Country Stars Who Faced Legal Trouble In 2024
on Dec 31, 2024
Stars, they are just like us… While that might not exactly be true, their fame does not exempt them from the modern legal system. In fact, navigating conflicts with the law while under the scrutiny of the public eye could arguably make things more difficult than if they were handled privately.
This year, a handful of country music stars found themselves at the center of legal troubles. Some have since been resolved, while other cases are still ongoing. Read on to learn more about what is publicly known about each incident.
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Chris Young
News broke of Chris Young’s arrest early on the morning of January 23rd. He had been taken into custody the night prior after reportedly becoming physical with a TBAC agent at Nashville’s DawgHouse Saloon.
The then-38-year-old was charged with disorderly conduct, assaulting an officer, and resisting arrest. Surveillance footage from inside the bar showed the singer being pushed to the ground by the agent, and concerns were raised over who was actually at fault. Young’s attorney called for the case to be reevaluated.
As a result, the three misdemeanor charges against Chris Young were dismissed by Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk just four days after the arrest.
Darius Rucker
Former Hootie and the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker was arrested in February 2024 for charges that came as a result of a traffic stop one year prior. In February 2023, Rucker was found with controlled substances in Williamson County, Tennessee.
He was charged with three misdemeanors—two for drug possession and one for driving with expired tags. All but one of the possession charges were dropped, to which the “Wagon Wheel” singer pled no contest.
As a result, he was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days of probation. Upon completion of the probation, the charge will be expunged.
Morgan Wallen
Morgan Wallen’s chair-throwing incident was arguably one of the most talked about infractions of the year. He was arrested in Nashville in April after allegedly hurling a chair off of the rooftop of Eric Church‘s Chief’s bar, which landed near two Metro police officers on the ground below.
Wallen was charged with three felony counts of reckless endangerment and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. Those charges were reduced earlier this month when he pled guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment.
The “Last Night” singer was sentenced to seven days in a DUI education center and two years of probation.
Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks is currently facing a highly sensitive lawsuit. The “Friends in Low Places” singer was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed by a former makeup artist “Jane Roe” in California in October. Brooks has denied the allegations, saying he has been “hassled to no end with threats, lies, and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of dollars.”
In the most recent update, Garth Brooks has requested that his case be moved to federal court according to documents filed on November 1st. A legal expert told Entertainment Tonight that this move could mean a “quicker trial date” and a “broader jury pool.”
This case is ongoing and is not expected to be resolved any time soon.
Jamey Johnson
Outlaw country singer Jamey Johnson is reportedly facing drug charges after being pulled over south of Nashville in November. The district attorney’s office overseeing Williamson County confirmed the arrest but has not confirmed the charges.
News Channel 5 reports that the 49-year-old was charged with drug possession and speeding. The incident is still under investigation, and Johnson is expected to appear in court in early 2025.
