Morgan Wallen - Up Close & Personal Magazine (Digital Version)

"Country music has a new superstar, and his name is Morgan Wallen. In a few short years, the singer has rewritten the record books, setting new milestones for hit singles and album sales. He’s even carved out a niche as a crossover sex symbol, bringing back some swagger to the mullet and ripped flannel shirts that he’s made into his own personal brand. In the span of just three full-length releases, Morgan has sold more than 5 million albums, two of which topped the Billboard 200 for pop music. But life in the limelight has been anything but easy. Just as his star seemed unstoppably on the rise, Morgan’s life was turned upside down when a video emerged of him using a racial slur. The response was swift and decisive, with artists throughout the music industry condemning his actions, and widespread bans being instituted by radio and awards committees. The past two years have seen Morgan trying to rebuild his reputation while grappling with the immense pressures of fame, at the same time as he learned to parent as a single father. “I promise to do better,” he said over social media in the summer of 2021. Meanwhile, the singer’s fans have left no question about their love for him, propelling him to ever-greater streaming and sales records. Morgan is on the vanguard of a new generation of country music. There will surely be more twists and turns in the road ahead, but it seems his journey to the summit is only getting started."