Wait, Morgan Wallen Is Appearing on ‘Saturday Night Live’ Again?
Look. Too much can be made about Morgan Wallen’s dalliances on the wrong side of the law and the etiquette of polite society. It was irresponsible and stupid for him to use the N-word in a private moment among friends, but he didn’t go on some racial tirade as some portrayed. He threw a chair off a building because he’s a buffoon and a yahoo, but ultimately nobody got hurt.
But why are we naming school baseball fields after him less than a year after he was charged with two felonies? Why are outlets like Rolling Stone who were actively working to cancel him a few years ago now all of a sudden promoting his singles and tour dates? And why is he getting a second opportunity to play Saturday Night Live when there are so many other worthy names from the country and roots world that are still waiting for their first one?
Sierra Ferrell just won FOUR Grammy Awards, yet didn’t even get on the television broadcast. The SNL stage was built for someone like her. Zach Bryan anyone? He’s one of the biggest musical artists of the last five years, and has lived in New York on and off. How in the world has he not made an appearance? Jason Isbell might be a prickly dude with his online persona, but he’s perfect for the SNL audience. Whose leg does he have to hump to get his opportunity?
Remember the time that Margo Price played SNL? Sure, it came way too early for her, and didn’t really launch her into the stratosphere like Jack White hoped when he called in all his favors to set that up. But there was a time when SNL was on search for the next big thing as opposed to just ceding the stage to established stars.
Tyler Childers anybody? He and Billy Strings are out there selling out arenas, yet they’re probably not even being mentioned in discussions for SNL, let alone surging country artists like Charley Crockett and Zach Top. And what sucks is that now that Morgan Wallen will play this Saturday, Lorne Michaels and the rest will say, “Yep. We had our country star for this season. Back to the parade of pop/hip-hop stars.”
Are television appearances the game changers they once were? Of course not. But if there are ones that still can move the needle if the performer makes the most of them, it’s Saturday Night Live and CBS Sunday Morning, especially for performers who still aren’t household names. Will Morgan Wallen win new fans by performing on SNL? Probably not.
So why is SNL booking him then? For the same reason Rolling Stone has lifted their Morgan Wallen moratorium: clicks and views. In the emerging attention economy, this is the only currency that matters. Rolling Stone and Saturday Night Live are supposed to be countercultural institutions. But now they’re getting in on the viper Capitalist action.
And let’s not forget that the first time Morgan Wallen got booked on the show, he duffed it by breaking the rules during the COVID-19 protocols. “BuT tHoSe PRotOcoLS wERe bUllsHit!” Maybe so, but is shows his lack of commitment, seriousness, or reverence for these opportunities that others most certainly would take more seriously.
Morgan Wallen has his. He’s one of the biggest artists in all of music, if not the biggest all things considered. And sure, put him on SNL if you wish. Just don’t stop there when covering the surging popularity of country music. And no, I’m not talking about the Brandi Carlile/Elton John collaboration booked for next week.
Country music is having a moment, and like all important cultural institutions, SNL should recognize it, and beyond the big, obvious, rehashed names.
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March 28, 2025 @ 11:32 am
Funny I was listening to a podcast yesterday and a current snl writer said he happened to get to talk to Lorne Michaels and Lorne just talked about how much he liked jelly roll. Lorne may just have bad taste in country music
March 28, 2025 @ 12:10 pm
Considering the quality of modern SNL, that ain’t the only bad taste Lorne has…
March 28, 2025 @ 1:20 pm
People who don’t like country music tend to love Jelly Roll because he doesn’t play it. Then they love to claim that country music needs to be more like Jelly Roll because that’s what they like. The New York Times and other outlets that cover country from the outside looking in love to forward these kinds of opinions.
March 29, 2025 @ 4:17 am
Reminds me of a guy I worked with who was all about FGL. He claimed they were good country because they didn’t sound country. He was an all-around jackass so it made sense coming from him.
March 28, 2025 @ 5:39 pm
I tend to think modern SNL is mostly irrelevant but if any Country star should go on the show the genre would benefit from Zach Bryan, Zach Top, or Billy Strings going on. I think Billy Strings and Zach Top would poke fun at themselves more and would be better at comedy. Zach Bryan could use the PR boost if he could lay off the uppers and be personable – the attempts at character assasinations on him led by some influencer chick is the dumbest thing ever. The fact the term “influencer” exists is reason enough for the Earth to correct itself with another pole shift and mass floods. It’s better for culture when we can unite and appreciate individuals worthy of attention because of their talents vs talentless idiots with microphones on podcasts.
March 29, 2025 @ 10:49 am
“Ladies and Gentlemen, JELLY ROLL”
March 29, 2025 @ 2:14 pm
I thinks it’s been about 20 years that nearly every time I grab salt and pepper from the cabinet I say ‘ladies and gentlemen SALT N PEPA!’ in my Patrick Stewart voice, from the time he introduced them on SNL. I don’t even think I saw that show but picked it up from a clip somewhere.
March 28, 2025 @ 1:18 pm
I understand the point but not really a big deal. Obviously they are trying to get more views than an obscure performer prob wont bring.
