Country superstar Morgan Wallen made history this weekend with two sold-out performances at Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium, marking the largest weekend turnout ever recorded at the venue. With a combined 156,161 fans in attendance across both nights, Wallen shattered the previous record of 148,407, held by The Jackson 5 from their three-show stint in 1984.
The East Tennessee native and current seven-time CMA Award nominee had a special guest appearance on the second night, as former University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning joined Wallen for his walkout. Manning, dressed in his retired college uniform, was accompanied by UTK football coach Josh Heupel, quarterback Nico Iamaleava, and wide receiver Bru McCoy, creating an unforgettable moment for the Vols faithful.
During the show, Wallen took a reflective pause, moving to a smaller B-stage for a stripped-down performance of Jason Isbell’s 4x-Platinum hit ‘Cover Me Up.' Addressing the crowd, Wallen reminisced about his early career playing in Knoxville’s small bars and venues, including the iconic Cotton Eyed Joe. “We started out playing bars, real small venues… then you guys went and sold out Neyland today. Thank you,” Wallen said, expressing gratitude to his fans.
Wallen then welcomed his first surprise guest of the evening, Miranda Lambert, for a live performance of their No. 1 hit ‘Thought You Should Know' which Lambert co-wrote with Wallen and Nicolle Galyon. He explained that he sought Lambert’s help to add a woman's perspective to the song, which was written as a tribute to his mother.
Returning to the main stage, Wallen was joined by frequent collaborators HARDY and ERNEST for performances of their tracks ‘Up Down' and ‘Cowgirls' respectively. In a special nod to his East Tennessee roots, Wallen also included “Talkin' Tennessee” in his setlist, a song added specifically for his Neyland Stadium shows.
The surprises didn’t stop there, as three-time GRAMMY winner Darius Rucker took the stage for a joint performance of his Diamond-certified hit ‘Wagon Wheel' which was met with thunderous applause from the crowd.
Wallen’s first night at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 20 also featured unforgettable moments, including his walkout with the 2024 National Champion Tennessee Volunteers baseball team and coach Tony Vitello, who brought the trophy in hand. That night, Wallen was joined by his musical hero, Eric Church, for an acoustic performance of the Church-penned song ‘Quittin’ Time.'
In addition to his monumental performances, Wallen made headlines offstage with a $140,000 donation from The Morgan Wallen Foundation to Gibbs Youth Sports (GYS). The funds will be used to renovate Ruritan Park in Knox County, offering local recreation teams new indoor fielding and batting facilities, a significant upgrade for the area, where Wallen himself grew up.
Looking ahead, Wallen has three remaining shows on his One Night At A Time 2024 Tour, including a stop at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 4, followed by two consecutive nights at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 18 and 19.
For more information on Morgan Wallen’s upcoming shows, visit MorganWallen.com.
Upcoming Tour Dates
- Oct. 4 – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
- Oct. 18 & 19 – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Pre-save his new song ‘Love Somebody,' set to release on Oct. 18, here.
