Morgan Wallen, HARDY & ERNEST Have “Talked About” Forming A Supergroup: “It Would Be Awesome”

“I think it would be awesome… I don’t think anybody in our little trio would be opposed to that,” HARDY shared of the possibility of forming a supergroup.

By

Melinda Lorge

Melinda Lorge is a Nashville-based freelance writer who specializes in covering country music. Along with Music Mayhem, her work has appeared in publications, including Rare Country, Rolling Stone Country, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, Wide Open Country and more. After joining Rare Country in early 2016, Lorge was presented with the opportunity to lead coverage on late-night television programs, including “The Voice” and “American Idol,” which helped her to sharpen her writing skills even more. Lorge earned her degree at Middle Tennessee State University, following the completion of five internships within the country music industry. She has an undeniable love for music and entertainment. When she isn’t living and breathing country music, she can be found enjoying time outdoors with family and friends.

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Posted on May 30, 2023

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ERNEST, Morgan Wallen, HARDY; Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM

Morgan Wallen, HARDY, and ERNEST are all successful solo artists in their own right. But aside from that, the three of them share an undeniable bond that makes seeing their careers unfold simultaneously even more exciting to watch.

With such a solid friendship between the three buddies, one might wonder why the artists and Big Loud labelmates haven’t come together to form a super trio. Well, it turns out that they have thought about the potential of releasing an album that combines their talents similar to collaborative projects like The Highwayman, Honky Tonk Angels, and Pistol Annies’ Hell on Heels, to name a few.

“I Think It Would Be Awesome”

“We’ve definitely talked about it,” HARDY confirmed during an interview with Billboard. “I think it would be awesome [and] I think it would do really well and would set up a tour perfectly… don’t think anybody in our little trio would be opposed to that. It would be fun.”

A combined effort would certainly be interesting to fans of HARDY, ERNEST, and Wallen since they all have separate styles. But they have all worked with the same producer, Joey Moi, to form their own unique sound, which can be heard on each of their separate albums.

Longtime Friends And Collaborators

Both HARDY and Wallen released full-length albums in 2023. HARDY’s 17-track collection, the mockingbird & THE CROW, arrived on January 20, showcasing the rock and country sides of the singer/songwriter. Meanwhile, Wallen dropped a 36-track collection called One Thing At A Time, which spent its 12th consecutive week at the top of the Billboard 200 and includes three No. 1 hits thus far – “You Proof,” “Thought You Should Know,” and “Last Night.” ERNEST also dropped a collection of music this year – the deluxe edition of his 2022 Flower Shops (The Album), Flower Shops: Two Dozen Roses.

“I think about how many country music acts Joey Moi has helped craft into a sound and how different all of those sounds are,” ERNEST shared. “My sound is a little more traditional, like [an] Opry band. HARDY’s got the rock stuff, and Morgan’s down to go the 808s route. But Joey is able to make it sound really f–king good every time.”

ERNEST, Morgan Wallen, HARDY; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for ACM
ERNEST, Morgan Wallen, HARDY; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for ACM

Contributed To Each Other’s Solo Projects

Even though Wallen, HARDY, and ERNEST are separate acts and well-deserved recipients of the CMA Triple Play Award, they’ve successfully collaborated with each other, having contributed to each other’s solo projects. Wallen has a feature on “Red” from HARDY’s the mockingbird & the Crow, while HARDY and ERNEST have songwriting credits on Wallen’s One Thing At A Time. HARDY co-wrote three songs on the project and also has a feature on “In the Bible,” while ERNEST co-wrote 11 tracks on the album and has a feature on “Cowgirls.” Wallen also teamed with ERNEST for the slow country ballad “Flower Shops,” which appears on ERNEST’s Flower Shops (The Album). The three have also collaborated on past projects, dating back to Wallen’s 2018 If I Know Me album.

“Everybody just truly does such different things, and we all bring out the creativity in each other,” HARDY shares. “Ernest might say something that would sound like something I would never think of, and that would spark a lyrical direction maybe they wouldn’t think of. We do what we do and bring out the best in the rest of the triangle.”

Morgan Wallen, HARDY & ERNEST; Photo Courtesy of Instagram/By Tanner Gallagher
Morgan Wallen, HARDY & ERNEST; Photo Courtesy of Instagram/By Tanner Gallagher

Best Friends Outside Of Working Together

But even when they aren’t working together on the music front, HARDY, ERNEST, and Wallen are friends outside of the business.

“If any of us are going through anything on a personal level, any of the other ones would be there for them in a heartbeat in real life — and you’d never even know about it on Instagram,” ERNEST shares. “We are blessed to have these careers with our friends and get to cheer each other on.”

How Did HARDY, ERNEST And Morgan Wallen Meet Each Other?

Wallen, HARDY, and ERNEST, go way back having met each other years ago. ERNEST and Wallen share ties that date back to high school when they were baseball rivals. Wallen attended Knoxville Gibbs High School, while ERNEST was enrolled in David Lipscomb High School in Nashville. At the time, the two didn’t know each other, but would later meet at a party in 2015. As for HARDY and ERNEST, they crossed paths for the first time in 2017, the same time HARDY and Wallen formed a songwriting partnership.

“[Morgan] came to my little apartment in Green Hills [in Nashville], and we just started writing,” HARDY recalled of his first writing meeting with Wallen, which also included Jameson Rodgers. “Then we ate Martin’s BBQ after,” he added.

ERNEST and HARDY are supporting acts on Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour, which launched on March 15. However, Wallen has been sidelined from the trek due to a doctor-ordered vocal rest. He will resume time on the road beginning June 22 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

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Melinda Lorge is a Nashville-based freelance writer who specializes in covering country music. Along with Music Mayhem, her work has appeared in publications, including Rare Country, Rolling Stone Country, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, Wide Open Country and more. After joining Rare Country in early 2016, Lorge was presented with the opportunity to lead coverage on late-night television programs, including “The Voice” and “American Idol,” which helped her to sharpen her writing skills even more. Lorge earned her degree at Middle Tennessee State University, following the completion of five internships within the country music industry. She has an undeniable love for music and entertainment. When she isn’t living and breathing country music, she can be found enjoying time outdoors with family and friends.

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