March 28, 2025 @ 3:29 pm
The protocols were bullshit. The covid pseudo-science was wrong then and even more wrong now in hindsight. Anyone who says differently will gladly report their neighbors to be sent to the concentration camp during the next pandemic.
March 28, 2025 @ 5:08 pm
I 100% agree that many of the Covid-19 protocols were overreach. Nonetheless, when Morgan Wallen decided to play SNL, he signed a contract stipulating he would quarantine before the performance. If he was unwilling to do so, he should have ceded that opportunity to someone else. Or at the least, maybe he shouldn’t have starred in half a dozen Tik-Toks after a Tennessee game sucking face in a way that gave SNL no other choice but to cancel his appearance. If you want to give anyone shit, give it to Morgan Wallen for being a cuck for signing up to their protocols.
And lets all remember all of this transpired BEFORE the N-word incident, BEFORE he whipping a metal chair off a 4-story building, causing him to be charged with two felonies. And even then Wallen had a reputation for screwing up.
Getting dog whistled by Covid Protocols is so far down the chain of what’s important here.
March 28, 2025 @ 5:27 pm
The chair throwing is the biggest thing he did and I feel like that one is treated as the least serious. He could have seriously injured or killed someone. It was by sheer chance that the chair didn’t hit anyone. I think he should have gotten a felony charge for that..especially considering how easily the cops in Nashville slapped people with DUI’s when they were under the limit.
April 2, 2025 @ 12:21 pm
I appreciated the extra clarification on the MW covid issue. Its a good perspective to realize he brought that on himself. I certainly didn’t agree with the protocols but, as you said, he gave them no choice.
March 29, 2025 @ 11:48 am
Covid protocols bullshit? Then why did over 1 million people die. And Covid is still here, in a different form. Long Covid?And that is a nightmare.
What a jerk.
March 29, 2025 @ 8:10 pm
“Long covid”… 😂 aka vaccine injuries. You drank too much of the Kool-Aid. I feel sorry for you honestly – especially if you think 1 million people actually died of Covid. Long live Morgan Wallen.. apologize for NOTHING!
March 29, 2025 @ 8:48 pm
It was projected that 3 million were supposed to die, so the vaccine had some impact.
March 29, 2025 @ 9:12 pm
Any more comments in this comments section about COVID or politics will be immediately deleted. This is not a political website, it’s a music one. Please respect this space.
March 28, 2025 @ 5:22 pm
It’s almost like “Cancel Culture” isn’t real!
(Unless you’re a woman who shares the current president’s current opinion on the invasion of Iraq)
March 28, 2025 @ 8:10 pm
I’m so tired of every article about Morgan mentioning his n word debacle. It was 5 years ago. He’s moved on. We’ve moved on. And he’s sold a bajillion albums and had a bajillion streams since then. Honestly, it’s lame. He said something he shouldn’t have, while drunk and probably high, to a white friend, not out of anger but like you’d said “dude” or brah. The real villain is his neighbor who turned the ring video over to tmz for a pretty penny. Strait mentioned covid overreach bullshit and this was pc woke overreach. Isbell, Karen Morris, Bobby Bones and plenty of others tried to get him kicked out of the industry. Tried to blacklist him, and tried to ruin his life and career. He took the high road and instead took some time off then released probably his best song to date Don’t Think Jesus.
I’m tired of hearing about his supposed indiscretions. As stated above the only one that was serious was the chair throwing incident.
He’s the most popular country artist in the world going on 5 years now, whether Trigger or anyone else like it. His new album will be the biggest country album of the year and probably one of the biggest albums in general too.
With the President being re-elected I think the message is clear. We are done apologizing. It’s over. You don’t like the music or the politician. Don’t listen and don’t vote. We are done with this dei woke bullshit. That’s not our heritage, it’s not our traditions, and it’s sure as shit not our fucking country, both nation and music. Red state maga is real and Morgan is the tip of the spear.
Red staters will Jam this all year. And theirs nothing at all these woke losers can do about it.
March 28, 2025 @ 8:15 pm
Article mentions people should move on from the N-word incident, and too much was made of it.
Comment complains people haven’t moved on from the N-word incident, and too much is being made of it.
If Morgan Wallen and his fans are tired of hearing about the indiscretions, perhaps he should stop making indiscretions. Just a thought.
March 28, 2025 @ 8:26 pm
Years ago poster talked about how isbell was jealous of Morgan, and that his virtue signaling sjw commie act at least in reguards to how he viewed Morgan was solely based on his jealousy and not the n word incident and I think that’s true. Morgan is what isbell wishes he was. People don’t give a flying fuck what isbell releases. He’s a washed up, aerial abuser drug addict scumbag who turned his back on country music and acted like he’s gods gift to the world. Every album he releases the media breathlessly reports on him like he’s the messiah. He hasn’t done anything noteworthy since he released Cover Me Up anyways.
Morgan whatever you view him musically, he is undeniably the biggest country star of the last 20 years. Maybe more. And he’s leagues bigger than isbell. His name is everywhere, not just because of controversies but because he actually makes music people enjoy and consume. He’s maybe not even reached his peak.
