Morgan Wallen is heading to Tacoma, Washington in October 2023 for a highly anticipated concert tour. The country music star is known for hits like “Whiskey Glasses” and “Up Down” and has amassed a huge fanbase. Wallen usually brings opening acts and special guests on tour with him to enhance the show. Fans are eagerly awaiting details on who exactly will be joining Wallen on stage in Tacoma.
Who is Morgan Wallen?
For those unfamiliar, Morgan Wallen is a 29-year-old country music singer and songwriter. He was born in Tennessee and first gained recognition on the singing competition show The Voice in 2014. Though he was eliminated during the playoffs, Wallen parlayed his newfound fame into a record deal with Big Loud Records.
His first studio album If I Know Me debuted in 2018 and reached #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The single “Up Down” also went double platinum and helped establish Wallen as a major new voice in country music. His follow-up album Dangerous: The Double Album was released in 2021 and shattered records, spending 10 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
With his rise to stardom, Wallen has also attracted controversy at times for his partying lifestyle. However, his fans connect heavily with his music about small-town life and Southern roots. His concerts are known for being rowdy, high-energy affairs full of hits, covers, and special moments.
The Tacoma Concert
Wallen is currently touring North America on his One Night at a Time World Tour in support of Dangerous. He’ll be making a stop at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, WA on October 21, 2023. This will be Wallen’s first time playing the venue, which holds up to 23,000 people.
The Tacoma show is part of a lengthy Pacific Northwest tour leg that also includes stops in Vancouver, Portland, and Spokane. Given the hype around Wallen and the fact he’s never played Tacoma before, tickets are sure to be in high demand once they go on sale. Fans are already speculating about what special guests or opening acts could share the stage with Wallen to make it an even more special night.
Potential Opening Acts in Tacoma
Wallen tends to bring emerging artists and established stars along with him on tour. Looking at other recent shows on the One Night at a Time Tour provides some clues about who could open the Tacoma concert.
Ernest
One likely supporting act is Ernest. The Nashville-based singer has opened multiple shows so far on Wallen’s tour including dates in New Orleans, Birmingham, and Atlanta. The country/folk artist has an album coming out in 2023 and this tour provides crucial exposure to Wallen’s captive fanbase.
Bailey Zimmerman
Another possibility is Bailey Zimmerman, a rising country/rock singer who’s originally from Illinois. Much like Ernest, he’s already supported Wallen on several One Night at a Time shows this year. Zimmerman’s single “Rock and a Hard Place” is building major momentum and his rowdy energy would warm up the crowd nicely for Wallen.
Parker McCollum
Finally, Parker McCollum seems a logical choice to open the Tacoma show. While not yet confirmed, he’s joining multiple dates on the tour including Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. McCollum has risen rapidly in country music the past two years thanks to his smash album Gold Chain Cowboy. His songs like “Pretty Heart” and “To Be Loved By You” showcase his sensitive songwriting that would pair nicely with Wallen’s style.
Potential Special Guests
In addition to the opener, Morgan Wallen has been bringing out surprise guests during his shows to amp up the excitement. Speculating who he might invite on stage in Tacoma brings up some famous names in the country world and beyond.
Dierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley would be one of the most logical choices for a special guest. He’s an arena headliner in country music himself and has joined Wallen on stage earlier on the One Night at a Time Tour. Their duet mashing up Bentley’s “What Was I Thinkin'” with Wallen’s “Up Down” brought the house down. It would be thrilling to see them unite again in Tacoma.
HARDY
Another strong possibility is up-and-coming artist HARDY. While more focused on songwriting currently, HARDY is starting to make a name for himself as a performer too. He co-wrote multiple songs on Wallen’s Dangerous album including hits “Sand in My Boots” and “Give Heaven Some Hell.” The two have great chemistry together when they’ve teamed up live in the past, so reuniting in Tacoma would make a lot of sense.
Jon Pardi
Looking at other respected modern country artists, Jon Pardi seems a plausible guest picker. He’s another singer with a traditional sound who could fit in smoothly alongside Wallen. Pardi is an energetic stage presence and their voices would likely blend nicely on an upbeat country classic or two. Fans would lose their minds hearing Wallen and Pardi share a stage.
Chris Stapleton
While unlikely due to his tour schedule, a Chris Stapleton appearance would truly be epic. Stapleton and Wallen are both at the very top of Nashville’s hierarchy right now. Stapleton’s throwback country/rock and blue-collar appeal line up perfectly with Wallen’s musical style. Even a brief cameo by Stapleton to sing a song like “Tennessee Whiskey” would make the Tacoma date a show for the history books.
Potential Setlist for Tacoma Show
Since he’s still actively touring behind Dangerous, expect Wallen’s setlist in Tacoma to draw heavily from that massively successful 2021 release. He’ll mix in newer songs, older hits, and choice covers. Based on recent shows, here are some songs fans might hear at the Tacoma concert:
Likely Songs:
- “Up Down”
- “Wasted on You”
- “Whiskey Glasses”
- “Chasin’ You”
- “Sand in My Boots”
- “7 Summers”
- “More Than My Hometown”
Possible Covers:
- “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
- “The Dance” by Garth Brooks
- ” Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks
- “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton
- “Dixieland Delight” by Alabama
A sample setlist based on these choices could look like:
Song | Original Artist |
---|---|
Up Down | Morgan Wallen |
Whiskey Glasses | Morgan Wallen |
Wasted on You | Morgan Wallen |
Sand in My Boots | Morgan Wallen |
Take Me Home, Country Roads | John Denver |
More Than My Hometown | Morgan Wallen |
Chasin’ You | Morgan Wallen |
The Dance | Garth Brooks |
7 Summers | Morgan Wallen |
Friends in Low Places | Garth Brooks |
Conclusion
Morgan Wallen’s upcoming Tacoma show is sure to feature high energy, drinkin’ songs, big hits, and special moments fans will remember forever. While the exact opening and guest details are still TBA, Ernest, Bailey Zimmerman, and Parker McCollum seem likely to handle opening duties. In terms of special guests, Dierks Bentley, HARDY, Jon Pardi, or even Chris Stapleton could reasonably join Wallen on stage for once-in-a-lifetime collaborations. The setlist will draw heavily from Dangerous but also include crowd-pleasing covers. One thing’s for certain—when Morgan comes to Tacoma, he’s gonna make lots of noise!