Morgan Wallen Jokes With Audience At First Concert Since His Arrest

Astrida Valigorsky / Contributor / Getty Images

Morgan Wallen Released A Statement Addressing His Early April Arrest

Morgan Wallen took to the stage on Saturday (April 20) for his first concert since his arrest in early April.

Wallen was arrested in downtown Nashville on April 7 following an incident at Eric Church’s newly opened Chief’s Bar. The singer allegedly threw a chair off the bar’s sixth floor. The chair landed within a few feet of some Metro Nashville police officers.

Videos show Wallen seemingly in good spirits and smiling as he chatted with the officers following his arrest. He also smiled in his mugshot, which the Metro Nashville police shared on X (formerly Twitter).

Wallen was charged with three felony counts of reckless endangerment. He also received one misdemeanor charge for disorderly conduct.

A legal expert who weighed in on Wallen’s case said he could face up to six years in prison, but he has a “very remote” chance of serving that maximum penalty.

The singer broke his silence about his arrest in a statement he released on social media on April 19. He said:

“I didn’t feel right publicly checking in until I made amends with some folks. I’ve touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I’m not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility. I have the utmost respect for the officers working every day to keep us all safe. Regarding my tour, there will be no change.”

He Cracked Some Jokes At His First Concert Back

Wallen returned to the stage on Saturday (April 20) in Oxford, Mississippi at the Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium at Ole Miss. The concert came nearly one year after Wallen abruptly canceled his 2023 Ole Miss concert minutes before he was supposed to go onstage.

Fans were already in the stadium, and his openers HARDY and ERNEST had performed their sets. Then, a message appeared on the screen that read:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, unfortunately, Morgan has lost his voice and is unable to perform tonight. Therefore tonight’s show has been cancelled. Please make your way safely to the stadium exits. Refunds for tonight’s event will be available at point of purchase.”

After that cancellation, Wallen announced he was going on vocal rest.

During his return to Ole Miss this year, Wallen joked about last year’s canceled concert. A message on the screens read:

“Ladies and gentlemen, fortunately Morgan has a full voice and is very able to perform tonight…Therefore, he’s ready to run this s— back and make things right…No reason to make your way to the exits for the next two hours because Morgan and the boys are about to rock Oxford’s face off!!!”

@lafontaine872 @morganwallen show up this time and put on a hell of a show! #oxforduniversity #morganwallen #olemiss #onenightatatimetour #broadwaygirls ♬ original sound – morganwallen

Wallen seemingly made a subtle reference to his recent arrest before performing his song “98 Braves.” He said, “In high school, I almost got kicked off the [baseball] team…I was a little rowdy back then. I guess I’m still a little rowdy now.”

Head below to watch a fan-filmed video of Morgan Wallen joking with the crowd at his Oxford concert.

Wallen will return to the stage on April 28 as one of the headliners of the Stagecoach music festival in Indio, California. The next concert on his One Night at a Time Tour is scheduled for May 2 at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.