Isbell will bend over backwards to appease the woke mob that he himself loves. He demands grace for his flaws yet offers or extends none to others especially fans and artists who are conservatives.
Morgan has such a huge fanbase likely because while he’s maga, he doesn’t tell democrats to get lost. And by some miracle he has fans of all stripes. I wonder why. Meanwhile isbell acts like a self righteous prick and asshole. And half the country hates him.
Isbell will be known as the guy who made southeastern 15 years ago and was big then. Morgan is the biggest country artist of his entire generation. That’s the difference.
March 29, 2025 @ 5:17 pm
Try that in a big town.
March 30, 2025 @ 7:41 am
Of all the takes to have, this is one of them.
Isbell took a principled stand on using the equity of the notoriety he gained after Southeastern (and still to this day) to make sure the doors busted wide open behind him for artists in country music who otherwise wouldn’t have received as much attention.
The list of opening acts for his Ryman residency shows is reflective of his commitment to that, and he continues that philosophy to this day.
Hate his politics? Fine; he’s welcome to the criticisms by being as vocal as he is about them. But he did the critics of this stance a favor by absconding himself to BlueSky so that those who didn’t want to hear him go on about “woke” stuff don’t have to hear him anymore.
Therefore, referring to him in the past tense as you have, suggests you don’t see as much from him anymore – and your vitriolic take about the media still fawning over his more recent body of work is because you feel the media coverage of him should be as commensurately low as the social media views of him you have – none. You’re conflating his absence in your social media feed to an absence of his influence in the music world – the fact that his body of work – and his commitment to the rock solid foundation of the Nashville music community speaks volumes about what other artists who are the backbone of country, Americana, and music in general in Nashville think about him.
Hell, even Wallen himself has said that after his first visit to the CMA’s and he was unsuccessful in some of the categories, both Jason and Amanda (before their marriage began to crumble) came out to find him in an after party section with a small group of associates and gave him a pep talk about how he has a massive future ahead of him and not to let this discourage his future musical endeavors. Wallen was extremely grateful for how gracious the two of them were & mentioned it quite a bit in interview circles – since this followed the covering of “Cover Me Up” and the eventual questions in those interviews about how that came about etc.
Granted, after Wallen’s run of bad press, Isbell dogpiled on it – and stayed latched onto Morgan for some time about it. But history shows Isbell spent little to no time harping on the drinking or partying – mainly because he could be seen as a hypocrite for it – and instead focused on the “N word” flap.
It can’t be understated just how determined Isbell became in his quest to get recognition for women and artists of color by in Nashville. He is an ardent supporter and friend to the formal “Black Opry” coalition – of which at the time of Wallen’s controversy Isbell was booking black artists for his 8 night Ryman residency.
Isbell could’ve left it alone and let the Black Opry outcry whither on the vine – but he elected to champion their cause & show the rest of Nashville the way on this front. In hindsight, he could’ve simply allowed Black Opry to use his platform more rather than be a white man speaking *for* them; but lesson learned and his heart was in the right place.
He even lectured Wallen for his Opry return post-“N word” flap by pointing out Wallen himself could’ve used *his* platform to extend an olive branch to these artists for that outing rather than a collab with another white artist like himself. In this case, Isbell wasn’t showing his jealous side – he was showing mentorship from a man whose principles won himself credibility amongst his peers – even at the expense of his wider audience fame. He was teaching Wallen how both of those things could be achieved so that everyone comes out a little better from what transpired.
I’ve honestly never understood the more mainstream country fanbases’ disdain for Isbell – aside from the overt political differences.
OP didn’t mention much in the way of Isbell’s personal character issues himself, but they’re a ripe subject for attack. I for one try not to take too much of that in when I listen to an artist – but I understand that one who writes very personal lyrics makes it difficult to avoid.
Yes, the new teeth, the midlife crisis, the young NYC artist girlfriend, the acting, et al – and most importantly, the relegation of his ex-wife’s musical career sidelined as he continues on with his (the comment he made about the inevitable grumbling in the household amongst the two of them when he received accolades and she wasn’t is still only a view from his side of things. And even *if* true, it does represent the age old “just because it’s true doesn’t mean you need to share that with everyone; how about you keep that part to yourself”.
Yes, he puts things out there that make him open to being a punching bag in social media sometimes. He sometimes acts in ways that contradict his support for women artists – but at the same time abhors misogyny in all forms. But he has stood firm on his support for minorities represented in country; had anyone whose actions stunted that effort received his admonishment – mostly to Isbell himself’s “brand name” detriment.
Isbell is fine with who he is: an ever-evolving and inspirational wordsmith & songwriter as well as a talented musician & friend to fellow artists in Nashville. I think at his age, he has no use for feeling jealous of anyone his junior being more successful than him. He didn’t show any of that when opening for Zach Bryan last year – even as Bryan botched “King of Oklahoma” on stage,
Personally – because my wife is a Wallen fan – I give him a lot more spins than I otherwise would have. I’ve already seen some growth and maturity in some of the snippets of songs to come from his new album – especially in the song “Superman”. In fact, I was taken aback by how personal and soul exposing some of it was. So if there’s a strong “Anti-Wallen / Pro – Isbell” camp; first off; we shouldn’t even be having these sides the way we’ve drawn these lines in the sands…artists should support one another. But if you ARE in said camp – give Wallen an occasional listen with new ears this year for his new record and see what you think.
