: The Double Album, including “Sand In My Boots,” “Cover Me Up (Jason Isbell Cover),” “This Bar,” “Wasted On You,” “More Than My Hometown,” “Heartless,” and “Still Goin Down.”
Morgan Wallen’s set list predominantly consisted of songs from his latest album, One Thing At A Time, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has remained atop the chart for 13 nonconsecutive weeks. One Thing At A Time also made history on the Billboard 200 Albums chart as the country album with the most weeks at No. 1 in over 30 years. The country hitmaker’s set featured 11 songs from the project, including “I Wrote The Book,” “One Thing At A Time,” “You Proof,” “Ain’t That Some,” “Sunrise,” “‘98 Braves,” “Thought You Should Know,” “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” “Whiskey Friends,” “Last Night,” and his current single, “Everything I Love.”
One-Of-A-Kind Experience
Morgan Wallen’s high-energy performance was more than a concert, but a one-of-a-kind experience that allowed him to highlight his natural-born talents as an entertainer.
The unbreakable bond Wallen shares with his fan base was showcased throughout his two-hour set and the singer/songwriter truly connected with them through his relatable song lyrics.
Fans were enamored by Wallen’s set as they watched on and sang along to every song in admiration.
There were several memorable moments during his set, not only on stage but in the crowd, including when fans rallied around a young woman holding a sign that read “GOALS: Beat cancer twice √, Picture with Morgan Wallen ▢,” collectively helping her get to the front of the audience to snap a selfie with Wallen.
Another moment was when one fan in the crowd popped the question to their significant other during “Sand In My Boots.”
Captivating Set With Next-Level Production
Morgan Wallen’s captivating set boasts a next-level production that included pyrotechnics, moving screens, massive video walls, cryo, fireworks, lasers and so much more.
Meanwhile, Wallen orchestrated several on-stage surprises including the portion of the show where his opening act and longtime friend, ERNEST, graced the stage to perform their duet, “Flower Shops.”
Prior to his three song encore, he invited his friend and “Broadway Girls” collaborator, Lil Durk, to deliver their first-ever live performance of “Stand By Me” from Lil Durk’s 2023 album, Almost Healed.
“This is where I usually step offstage and take a little break, but I’ve got a good buddy in town… he is one of Chicago’s own. Y’all make some noise for my brother Lil Durk!” Wallen told the capacity crowd as Lil Durk entered the stage.
Sent Fans Into A Frenzy By Wearing A Custom Chicago Cubs Jersey
To cap off the night, Wallen sported a No. 7 custom Chicago Cubs jersey during his encore, sending fans into a frenzy with hometown pride.
Wallen closed out night one with his 11 week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, “Last Night,” as well as his three-week No. 1 “Whiskey Glasses” and “Heartless” before a grand-finale fireworks display erupted from above.
“Thank you so much Chicago! Make some noise for Bailey Zimmerman, ERNEST, HARDY… One more time, make some noise for my band!” he concluded. ”I truly appreciate every single one of y’all, thank you, thank you and God Bless y’all!”
Between his unforgettable performance, fiery production and star-studded guests, Morgan Wallen’s concert made for one of the most memorable nights in Chicago so far this summer.
HARDY Brought A Rowdy Country/Rock Set
HARDY served as direct support and truly shined a light on his impressive songwriting abilities while also displaying his confidence as a singer.
Throughout his set, the Mississippi native demanded the crowd’s attention with songs from his latest project, the mockingbird & THE CROW. He also performed several fan-favorite hits such as “One Beer,” “Wait In The Truck,” “Give Heaven Some Hell,” and more. The Big Loud artist also offered his rendition of Blake Shelton’s “God’s Country,” a song he co-wrote alongside Devin Dawson and Jordan Schmidt.
An Unforgettable Set From ERNEST
ERNEST also supported his longtime friend and collaborator, Wallen, with an unforgettable set that showcased his songwriting expertise as well as his latest project, FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM): Two Dozen Roses.
One of country music’s most buzzed about newcomers, Bailey Zimmerman, opened the show with a lively performance that included his chart-topping hits, “Fall In Love” and “Rock In A Hard Place.”
Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour
Morgan Wallen will return to Wrigley Field on Friday, June 23 to complete his back-to-back shows in Chicago. Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour continues through June of 2024.
The trek marks one of the largest tours of 2023 and will visit stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters, and festivals across four countries and two continents.
The U.S. leg of the tour began on April 14 with back-to-back nights at Milwaukee’s American Family Field. Wallen’s 63-show trek will feature support from ERNEST and Bailey Zimmerman on all dates. HARDY and Parker McCollum will also appear on select dates.
The One Night At A Time World Tour comes in support of Wallen’s latest album, One Thing At A Time.
See below for a complete list of Morgan Wallen’s upcoming tour dates.
June
27 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
29 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field*#
30 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field*#
July
6 – St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium*$
7 – St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium*$
14 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park*#
15 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park*#
19 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field*#
20 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field*#
22 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium*#
August
3 – Detroit Lakes, MN – WE Fest^
11 – Columbus, OH – Ohio Stadium*%
12 – Columbus, OH – Ohio Stadium*#
16 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park*#
17 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park*#
18 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park*$
30 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park*
31 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park*
September
2 – Washington, DC – FedEx Field*$
8 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena
9 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
October
7 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
November
10 – Atlanta, GA – Truist Park*
11 – Atlanta, GA – Truist Park*
16 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
18 – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park*
Morgan Wallen 2023 International Tour Dates
August
5 – Camrose, AB – Big Valley Jamboree^
24 – Dieppe, NB – YQM Country Fest^
September
14 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
15 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
16 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
18 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
21 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
22 – Quebec City, QC – Videotron Centre
23 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
28 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
29 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
30 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
October
3 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
4 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
December
3 – London, UK – The O2
Morgan Wallen 2024 U.S. Tour Dates
May 2024
9 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium*
17 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium*
18 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium*
June 2024
6- Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
7 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
TBD – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park*
* Stadium Dates
^ Festival Dates
# HARDY, ERNEST, Bailey Zimmerman
$ Parker McCollum, ERNEST, Bailey Zimmerman
& HARDY, Bailey Zimmerman
% Riley Green, ERNEST
+ HARDY, ERNEST
