Morgan Wallen made one young fan’s wish come true at a recent show, meeting with a 9-year-old named Kenley who was diagnosed with cancer last year.
Kenley began feeling sick in December, and after getting an ultrasound, a mass was found on her left kidney. She was sent to Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware for tests and received a formal diagnosis of kidney cancer, stage 2. Kenley underwent a complete left kidney removal and 13 lymph nodes and had a port placed two weeks later before beginning chemotherapy treatments once a week for six months.
Wallen’s Music Helped Kenley Through Chemo
She completed chemo in July and is currently on “off treatment” time, with another scan scheduled for October. Wallen’s music was a constant for Kenley throughout her treatment, with her mom, Kristin Levering, telling Music Mayhem that every time they would make the one and a half hour drive to the hospital, Kenley would ask her mom to let her DJ. Her choices were “non-stop Morgan Wallen songs,” with several on repeat.
Kenley’s recent birthday party had a “Wallen Western” theme, and her family named their Nashville Airbnb after his hit song “Sand in My Boots.”
Levering shared that her daughter said it was “her major dream” to attend one of Wallen’s shows, and a family friend with connections was able to help arrange the special day surrounding Wallen’s September 2 show at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.
Kenley didn’t find out she was going to the show until the day of, but it ended up being “her best day ever.”
Before the show, Kenley was able to have a private meet and greet with Wallen, and meeting the singer was “a total shock” for the 9-year-old.
A “Magical” Experience
Levering shared that Wallen offered to take as many photos as her daughter wanted and sign whatever she wanted and “didn’t rush the experience at all.”
“He chatted about football and Nashville and his show,” she recalled, adding that Wallen “asked [Kenley] a few questions and made her night.”
“She was treated like a princess from the backstage tour, the access, the takeaways, the general experience,” Levering said. “She kept telling me it was her best day ever.”
Morgan Wallen signed several autographs for Kenley including signing a poster she and her mom had made that referenced Wallen’s songs and read, “Thought you should know I finished chemo 2b ‘Chasing You!’ #KenleyStrong.”
On Instagram, Levering shared a video of Kenley holding her poster on the big screen during the show. “The poster we made just because and we never expected it to go as viral as it did,” she said.
She also posted a number of photos of Wallen with Kenley and her family, including a shot of the singer signing the 9-year-old’s hat. “Core memories made @morganwallen Thank you!” Levering captioned the slideshow.
Wallen Wore A #KenleyStrong Bracelet During His Concert
During the meet and greet, Kenley gifted Wallen one of her #KenleyStrong bracelets “just as a token of her appreciation.” He ended up wearing it throughout his entire show, which Levering said was “magical.”
In an Instagram post about the bracelet, Levering added, “Still in awe of the reality of our #fedexfield @morganwallen moment Saturday…..and Morgan rocking the #kenleystrong bracelet the whole concert. Super Thankful for all of it and to everyone who sent me pics and messages from the concert. We have one very special little girl.”
Also Met Bailey Zimmerman
Along with Wallen, Kenley and Kristin ran into opener Bailey Zimmerman while they were backstage, which Kristin called “awesome.” She added that Zimmerman “was the nicest, most generous guy” and offered photos and autographs.
Additionally, Morgan Wallen is currently on the road on his One Night At A Time Tour, which runs through June 2024 with a rotating group of opening acts including HARDY, Parker McCollum, ERNEST, Nate Smith, Bailey Zimmerman, Dylan Marlowe and Lauren Watkins.