Conversely, if you’re defensive of Wallen / Disdainful for Isbell, do the same. You might see in Isbell’s lyrics a lot of the natural trajectory of Wallen’s own maturity coming into shape. And that, my friends, is really the root of why Isbell focused so hard on being so tough on Wallen more than anything else. Aside from the N-word issue, Isbell has been to nearly every place Wallen has found himself digging out of. And as a fellow songwriter, artist, (twice!) husband & *father* he is trying to raise the alarm bells for Wallen to divert his path lest it wreck him. It seems for now hopefully Wallen has found that path through fatherhood, here’s hoping. Meanwhile, Isbell begins his own new chapter of growth. But rest assured it doesn’t come from a place of envy for Wallen; more concern & hope.
March 30, 2025 @ 8:57 am
Dude, txyesboy move on. No one cares. This isn’t a place to rant. I’m so sick of people acting like this. I’m glad the SNL performance went well. Trigger is right, we need smaller artists to get exposure. Anything else nd that, I’m not interested in discussing with you or anyone else. Let’s celebrate our music, and stop fighting. We love country. Let’s start acting like grownups, my dude. Stop antagonizing please, and focus on the article snd its contents. Morgan performed. And trigger is correct we do need to make sure the artists who are not as well known also get some attention.
March 30, 2025 @ 10:44 pm
I hope Isbell paid you for that defense.
March 31, 2025 @ 3:42 am
I gave OP a thoughtful, detailed, fact-based reply, and in return I received insults , accusations & insinuations that clearly show my reply wasn’t read.
I’m not sure what I expected, but I extended an olive branch to mitigate both camps to come to the middle, after someone hurled insults at one camp’s artist…and my attempts to inform others was met with “stop antagonizing”.
I don’t know if it’s reading comprehension that’s missing or attention span – or both.
March 31, 2025 @ 7:12 am
Bottom line for me and many other true fans of any music is not that a singer can sing a song well, it’s how they relate to what they are singing. Wallen is a talented singer, no doubt, but my respect for him is minimal at best because he doesn’t write his own songs, he sings others. His last album had 40 some odd songwriters on it. Compare that to Isabell or Bryan and both are true songwriters and singers. They have earned respect.
March 29, 2025 @ 7:09 am
He should never have apologized since the people demanding that apology from him never intended to fully accept it. The same people who wished that the incident would ‘take him out’ are now saying “Cancel Culture isn’t really a thing” ….because it didn’t work.
March 29, 2025 @ 8:56 am
Damn right! I think the only serious infraction was as you said the chair throwing incident. That could have killed someone. It was stupid of him to do that. The n word thing and covid protocols breaking was a non issue to me. You mentioned the overreaction to covid, the overreaction to him saying the n word was even worse. Banning him from radio. It’s clear he was not given awards because of it. Like him or not, he was entertainer and country artist of the year the past 5 years. He’s the most successful country musician of the last 5 years at the minimum, There’s artists who have committed actual crimes, and they are still being played. R Kelly and Diddy were and are not banned. So why Morgan? Trigger seemed to Poo Poo all the blaming Morgan stuff when we talked to him about it. It’s ridiculous, literally every article about him always begins with, the artist who said the n word. It drives me up the wall. I think strait, you are right. And I think conservatives are learning that lesson now. You don’t apologize. You don’t walk it back. You just lead or govern and if the left hates it or yells or screams you just keep on moving. Morgan’s response should have been silence and Don’t Think Jesus and that’s it. That song says it all. We are done with all this. Trump won, he won the popular and electoral vote, we want him to lead. He’s doing exactly what we voted him in to do. And he needs to do more. No apologies needed. Turns out if you win an election or are the biggest country artist, you can just do things.
Morgan did something he shouldn’t have. But the reaction to it, including let’s be real, by trigger.’, was that Morgan should go away. Should be banned and is a disgrace. Why? What should he apologize for? Being drunk and privately saying something to a friend that a neighbor caught on ring and sold to tmz? Why should he apologize for that? For saying something that is on every hit rap song? You think white people self censor alone in their care singing along to All Eyez on Me? Get real.
Morgan has nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing to apologize for, and isbell, Karen Morris, Mickey guyton and any other Nashville artist or exec that tried to cancel him, ruin his life, run him out of town, can go fuck themselves. His streams and income speak for themselves.
I’m tired of Nashville in the woke times. I’m tired of being made to be ashamed or guilty about who I am, my skin, and who my ancestors are. I’m tired of woke struggle sessions. I’m tired of dei bullshit. I’m tired of country artists shoehorning in politics to their music. I’m tired of every single song being about agendas, and policies that half the country disagrees with. I’m tired of being lectured to by musicians about how I’m supposed to feel. I’m tired of being demonized because of who I voted for. I’m tired of being forced to apologize for a flag I fly above my land and then made to take it down. I’m tired of history being rewritten. I’m tired of kids being poisoned, lied to, and indoctrinated. I’m tired of music being used to tell lies about people.
