On Saturday, June 11, Morgan Wallen had the opportunity to play his first-ever stadium show at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota alongside his musical hero and friend Eric Church.
After the show, Wallen took to social media to reflect on the milestone moment and share how it was a full-circle experience as it was Church who inspired him to chase his musical dreams.
“8 years ago I went to my first concert. It was an Eric Church concert at Thompson Boling Arena. His energy and his fan’s energy put a fire in me that night in Knoxville, TN. I knew right then I wanted to create something as real and genuine as what I witnessed with him and his fans,” Wallen shared on Instagram.
“Fast forward 8 years, E is a near and dear friend to me, and I got to share the stage with him last night. I like to think maybe some of those same people in Thompson Boling Arena with me in 2014, were in US Bank Stadium with me last night as well.”
The platinum-selling star closed his post with a message of gratitude to fans.
“Moments like these make me truly grateful for this life and for this music I get to make and perform everywhere,” he wrote. “Thank you guys for making it possible.”
Billed as “One Hell of a Night” in Minneapolis, the stadium concert also featured rising star ERNEST.
Wallen previously opened up about performing alongside Church, calling it one of the “greatest honors” of his career so far.
He later detailed his friendship with Church during an interview with Lon Helton on Country Countdown USA.
“We started hanging out then, I don’t know, we just became buddies. I guess we kind of have a similar attitude or whatever it is,” the East Tennessee native explained to Helton. “I know he doesn’t publicly come out and have a lot of buddies and he’s always been my country music hero; he’s one of the main reasons that I sing country music.”
He went on to share how Church’s music inspired him as an artist and songwriter.
“When I first started getting heavily into country music, it was his songwriting and the way he painted the pictures that made me want to do the same,” Wallen said.“So it’s really cool to consider him an actual friend now. I’ve always admired him.”
In a separate interview, Church talked with Helton about his friendship with Wallen and praised him as a person and artist.
“There are a lot of these younger guys that I’ve become friends with,” Church said, before detailing their friendship. “With Morgan, we talk weekly. The thing I like about him is he’s a genuine person, and real honest. We enjoy spending time together. We go fishing, we’ve written songs, and it’s become a neat friendship for me.”
Eric Church and Morgan Wallen are set to headline different dates of the Faster Horses Festival in Brooklyn, Michigan from July 22-24. The festival will also feature a headlining performance from Tim McGraw.
