Morgan Wallen is set to perform at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts on July 7, 2023 as part of his One Night at a Time World Tour. As one of country music’s biggest stars right now, there is a lot of anticipation around who will be chosen as the opening acts for Wallen’s Fenway show. Opening acts are an important part of any major concert, as they help set the tone for the night and warm up the crowd before the headliner. For an artist as popular as Morgan Wallen playing a historic venue like Fenway, his team is likely putting a lot of thought into curating an opening lineup that will complement Wallen’s music and get the fans energized. Here’s an overview of what we know so far about who might be opening for Morgan Wallen at Fenway Park.
Frontrunners for the Opening Act Spot
While nothing has been officially confirmed yet by Wallen’s team, there are a few names being speculated as strong possibilities to land the opening slot at Fenway based on tour schedules, musical styles, and existing relationships with Wallen.
Top predicted openers for Morgan Wallen Fenway include:
- Lainey Wilson – Early rumors suggest emerging country artist Lainey Wilson could be a frontrunner for the Fenway gig. Wilson is known for songs like “Things a Man Oughta Know” and “LA”. She’s currently opening for Wallen on other tour dates and their styles mesh well, so she seems like a natural choice.
- Hardy – Another strong contender is Nashville singer-songwriter Hardy, who co-wrote many of Wallen’s hit songs. Hardy has also opened for Wallen before, just kicked off his own headlining tour, and has an upcoming album – making the timing work well.
- Carrie Underwood – While a slim chance, there’s buzz that superstar Carrie Underwood could make an appearance as she’s also touring in 2023. Underwood would bring extra star power and appeal to the show.
- Ernest – Up-and-coming traditional country artist Ernest would be a solid fit as he just wrapped opening for Wallen on his 2022 tour. Ernest’s recent singles like “Flower Shops” feature a similar sound to Wallen’s deeper cuts.
- Bailey Zimmerman – Fast-rising newcomer Bailey Zimmerman has gained attention for his introspective songwriting, like Wallen. While less known, his talent makes him an interesting choice for the Fenway spotlight.
Of course, there’s always a chance someone unexpected could end up in the coveted opening spot when the official announcement comes. But Wilson, Hardy, Underwood, Ernest, and Zimmerman seem to be the best bets based on all currently available information and speculation.
What to Expect from the Opening Act at Fenway
Regardless of who ultimately scores the opening gig, they will likely play a key role in making Wallen’s Fenway show an epic night for fans. Based on typical country concert opening sets and what these potential openers would bring to the table, we can expect:
- A 30-45 minute opening set length
- High energy songs to get the crowd pumped up
- Majority original songs, with possible covers mixed in
- A preview of their own music style to complement Wallen’s vibe
- Efforts to engage with the crowd between songs
- Expression of gratitude for the opportunity to open for Wallen
- A “passed the baton” moment at the end handing over the show to Wallen
The opening act’s goal will be setting the stage for an awesome night while also leaving fans wanting more of their own music. It takes skill to balance those objectives, which is why Wallen’s team is likely being very thoughtful about who gets this special chance.
Why the Opening Act Matters
While Morgan Wallen is undoubtedly the reason the Fenway Park crowd will show up, his opening act still plays an important role in the live show experience. Here are some of the key reasons why:
- Warms up the audience – The opening set gradually gets fans energized and builds momentum leading up to the headliner’s arrival on stage.
- Sets the tone – The opener’s musical vibe and energy primes the crowd for the overall feeling of Wallen’s set.
- Smooth logistics – During lengthy changeovers between acts, energy can lag. A good opening set makes the transition seamless.
- Showcases new talent – Opening for big names gives up-and-comers valuable exposure to new listeners.
- Can become a tradition – If fans respond well, certain openers become regularly paired with headliners.
While Wallen will obviously be the highlight, a strategic opening set gets the night off on the right foot and takes the audience experience to the next level.
Morgan Wallen’s History with Opening Acts
Looking back at who Morgan Wallen has chosen to open his concerts and tours over the years offers some helpful context around his potential decision for Fenway. Here are a few standouts:
- 2021 Dangerous Tour – Hardy opened every show, establishing them as frequent collaborators.
- 2022 Whiskey Glasses Roadshow – Ernest and Larry Fleet split opening duties, bringing traditional country sounds.
- 2022 One Night at a Time Tour – Lainey Wilson has opened so far, continuing her momentum alongside Wallen.
- 2022 Country Thunder – Tyler Braden and Ashland Craft supported one-off shows, providing indie-edge.
While not absolute, these previous examples suggest Wallen tends to choose:
- Up-and-coming artists who complement his musical style and image
- Singers he’s already worked with and has a rapport with
- A consistent opener for full tours, versus variety for one-offs
That likely hints at qualities and qualifications his team is seeking for Fenway Park and the rest of the 2023 World Tour. Fans can make educated guesses for who the Fenway opener might be by looking at who fits those tendencies.
The Announcement Speculation
Wallen’s team has not yet officially revealed the opening act for Fenway or confirmed a date for the announcement. However, based on the timeline for his past tours, industry experts speculate the news could come any day now.
The best predictions for when Morgan Wallen will announce his Fenway opening act include:
- Late March/Early April 2023 – Announcements for Wallen’s 2021 and 2022 tours came around 8 weeks before the first show, which would be late March for a July 7 Fenway concert if repeating the pattern.
- April 13, 2023 – This is when Wallen officially revealed Ernest and Larry Fleet as 2022 tour openers, so he could follow tradition.
- Mid-April 2023 – Allows enough time for promotion of the chosen opener prior to the show.
- May 2023 – An outlier option is holding off on revealing the opener until 1-2 months pre-show.
While fans will have to wait for official word, the anticipation is building with the opening act announcement expected any week or month now leading up to the big Fenway show on July 7.
Projecting the Full Lineup Timeline
Morgan Wallen’s headlining set will likely start around 9pm, based on typical concert timelines. Working backward from there, we can project a rough timeline for the whole Fenway Park lineup on July 7:
Time | Lineup |
---|---|
5:30 pm | Parking lots open |
6:30 pm | Stadium gates open |
7:15 pm | To be announced opening act takes the stage |
8:00 pm | Opening set finishes |
8:30 pm | Morgan Wallen begins his headlining set |
11:00 pm | Concert concludes, attendees begin exiting Fenway Park |
Of course, this is only an estimate, with the exact timing subject to change. But it provides a general idea of how Morgan Wallen’s big Fenway Park show is likely to be scheduled on the day of July 7 once the opening act is solidified.
Conclusion
In summary, Morgan Wallen’s upcoming July 7 concert at the iconic Fenway Park baseball stadium is slated to be a major highlight of his 2023 tour. While Wallen is the obvious headliner fans are coming to see, speculation is heating up around which act will get the important opening slot to kick off the show in Boston.
Names like Lainey Wilson, Hardy, Ernest, and others are being floated as likely frontrunners based on relationships with Wallen, tour schedules, and musical style. Regardless of who gets picked, they will play a key role energizing the crowd and setting the tone before handing things over to Wallen. With an announcement from Wallen’s team expected very soon, the buzz continues building around who will get the career spotlight of opening Fenway Park for one of country music’s biggest stars this summer.