Morgan Wallen again Eric ChurchWallen’s friendship is well-documented, so it shouldn’t have been too much of a shock when the country elder, once Wallen’s mentor, joined him in what was called a “surprise guest” performance at the 2023 CMA Awards.
Together, the pair remixed “Man Made a Bar,” their song about the need for a place to drink grief from Wallen’s album. One Thing at a Time.
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The “Last Night” singer received multiple nominations at the 57th annual CMAs, including a nod for the top prize of Entertainer of the Year. He will also compete for Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year, for One Thing at a Time.
Wallen and Church have developed a strong bond over the past few years. After the young singer was embroiled in a 2020 scandal involving his use of profanity, Sunday stood by him. Wallen posted photos of them golfing and fishing together and joined Church on stage several times, including in 2021 at Church’s big stop in Philadelphia.
Wallen will make his second appearance on the CMA Awards stage when he performs with Hardy and special guest Post Malone. The medley will lean heavily on country classics and highlight Malone’s growing presence in country music: This week he was photographed in the studio with Wallen and songwriter Ernest, and later, Luke Combs. The rapper is expected to perform a set of country songs at the 2024 Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California.
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