Morgan Wallen- Neyland Stadium

     In July of 2024, Morgan Wallen announced he was "coming home." Wallen, regularly gracing the name of "that boy from east Tennessee" announced he was performing at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN on September 22nd of 2024.  Fans went crazy, everyone wanting to show up for what was being promoted as Wallen's Hometown Show.  Not to mention, Wallen was only the 4th artist ever granted permission to perform in Neyland Stadium, an event quickly realized to be monumental! The ticket demand was so high, Wallen announced a second show that would be played on Friday, September 20th.  Both shows SOLD OUT rapidly.  Wallen has gone from performing in small bar venues to now selling out stadiums in just a few years.  For visualization, Wallen sold out a Tennessee Valley Fair crowd of 5,000+ in 2019, and just 5 years later, he brought in 156,000+ fans across two shows at Neyland Stadium, breaking the weekend attendance record previously set by the Jackson 5 in the 1980s. 

      Of course, being from East Tennessee myself, I had to find a way to take in at least one of the shows.  For me, it was Sunday night.   I was not surprised at the absolute frenzy that Morgan Wallen sent Knoxville, TN into that weekend, nor was I surprised by his incredible performance.  Wallen, CMA nominee for Entertainer of the Year, did just that: he ENTERTAINED, from start to finish.  From his opening "walk-out" which is highly anticipated each night, to the grand finale of fireworks gracing the night sky, Morgan Wallen put on an unbelievable show.  Fans sang along to every word of every track.  There were countless memorable moments, however, one of the coolest moments of the show is the moment Wallen exits the main stage through the pit, walks down the center of the floor, shaking hands and waving to all the fans along his route to his B Stage towards the back of the floor.  Wallen states he uses his B Stage to be able to reminisce on his smaller shows where he could see everyone's faces and interact with them on a deeper level.  Needless to say, whether concertgoers were in the nosebleed seats, on the back of the floor, in the lower level, or living it up in the infamous "party pit," everyone was having the time of their lives, even in a few spirts of rain. 

     As if Wallen was not bringing enough of his own energy, he brought out Darius Rucker to perform Wagon Wheel, and Miranda Lambert to sing a song they co-wrote together titled "Thought You Should Know." Both in addition to the Tennessee Volunteers' head football coach (Josh Heupel), wide receiver Bru McCoy, and quarterback (Nico Iamaleava) who were brought out during Wallen's "walk-out." 

     In closing, fans came from all over the US to support Morgan in his hometown, and Knoxville showed up and showed out proudly as well.  There is no doubt that Morgan Wallen and Neyland Stadium had Knoxville ROCKING, for nearly two hours straight and it was a night no one will soon forget.