I’m tired. I’m tired.
March 29, 2025 @ 12:05 pm
Not to get too political but you do realize your guy Trump won the election right? And he controls government on basically every level right now? You’re supposed to be happy, dude, you’re living in the Golden Age.
March 29, 2025 @ 2:29 pm
Who made you take down a flag you were flying on your own property? I call bullshit. And for someone who claims to not like politics being shoved into music, you certainly shoved a ton into your hilarious sky-screaming rants.
March 29, 2025 @ 3:02 pm
🙄
March 30, 2025 @ 10:50 am
I recommend Paxel.
March 30, 2025 @ 2:45 pm
There is a different standard held for white performers, it’s an even greater standard if they hold, or are believed to hold political views seperate from what is “acceptable.” Bill Maher is still on the air after saying that word on his show.
“But Strait….that was in a comedic context so it’s different!!!”
It’s just another one of those issues that is differentially used as a political and social club.
March 28, 2025 @ 8:29 pm
Turns out people really hate woke. Who would have fucking guessed?
March 29, 2025 @ 4:10 pm
It’s one thing not to listen to artists for political reasons, whatever they may be, but to actually listen to shit like Wallen or Aldean just to own the wokes is baffling to me (I’m sure there’s plenty of artists on the other side people listen to to own the cons but they’re outside the scope of this site).
Bad politics can ruin an otherwise good song, but no amount of good politics can save an otherwise bad song
March 29, 2025 @ 5:43 pm
You must not be familiar with Karen Morris, Mickey guyton, Jason Isbell etc. there are others who are open about their politics but not as obnoxious and have a stance but don’t actively shove it completely down your throat 24/7: Kacey Musgraves. There’s also others like Cassadee Pope, the black opry, Rissi Palmer, Steve Earle abs Brandi Carlile who are in your face about what their politics are. I think it’s pretty naive to think the left doesn’t do this. You ever been on a streaming service before? Spotify has user made liberal country artist playlists and I love country but I’m not conservative. I think the people who listen to someone like Steve Earle, Jason Isbell and Karen Morris would absolutely listen to them to spite and give the finger to red state America. In fact I think they’d view it as an act of protest and courage. Don’t want to give money to country artists who vote trump, after all. In fact a regular argument from those people is “real country” is liberal, and not conservative. They’d point to the supposed liberal stances of people like Merle, cash and krisstopherson, while ignoring cash’s view of right and wrong came from being a bible thumper who was also the most patriotic person imaginable. He literally said he’d beat you up if you burned the flag.
Those artists are not outside the scope of the site. In fact a black opry member was just profiled in this site the other day Rhiannon gibbons. The black opry are the organization that threw a fit about Morgan being at the Grand ol opry and tried to get him cancelled and run out of town. That’s the very definition of what you are talking about. They not only listened to other music to own the cons, but they tried to ruin the livelihood and career of a conservative artist. That’s about as cowardly and scum bag as one can get, I think.
March 29, 2025 @ 6:42 pm
I bet yer great at parties….
March 29, 2025 @ 6:43 pm
*Giddens.
March 29, 2025 @ 8:06 pm
Putting Steve Earle and Morgan Wallen in the same class songwriting wise is infinitely more ridiculous than any political opinion I’ve ever seen on this site and there have been some doozies
March 30, 2025 @ 7:54 am
I’m a left-leaning country guy. And despite the fact that I dislike Trump, I’ve always liked the legendary Travis Tritt – even though he’s been “pro Trump” for literally decades now (predating Trump entering politics.
Hell, Tritt even blocked me on Twitter about 5 years ago – before I could even post a thing to him (found out he blocked me when I was in a thread that mentioned him and went to reply/tag him – I had around 7,500 followers, so political figures and musicians showed up on my TL often by association to other account activity…and there it was, I was already blocked!)….BUT…..
….I still love his stuff. He’s a hell of an entertainer and has an amazing voice.
As much disdain as I have for Jason Aldean (for numerous reasons, of which I won’t get into on this chat thread), I still love a shit ton of his earlier catalog. I think Amarillo Sky is a beautiful mix of both mid tempo country with just enough of a hint of “not all is all THAT well down here in our small towns; don’t forget about us”.
I enjoy hearing likewise from persons who may personally disdain an artists politics, but can differentiate great artistic output from personal bias.
There are obvious cases where that will be hard to do; especially when the artist themselves go the overt hard right or hard left and leave no room for appreciation for the art first. Still, it’s up to each to determine if they will boycott that type of artist lock, stock and barrel – or just remove those examples from their musical playlist, and continue enjoying the other examples that don’t conflict with one’s personal ideology being able to interfere with the enjoyment of the art itself.
We’re all better off in the world of music when it’s the latter and not the former.
