MORGAN WALLEN SUPPORTED
W hen video footage of Morgan
Wallen using a racial slur emerged earlier this year the knee-jerk reaction by radio was to drop his records from their playlists . The CMA and ACM removed him from award consideration and even his own record label , Big Loud Records and parent Republic Records , ‘ suspended ’ him ‘ indefinitely ’ stating , “ Republic Records fully supports Big Loud ’ s decision and agrees such behaviour will not be tolerated .” None of that stopped fans buying his music , with many reportedly purchasing it more than once to show their support and Wallen enjoyed a long run atop the Billboard ( all genres ) Album Chart . Now it seems as though the record company ’ s stance is softening with Big Loud CEO Seth England publicly supporting his artist . In an Instagram post in which Wallen is pictured alongside the exec and Brooks & Dunn ’ s Ronnie Dunn [ photo above ], England commented , “ Two of the very best singers to ever walk music row . A bucket list picture I never knew I needed until now . The voice that got me into country music … and the voice that ’ s keeping me going .” This was followed by a picture of Big Loud ’ s staff enjoying a reportedly ‘ lavish ’ outing to a golf course to celebrate Wallen ’ s 28th birthday , with England posting , “ Happy Birthday , Bub . The Fam came out strong today ,” further hinting that a reinstatement to the label ’ s roster seems likely .
Furthermore , ahead of the Billboard Music Awards on May 23 in Los Angeles , Wallen fans funded a billboard in support of the 7 Summers singer who was excluded from the ceremony . Featuring an acoustic guitar and a silhouette of Wallen ’ s mullet hairstyle the billboard was close to an exit for the Microsoft Theatre , the venue for the awards . One of the backers said , “ We the fans plan to continue standing up to cancel culture . We ’ re not backing down .”
Morgan Wallen also made a surprise return to the stage with live performance of two songs at Kid Rock ’ s Big Honky Tonk & Steakhouse in Nashville on May 19 . With crowds filling the bar and surrounding streets Wallen performed Wasted On You , a fan favourite from his record-breaking Dangerous : The Double Album , and Whiskey Glasses .
Prior to the Wallen-gate fallout , Morgan Wallen was lined up to open for Luke Bryan on tour this summer but now it ’ s looking like Wallen will be headlining his own arena tour in 2022 .
NASHVILLE OPENS UP
A s vaccines continue to take
effect and Music City returns to ‘ normal ’, Nashville venues like the Grand Ole Opry are looking forward to welcoming audiences in numbers they haven ’ t seen since the outbreak of the pandemic . A mask mandate has been lifted allowing fully vaccinated people to remove face coverings for most indoor gatherings and while outside . The 95-year-old institution that is The Opry returned to full capacity shows with a broadcast featuring Lorrie Morgan , Oak Ridge Boys , Michael Ray , newcomer Brittany Spencer and more . Sister venue the Ryman Auditorium has no shows booked until June and will be selling tickets at full capacity going forward .
MACHO MAN DWIGHT TO STAR IN EASTWOOD MOVIE
Dwight Yoakam is set to return to the movie world with a part in an upcoming production Cry Macho . Directed and produced by Clint Eastwood through his Malpaso Productions Cry Macho is a neo-Western drama based on the 1975 novel of the same name by N . Richard Nash . Eastwood stars alongside Yoakam , Natalia Traven , Horacio Garcia Rojas , and Fernanda Urrejola as a former rodeo star who is hired to return a young man ( Eduardo Minett ) in Mexico back to his father in the United States . Previous attempts to turn the book into a movie have included Roy Scheider , Burt Lancaster , and Pierce Brosnan and even Arnold Schwarzenegger in the leading role . Filming officially wrapped last December with a released date scheduled for October 22 , 2021 .
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