THROUGH ROSE-COLORED ‘WHISKEY GLASSES’

Things are looking good for rising country artist Morgan Wallen

After scoring No. 1 singles — 2017’s “Up Down” and 2018’s “Whiskey Glasses” — two years running, rising country singer Morgan Wallen is excited about his latest radio hit, “Chasin’ You.” ¶ “It’s one of the first songs I wrote when I moved to Nashville in 2015,” said Wallen, calling from Chicago. “It was something I was going through at the time. It felt like it was special and touched me. ¶ “The fact that it ended up making my record a couple of years later speaks to how special it is for me. I’ve been starting to notice people in the crowd reacting to it. It’s a song that hasn’t had any promotion or exposure, but it’s something that fans were naturally drawn to. That’s why we decided to go with it next.”

Naturally, expectations are high for the relative newcomer, who a year after appearing on “The Voice” left his Sneedville, Tennessee, home with the hopes of making it big in the Music City. That’s exactly what happened. In quick succession, he was signed to a label and released debut single “The Way I Talk,” which made a little noise on the charts. Then, in 2017, Wallen recorded and released the platinum “Up Down” featuring Florida Georgia Line. The slow brew track, which appears on Wallen’s debut album, “If I Know Me,” took a while but eventually became the summer song of 2018. “I think ‘Up Down’ is one

of those songs that makes you feel good,” Wallen said. “That’s the way it comes across, and you can definitely see it live. It’s not a song that’s going to change the world, but it’s one that makes people feel good. And, honestly, that’s important, too. So that’s why it comes across so well.” The singer-guitarist said when it came time to release a follow-up, he wanted a single that showed off his diversity. That was “Whiskey Glasses,” which has more than 303 million total global streams. “I never dreamed that it would hit the way it has,” Wallen said. “It’s turned into my biggest song so far. People really get fired up on it. It’s a heartbreak song, but, at the same time,

it doesn’t really feel like it. “People get hyped up for it. It almost feels like a party song. I love playing it every night.” Wallen is playing all his hits this summer opening for Florida Georgia Line on a tour that includes a show Aug. 23 at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls. In the fall, he’ll be on Luke Combs’ tour. Music isn’t the only thing Wallen has become known for over the last year. The other noteworthy aspect of the singer has to do with his sense of throwback fashion

and style. Not only does he often wear flannel shirts with the arms cut out, but he’s also sporting a mullet with pride. The idea for going with the business-up-front/ party-in-the-back hairstyle came to him after a visit home. “I was looking through a photo album, and I saw my dad in a wedding photo had a mullet that looked pretty awesome,” Wallen said. “I figured if he looked good with it, I should give it a shot. He gave me his blessing.

I dig it, but it was not something I knew was going to turn into something. “Now, no matter where I’m playing, there’s always a dude with a mullet and cut-off flannel. I think it just shows I like to have a good time and I’m not worried about what people think.” When it’s noted Wallen forever will be associated with bringing the mullet back in style, the country singer doesn’t shy away from the attention. He laughed, “I’m fully prepared, and I’ll be honored to carry that burden.”

SUBMITTED Morgan Wallen is known for hits “Up Down” and “Whiskey Glasses.”