18 minutes | Friday, 25 August 2023
'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Born in Sneedville, Tennessee, Morgan Wallen grew up in the Knoxville area. His mother was a teacher and father a preacher, in fact Morgan started singing in church when he was just 3 years old. He took up playing the violin when he was five and later learnt to play both piano and guitar. In high school though his passion was baseball and was good enough to earn offers of a college scholarship. Late in his senior year though an elbow injury put an end to his days as a pitcher and he began considering music as a career. In February 2014, he appeared as a contestant on The Voice USA but was eliminated in the playoffs. The platform though gave him nationwide exposure and motivated a more to Nashville. After settling in Music City and landing a record deal, in 2016 his debut single 'The Way I Talk', was well received at country radio and the following year his collaboration with Florida Georgia Line 'Up Down', went to No.1. Both songs featured on his 2018 debut album 'If I Know Me', the record also produced two of his biggest hits 'Whiskey Glasses' and 'Chasin' You'.
January 2021, saw the arrival of Morgan's hotly anticipated follow-up 'Dangerous: The Double Album', and just before it's release Stuart Banford chatted with him.