While it’s clear Morgan Wallen fans are refusing to participate in the performer’s mainstream cancelation, so are other musicians.
A leaked video that was secretly-recorded by a neighbor and released to the tabloids in February showed Wallen on an alcohol-induced bender calling his white friend a “p****-a** n****,” a term one might hear in any number of popular rap songs.
Wallen, who swiftly issued numerous apologies, was immediately pulled by Cumulus Media’s 400-plus stations, SiriusXM, and Pandora and disqualified from performing at or receiving any recognition at the Academy of Country Music Awards (CMAs).
Here are some of the musical talents and insiders publicly supporting Wallen:
Miranda Lambert
After Wallen posted a video of an unreleased song about his mother to Instagram on Sunday, singer and songwriter Miranda Lambert commented on the post thanking Wallen for allowing her to co-write the song with him.
“Thanks for letting me and [Nicolle Galyon]write this special song with you,” Lambert wrote. “Sounds great.”
Music Mayhem Magazine reported:
On Saturday, May 22, Wallen shared an emotion-filled new song that comes in the form of a phone call to his mom, Lesli Wallen. The personal lyrics find the singer giving his mom an update on his life and all of the things that he has gone through recently. … Previously, it was unknown who wrote the song other than Wallen, that is until yesterday (May 23), when Lambert commented on the photo thanking Wallen for letting her and Nicolle Galyon co-write the song with him.
Jason Aldean
Singer and songwriter Jason Aldean has been openly supportive of Wallen since the scandal, consistently posting messages of support and praise for the 27-year-old on his Instagram posts.
Moreover, in March, the “Dirt Road Anthem” singer said he was hopeful Wallen would return to the music scene “sooner than later.” Taste of Country reported:
Jason Aldean says he’s looking forward to seeing Morgan Wallen get back into full swing in his career after getting sidelined by a headline-making scandal in February. In a new interview, Aldean calls Morgan his current favorite artist, adding that he wants him to return “sooner than later.”
Diplo
DJ Diplo, real name Thomas Wesley Pentz, has also openly supported Wallen via social media. Notably, the pair know each other from a past collaboration on a Wallen song called “Heartless.”
Jake Owen
Country music star Jake Owen has posted messages of support for Wallen following the deplatforming, too.
For example, commenting on a lengthy apologetic and reflective letter from Wallen, Owen wrote: “As 2pac once said… ‘Change is good for any of us. I ain’t mad atcha. I ain’t got nothin but love for ya. Do your thang boy.'”
Additionally, singers Chris Lane, Dustin Lynch, Lathan Warlick, Cole Swindell, Colbie Caillat, and Thomas Rhett, songwriter Earnest Keith Smith, and founder and CEO of Back Blocks Music Rakiyah Marshall have all posted messages on Wallen’s social media accounts post-deplatforming. The messages range from birthday wishes to praise for his music and public reflection.
Marshall even published her own Instagram post dedicated to Wallen soon after the fallout. Captioning a photo of the pair, she wrote:
This guy has a heart. Maybe a little ignorant, for sure makes a lot of mistakes, may need a little extra love & care, has lost his fight with alcohol, but by no means is a racist.
Has a lot to learn about his missteps and it’s going to take a while. He is not perfect nor does he get a pass for his reckless behavior. But he does not deserve this and I’ll stand by that. I’m not giving up on him.
Hope the world gets to see the person I know in that picture
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