Having said that, people like John Rich?? Pfffttt, fuck that; he was a clown as a musician already. So even this “Libtard” has examples where he has to draw a line. 🙂 It’s not as if he had much of a catalog of music to appreciate in the first place. 😉
March 30, 2025 @ 6:25 pm
John Rich wrote “Amarillo Sky.” He also recorded the first version of it in 2001 on an indie album called Rescue Me.
March 28, 2025 @ 8:49 pm
The article was not up to triggers usually standards. He went through a list of names, many very talented country artists. Although isbell ain’t country. But the short answer and it could have been made in one sentence is those artists aren’t Morgan Wallen. They aren’t the biggest artist in country music. SNL could have many small artists on not named Beyoncé or Taylor Swift, but anytime they want to appear, I’m sure SNL will move heaven and earth to make it happen. SNL isn’t interested in drawing a niche crowd to see someone like Sierra as great as she is. Sierra, all due respect isn’t even in the same league as Morgan in terms of popularity. It’s like a jv athlete and Michael Jordan basically.
Morgan will also draw in a crowd that typically isn’t into watching SNL. Sierra doesn’t have the power to get a massive tv viewership.
March 28, 2025 @ 9:19 pm
Sierra Ferrell is 4 to 5 times more popular than Margo Price was when she was booked on SNL. Right now, Zach Bryan is more popular than Beyoncé. Nobody is saying Morgan Wallen isn’t popular. In fact, the article states he’s probably the most popular artist in all of music at the moment. We all know why SNL booked Morgan Wallen. They booked him for SNL. Morgan Wallen won’t benefit from the exposure at all. Another artist would. That’s all I’m saying.
March 29, 2025 @ 4:16 am
But didn’t you write that Margo Price was only booked because SNL did a massive favor to Jack White?
March 29, 2025 @ 7:52 am
Yes, but I think it proves that at one point, the show was receptive to more niche and up-and-coming artists. Frank Zappa and Tom Waits played SNL.
March 29, 2025 @ 10:19 am
Trigger we totally disagree here. Margo and Sierra have the same audience. I hope Sierra gets bigger because Margo is a complete nonentity on country, like isbell no one is checking when Margo drops a new project. Margo and Sierra have an audience of hipsters essentially. They read the NYT and listen to NPR. They are left coasters. You really think that maga frat at ol miss is bumping sierras new one? That maga ol miss frat definitely bumps Morgan 24/7. Those dudes girlfriends want to date Morgan, while the dudes think Morgan is cool.
Morgan by contrast has an audience of literally everyone. His fanbase has no gender line, and no political line either. He’s beloved as much in California and New York as he is in rural Idaho and Alabama. The Sierra/Margo fans already watch SNL. They all watch Colbert too. Morgan’s conservative fanbase doesn’t watch SNL, so SNL is getting new viewers they wouldn’t normally and liberals who aren’t up on Morgan already will now be exposed to his music.
Hopefully Sierra gets bigger and more appeal. As is though, her fanbase is niche hipsters. No tv show in the world is going to go that route when you have someone with the generational appeal of Morgan. It’s a no brainer. The people already tuned into SNL already know who she is anyways. That’s who watches SNL.
March 29, 2025 @ 10:54 am
Margo Price has 800,000 monthly Spotify listeners, and had even less when she played SNL. Sierra Ferrell has 2.5 million. Sierra is significantly larger than Margo. The only reason I’m bringing Margo up is because she played before.
I understand how massive Morgan Wallen is. I appreciate that as a Morgan Wallen fan, you feel the need to advocate for him. My job is to advocate for the artists that don’t receive enough attention. That’s my job. And that’s all I’m doing here. It’s not running down Morgan Wallen. Congratulations to him for all his success. I just want to see some other artists receive some big opportunities. Morgan Wallen has already had his.
March 30, 2025 @ 6:06 am
I have to disagree that them doing a favor to Jack White proves theyre more receptive. It proves they did a favor. When did those other 2 get booked? 45 years ago?
March 30, 2025 @ 7:34 am
Saturday Night Live used to be more of a countercultural institution, similar to Rolling Stone. Though popular names played there, so did a lot of names that were outside of the pop zeitgeist. Think of the ’90s when you had the college radio explosion and R.E.M., The B52s, and The Spin Doctors and such. It’s never been big on country, which is fine. But it was always about digging a little deeper.
March 29, 2025 @ 3:10 am
Fallon Kimmel Colbert etc might be getting better musical guests right now. A lot of the artists you mentioned like Charlie Crockett and Jason Isbell, you can find clips of them on these shows. Not sure why SNL is dropping the ball.
They’re all becoming dinosaurs though. YouTube channels are probably more where it’s at. I know Billy Strings has appeared on Theo Von, Rick Beato, etc. Billy is just all over YouTube in general, so many clips.
I feel like you almost never see Zach Bryan anywhere.
March 29, 2025 @ 7:50 am
The truth is that one of the reasons your favorite independent artist can play these shows is the bigger artists no longer see them as valuable enough to participate in. That doesn’t mean they’re meaningless. But it definitely does not move the needle like it used to. SNL is an exception though, even though it’s no longer the appointment television it once was. CBS Sunday Morning has helped to outright launch careers. But it can be hit or miss, and still depends on if the artist resonates with the public.
