Morgan Wallen has made one 12-year-old’s dream come true. Through his organization, the Morgan Wallen Foundation, the singer-songwriter teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mississippi to surprise a young fan battling cancer—giving her the chance to meet her favorite country music star and see him perform live in concert.
Just days after completing chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Jayla Hibbler and her family got the opportunity to watch the “Last Night” singer as he took the stage at the University of Mississippi’s Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on April 20 during a stop on his extended “One Night At A Time World Tour.”
“After ringing the chemo bell on Monday, the radiation bell on Wednesday, her wish was granted on Saturday in Oxford, MS to meet her favorite artist, @morganwallen,” the statement continued.
On April 18, the day after ringing the bell to mark her last day of radiation therapy, Ms. Hibbler stopped by the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, location of Cavender’s Western Outfitter, a chain of western wear clothing stores, assuming that her family was taking her shopping. However, in addition to getting a new cowboy-inspired outfit, she was met by staff from Make-A-Wish Mississippi, who shared that her wish to meet Mr. Wallen in person had been granted.
“With new custom boots and an outfit, she was styling and smiling,” the Morgan Wallen Foundation wrote on Instagram. “We’re so happy to be a part of her story.”
Now that she is on the other side of her cancer journey, Ms. Hibbler told WDAM7 that navigating her health struggles has taught her the true meaning of strength and resilience.
Morgan Wallen’s Return to Ole Miss
Mr. Wallen’s recent concert at the Ole Miss stadium was highly anticipated. The singer was originally scheduled to perform at the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for two consecutive nights in April of last year. However, following a successful performance on the first evening, which featured openers Hardy, Ernest, and Bailey Zimmerman, Mr. Wallen was forced to cancel on the second night after losing his voice.“After last night’s show I started losing my voice so I spent the day resting up, talking to my doctor and working through my vocal exercises trying to get better. I really thought I'd be able to take the stage and it kills me to deliver this so close to showtime, but my voice is shot and I am unable to sing,” he wrote in an Instagram story at the time, per Business Insider.
“All tickets will be refunded at point of purchase,” he added. “I am so sorry, I promise you guys I tried everything I could.”
Mr. Wallen’s April 20 show, which saw the return of opener Mr. Zimmerman as well as singers Nate Smith and Lauren Watkins, also marked his first performance following his arrest in Nashville, Tennessee, earlier this month.
The Tennessee native was detained on April 7 for allegedly throwing a chair off the six-story rooftop bar of Chief’s, located in downtown Nashville. On April 19, he took to X to share a statement, breaking his silence about his arrest.
The Morgan Wallen Foundation
Mr. Wallen, who gained national recognition competing on the sixth season of “The Voice,” established his eponymous foundation in 2021 with a mission of helping youth gain access to music and sports—two of the singer’s favorite subjects when he was in school.In 1996, when the country crooner was just three years old, he began singing in his father’s church, later learning how to play the violin and piano. He went on to play baseball but ultimately chose to pursue music, picking up the guitar in 2010 after an elbow injury derailed his baseball career.
“Without sports and music, I don’t know where I’d be,” he continued. “I know my life would look a whole lot different, so I want to give great opportunities to kids in these areas.”
In addition to increasing access to music and sports programs, the foundation “is also committed to helping communities in times of crisis,” from offering supplies during natural disasters to providing meals and groceries to families in need.
