Country music sensation Morgan Wallen was arrested in Nashville, Tennessee, following an incident at a rooftop bar on Sunday night. The court has charged Mr. Wallen, aged 30, with three counts of reckless endangerment and one count of disorderly conduct. This development comes shortly after the commencement of Mr. Wallen’s “One Night At A Time” 2024 tour, which kicked off with performances in Indianapolis.
According to an arrest report, Nashville police officers stationed in front of Chief’s Bar on Broadway witnessed a chair plummeting from above, narrowly missing them. This incident unfolded following the grand opening of Chief’s, the bar owned by Eric Church, on Friday, April 5.
Staff at the establishment informed law enforcement that Mr. Wallen had allegedly hurled the chair from the sixth floor. The arrest report further noted video evidence purportedly showing Mr. Wallen “lunging and throwing an object over the roof.”
The country music star was booked into Metro Jail on Monday morning but was released just hours later.
Mr. Wallen first gained recognition on season six of “The Voice.” Since then, he’s released multiple albums with chart-topping hits like “Whiskey Glasses” and “7 Summers.” His latest album, “One Thing at a Time” (2023), achieved massive success, topping the Billboard 200 chart and solidifying him as a major music star. Mr. Wallen has won numerous awards, including 14 Billboard Music Awards and an Academy of Country Music Award.
“At 10:53p Sunday evening Morgan Wallen was arrested in downtown Nashville for reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. He is cooperating fully with authorities,” his attorney noted.
Mr. Wallen’s initial court appearance is scheduled for the morning of May 3, coinciding with a slated concert at Nissan Stadium in Nashville later that evening.
This comes as Mr. Wallen announced plans to open his own bar in Nashville called “This Bar and Tennessee Kitchen” per his official website. The six-story venue, slated to open in 2024, is described as a bar, restaurant, and live music concept.
Mr. Wallen is no stranger to controversy. In February 2021, a video surfaced showing Mr. Wallen using a racial slur. This sparked outrage and led to his suspension by his record label, his songs being pulled from radio stations, and disqualification from award shows. While he apologized, the incident significantly tarnished his image.
In October 2020, just days before his scheduled appearance on Saturday Night Live, Mr. Wallen was seen partying maskless and disregarding COVID protocols. This resulted in SNL canceling his performance, though he did appear later that year.
