A Night In Knoxville with Morgan Wallen, Hardy and Ernest

Morgan Wallen in Knoxville on Friday night will be a night I will never forget. I was invited to be a part of this two-night history-making event. Morgan played on Friday night and Sunday night of last weekend. Why not just two nights in a row you ask? Well, the Vols were playing in Norman, Oklahoma and Morgan knew his fan base would want to see the show.

Ernest writes a lot with Morgan and they've had a few songs together. I don't have to tell you that this friendship is strong and with Morgan Wallen in Knoxville, he wouldn't have done it without his best friend and Nashville native, Ernest.

Next up, it was time for Hardy. Another great friend of Morgan's. They have been on tour and written many songs together. Another moment where if Morgan Wallen in Knoxville was happening, it had to have Hardy on it.

We spent some time backstage with Hardy as well and we talked about his sold-out show at The Bell in early 2023. That was one of the early dates on his tour to support the new project The Mockingbird and The Crow. He was blown away that it sold out. That's how nervous he was about the tour.

This whole show idea started after the the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team won the baseball national championship and Morgan wanted to do something to honor them and his hometown. Morgan has played in Knoxville before at small bars and even festivals but nothing like this. Two nights at Neyland Stadium, where the Tennessee Volunteers play, is just unheard of.

That was the biggest talk for everyone coming into the stadium. Every name under the sun was being tossed out from Post Malone to Peyton Manning to the baseball coach. It turns out the walk out was Morgan and the entire Tennessee Vols baseball team carrying the national championship trophy. Needless to say, the home team crowd was happy.

Now it's time for the music. After the walk out he opened with "Ain't That Some" right into hit after hit that included, "Lies, Lies, Lies," "Whiskey Glasses," "Cowgirls," and "7 Summers," to name a few.

Morgan brought out a special guest for us on Friday, Eric Church.

For an artist to do what Morgan Wallen did and play for almost 200,000 people in two nights has never been done before in Neyland Stadium. Other than Morgan, only Michael Jackson, Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney have even played the stadium.

This was the highlight of the night for me.

Morgan Wallen in Knoxville will go down in history for a lot of reasons, but for me it was just an amazing atmosphere. The crowd was unreal, the music was great and the energy was off the chain for the entire show. I hope he plays there again soon. I'll go back.