No one loves Morgan Wallen more than his hometown, and that was proven true on Friday evening (September 20) when he took the stage at the first of two sold-out shows at Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium, which home to the Tennessee Volunteers, on his headlining One Night At A Time World Tour. Wallen is only the fourth artist in the venue’s 103-year history to perform at Neyland Stadium, following Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and The Jackson 5.
The country superstar was all smiles as he made his way to the stage accompanied by the 2024 National Champion Tennessee Volunteers baseball team and Coach Tony Vitello, who had the National Championship trophy in hand, as his viral hit “Broadway Girls” flooded the stadium speakers.
A Monumental Homecoming Moment
Following his signature walkout, Wallen, a current CMA Entertainer Of The Year nominee, exploded onto the stage to “Ain’t That Some” to a roaring crowd and powered through “I Wrote The Book” before pausing to take in the monumental moment.
“I really appreciate that warm welcome, that means a lot to me. The last time I was in this stadium, I was watching Tennessee kick Alabama’s ass. I can’t think of a better way to follow it up than to be here, playing two sold-out shows this weekend. This is one of the most special days of my entire life, and I’m very glad you guys chose to spend this weekend here with me – it means a lot,” an emotional Wallen shared before saluting his tour crew for their hard work and dedication.
“Before we get any further, I want to make sure you make some noise for my band and crew who show up here early in advance to make sure we get to play the music y’all love. I have a lot of people here who mean a lot to me,” the 30-year-old singer/songwriter continued.
A Family Affair
The concert felt more like a homecoming celebration for Wallen, with his entire family and many of the people who helped raise him in attendance.
“I’ve got my little boy here, both my grandmothers here, my mom, my dad, my sisters, and my nieces,” the father of one added. “I have been very fortunate to do a lot of great things over the last few years, but I know that this right here is going to be extremely hard to top as one of the coolest things I’ve ever gotten to do. We’re gonna play a lot of songs tonight, I threw in a couple extra songs that I don’t normally play. I didn’t even ask about the curfew, so we’re just gonna play as long as we want to tonight.”
Proving to be a true hometown hero, Morgan Wallen wasn’t only welcomed home by a sea of his die hard fans, but also with a city-wide celebration that included massive Tennessee Volunteers-themed balloon arches and marquee lights with his name and “Welcome Home Morgan.”
26-Song Setlist
Backed by a stellar live band, composed of Mark Taco Annino (Drums), Luke Cowboy Rice (Bass/Guitar), Tyler Tomlinson (Guitar), Dominic Frost (Guitar/Vocals), Tony Aichele (Utility) and Chris Gladden (Utility), Wallen delivered a 26-song set that took fans on a journey of Wallen’s catalog of hits and included songs from his debut studio album, If I Know Me, as well as his record-breaking second and third studio albums, Dangerous: The Double Album and One Thing At A Time, respectively.
Wallen’s set was heavily made up of songs from One Thing At A Time, where the tour takes its namesake, including “Ain’t That Some,” “I Wrote The Book,” “One Thing At A Time,” “Everything I Love,” “You Proof,” “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” “‘98 Braves,” “Last Night” and “Cowgirls.”
The set list was a bit different for this show, however, as Wallen paid homage to his home state with a performance of “Talkin’ Tennessee,” a song he doesn’t typically perform that often. He also included a “I Had Some Help,” sans Post Malone, “Lies Lies Lies,” “Cover Me Up” and a special duet of “Quittin’ Time,” alongside Eric Church.
Announced New Song, “Love Somebody”
The country star thrilled fans with a surprise performance of his unreleased track, “Love Somebody,” and followed it up by revealing the song’s official release date of October 18.
A highlight of his set list was when he teamed up with HARDY for a performance of “Up Down” and brought ERNEST back on stage to deliver their fan-favorite duets, “Flower Shops” and “Cowgirls.”
In celebration of his hometown and the Tennessee Volunteers, “Rocky Top,” the unofficial anthem of East Tennessee, played prior to Wallen’s return to the stage for his encore. This prompted a huge sing-along as the University of Tennessee logo appeared on the stage screens.
An Epic Production
The One Night At A Time Tour production was a spectacle, boasting stunning 3D visuals, pyrotechnics, lasers, an impressive light show, and a massive stage that stretched to the 50-yard line with an MW-shaped catwalk. It also featured nods to his Tennessee roots, including baseball flags from his high school, bleachers symbolizing his baseball days, and a replica of his late Mamaw Boots’ house, seen on his One Thing At A Time album cover.
The electrifying two-hour concert concluded with a grand finale-worthy fireworks display to his hit single, “The Way I Talk.”
Wallen Shares A True Connection With His Fans
Morgan Wallen allowed his magnetic stage presence to shine vibrantly throughout the evening, as he had the massive capacity crowd in the palm of his hands throughout the duration of his set. He not only entertained the crowd but also took every opportunity to connect with fans, expressing his gratitude and appreciation throughout the show. From taking selfies and even granting a young cancer survivor’s wish, to signing autographs and acknowledging fan-made signs, Wallen further allowed the unbreakable bond he shares with his fans to come to life.
Broke All-Time Attendance Record
Additionally, Morgan Wallen set the attendance record at Neyland Stadium with 156,161 tickets sold across the two shows, breaking a record previously held by The Jackson 5.
Ahead of the show, the Morgan Wallen Foundation donated $140,000 to the Gibbs Youth Sports program to renovate Gibbs Ruritan Park. Ruritan Park, located at 7827 Tazewell Pike, serves students from Gibbs High School, Wallen’s alma mater, and the surrounding Knox County communities.
The trek will visit stadiums through October of 2024. Visit MorganWallen.com for tickets and details on his upcoming tour dates.