March 29, 2025 @ 3:37 am
Most country artist’s probably have no interest appearing on that dumpster of a show.
March 29, 2025 @ 10:48 am
It is ironic that Morgan Wallen is one of the biggest country stars with one of the smallest discographies. In the last 7 years, Morgan released 3 studio albums, and is about to release a 4th one. In the same time, Jelly Roll released 7, and Charlie Crockett released 11 studio albums, as did Willie.
If I’m his record company president (I’m not, of course), I’m telling him, “more songwriting, less high jinx, dude”
March 29, 2025 @ 11:52 am
Yea most of his albums have like 30 something songs. So hes putting plenty of material out.
March 29, 2025 @ 12:25 pm
Thanks. I apparently no nothing about Wallen, David the Duke.
March 30, 2025 @ 4:24 am
The quality of the writing is off the chart.
March 29, 2025 @ 5:36 pm
White Dudes for Kamala:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhK7vRDky9c
March 29, 2025 @ 6:32 pm
What does this have to do with anything?
Folks, this is not a political website. Let’s try to keep discussions on the music, and the topics at hand.
March 29, 2025 @ 9:21 pm
The only buffoon is the one who wrote this childish article. Morgan Wallen did nothing but benefit from trying to be cancelled for using a word in the same context that every black rapper on earth uses it in and worse. Try to cancel out boy again. You successfully made him the hottest real country star in music today. Even across several genres. #idiots
March 29, 2025 @ 9:58 pm
Morgan Wallen Backlash Not Just Ineffective, It’s Counter-Productive
https://savingcountrymusic.com/morgan-wallen-backlash-not-just-ineffective-its-counter-productive/
Rolling Stone Falsely Reports Morgan Wallen’s Post N-word Donations
https://savingcountrymusic.com/rolling-stone-falsely-reports-morgan-wallens-post-n-word-donations/
Grand Ole Opry Unfairly Attacked After Morgan Wallen Appearance
https://savingcountrymusic.com/grand-ole-opry-unfairly-attacked-after-morgan-wallen-appearance/
Kane Brown Says Morgan Wallen’s ‘N’-Word Incident Misunderstood
https://savingcountrymusic.com/kane-brown-says-morgan-wallens-n-word-incident-misunderstood/
March 29, 2025 @ 11:34 pm
Away from the political discussions here: I find his music somehow unimaginative and his voice not very expressive. Is it possible that he is primarily popular because he embodies a certain attitude or people see him as the embodiment of this attitude? And music is of secondary importance?
March 30, 2025 @ 4:20 am
You have not listened to the lyrics and don’t understand song arrangement. Thats all.
March 31, 2025 @ 11:42 am
Yes. He’s the current poster boy for good ol’ boys who just want to party and have a good time with their bros and hoes. And you don’t listen to a Morgan Wallen song to see if it’s good, you just know it’s good because it’s a Morgan Wallen song.
March 30, 2025 @ 4:18 am
This was the dumbest article. Get over the boogie man. He never claimed to be God. He donates time and money to wonderful causes while you have your pen up your butt.
March 30, 2025 @ 4:39 am
I would recommend skipping SNL and spend the time with Roy Clark and Joe Pass picking through the Hank Williams songbook.
That will be an hour well spent, and it’s easier on the nerves.
March 30, 2025 @ 8:30 am
Final warning to all commenters. Any more comments of an exclusive political nature will be deleted, and result in this comments section getting shut down.
March 30, 2025 @ 12:00 pm
Saturday Night Live is an entertainment mainstream show. This means to get on it, you need to be in the entertainment mainstream, or “Hollywood.” Country music IS NOT in the entertainment mainstream. It isn’t Hollywood. It is not rock or pop. So if you are not an artist in a mainstream entertainment music genre, the only way to get on SNL is to be a STUDIO ARTIST – not an independent one – who sells so many records that the mainstream notices you. Or if you establish yourself in mainstream Hollywood in addition to country i.e. getting regular acting gigs in – again studio – movies and major network/cable TV shows (indies and obscure streamers don’t count).
This isn’t unique to country. It was AGES before SNL first put on a (real) rap act, and even that happened only because Michael Jordan, literally the most famous and influential celebrity in the world at the time, told them that he would only host if Public Enemy was his musical guest. Rap only became commonplace on SNL when it became mainstream entertainment. Also, while this genre is now in clear decline, even when it was vibrant in the 70s, 80s and 90s SNL didn’t have pure soul or R&B acts either … just those who crossed over into pop. Jazz and classical? Nope. Christian or gospel acts, even the massive sellers and tons of Grammy awards? To give an indication, megastar – and by this I mean “has crossed over into the secular charts” – Kirk Franklin was only able to get on SNL to sing a few lines with the Jonas Brothers.
So for SNL to bring on Charley Crockett or Sierra Ferrell would give country better treatment than they give all of the other “out of the mainstream” genres that have big sellers and multiple Grammy Award winners of their own. Meaning labels, agents etc. from artists from those genres would respond with demands to get their own acts on SNL.
And finally, Hollywood institutions like SNL and Rolling Stone haven’t been “counterculture” in decades. They are the establishment in an industry with multinational corporations worth hundreds of billions like Disney. They have a ton of money, power and influence and very much use it to exclude actual outsiders. It is only thanks to the Internet – streaming etc. – that their power has been mitigated just a little bit and they are no longer the nearly absolute gatekeepers over entertainment that they used to be. But the things that they still have control over i.e. what and who gets to appear on their national network TV broadcasts, especially for venerable institutions like SNL – expect them to be as rigid and ironclad as they have long been.
March 30, 2025 @ 12:41 pm
Rano,
Though I agree with a lot of what you said here, the fact remains that Margo Price played SNL in 2016 when she was multipliers smaller than where Sierra Ferrell and Charley Crockett are now, and Sturgill Simpson played in 2017 when he was multipliers smaller than where Zach Bryan, Billy Strings, and Zach Top are now.
So yes, there was a period, and in recent times, when SNL would allow lesser-known, but critically-acclaimed countercultural musical performers on the stage. Do I expect that every week? Of course not, and I respect that SNL is not really a “country” show. My only point is that if you’re going to have a country artist on it, why have Morgan Wallen twice as opposed to giving that opportunity to someone else?
March 30, 2025 @ 1:31 pm
Trigger, those are excellent counterpoints that rendered my argument moot. So, you beat me convincingly and I concede. So we are left with this: Morgan Wallen got on twice because he is the biggest American male artist – in any genre – of the current decade and no one else is close. So when the biggest American male artist has an album coming out next month, you get him on your show if he is willing.
This means that you have a “category error” here. You starting with “SNL should spread the wealth around a variety of country artists rather than have the same country artist – Wallen – on twice” and then proceeding from there. Instead, Wallen shouldn’t be viewed as a country artist at all, but rather the #1 guy in commercial music. Which means that if Wallen weren’t a country singer, he would have actually been on SNL way more than 2 times in the 8 years since his first platinum album. Yes, the scandals that you mentioned played a role, but it is only because Wallen is a country artist that anyone even knows or cares about that stuff in the first place.
March 30, 2025 @ 1:32 pm
You are correct. SNL and Rolling Stone, are legacy media corporate mainstream news. They no longer have an interest in breaking up and coming bands and haven’t in decades. Probably the last time was in the early 90s. SCM fulfills the mission Trigger seems to think SNL should, and quite well. He’s the leading voice and that’s why we visit and love this site and it’s content. The premise of the article seems off because while Trigger correctly has deep dived into the decline of the importance of radio to the country world, the same is true of SNL. Even beyond country music covered here, when was the last time you turned on the tv and said, I love this band let me download all their stuff? 10 years ago? 20? Even just looking at the lineups for the last few years of SNL, there’s Charli XCX, SZA, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eillish, Travis Scott. Among the most recent country artist to appear was Chris Stapleton. These names are the biggest in the industry, Stapleton included who may be the most awarded country star of the last 20 years. SNL doesn’t exist to break country artists, it exists to make money and draw viewers. It doesn’t break pop artists or rap artists either. I think we speak for everyone who reads the site, Trigger, when we say we don’t find out about new artists from SNL. We get it from this site! Or whiskey riff and country central Instagram feeds. All 3 of those have done more to break new country than SNL ever has
March 30, 2025 @ 2:29 pm
I completely agree. And outside the United States, it is even more irrelevant which musicians appear on SNL. The country community in Europe may be small. But I really don’t know anyone here who discovered musicians through American television. Streaming services, social media and personal recommendations from friends play a much larger role. This is also the case with pretty much every other style of music. Television doesn’t really play a role in promoting music, at least in the parts of Europe I know. I discovered the entire bunch of all these fantastic young, fresh neo-traditional “post-Covid” country artists almost exclusively via Instagram and Spotify.
March 30, 2025 @ 2:56 pm
” They no longer have an interest in breaking up and coming bands and haven’t in decades.”
…except Margo Prince in 2016, Sturgill Simpson in 2017, and other artists from other genres since then.
Again, I understand what SNL is. But to say they don’t feature up-and-comers is untrue, except now maybe, which is my whole point.
March 30, 2025 @ 3:50 pm
Well based on the amount of spelling errors, I see the Wallen fans have found this article. Anyways I’m ready for the follow up article or comment about Wallen being Charmin soft and walking off set like he’s some billy badass.
March 30, 2025 @ 5:58 pm
There is no counterculture anymore. There can’t be, as everyone knows about everything immediately. Way back in the day, SNL was way more “underground”, but that was a long time ago, and now it’s just another content generator. They just want eyeballs, and this Wallen guy is pretty popular. Plus, he brings a degree of “gawk” factor. What will he do? How will he act? Will any controversial happen? Perfect for TV.
March 31, 2025 @ 6:49 am
Perhaps Yours Truly can be on SNL ????????????????????
April 1, 2025 @ 6:43 am
Honestly would’ve thought this was cool if it wasn’t for the corny Instagram post.