Morgan Wallen Got the Call to Open for Luke Bryan ‘Out of Nowhere’
Morgan Wallen was one of four lucky acts selected to open Luke Bryan's massive 2018 What Makes You Country XL Tour, and he admits he was surprised by the invitation.
"It kind of came out of nowhere. I didn't have that on my radar," Wallen tells Taste of Country Night's Sam Alex. "I had no clue that I was even in contention for that tour. So for him to hit us up and just show his support was awesome!"
Wallen had only met Bryan a couple times before he was asked to join the 15-date trek alongside Sam Hunt, Carly Pearce and Jon Pardi, but he anticipates that he and the "Rain Is a Good Thing" hitmaker will grow closer out on the road.
"I think we're going to spend the summer getting to know each other," he says of Bryan, adding that he's "super grateful" for the opportunity and that: "[I'm] really looking forward to it."
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In addition to opening for one of country music's top acts, Wallen will also get to fulfill a childhood dream when they perform at a multitude of historic baseball stadiums across the country, including Chicago's Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and a stop at Fenway Park, home of his favorite Boston Red Sox. The "Up Down" singer almost entered the sport professionally — he played baseball from the age of four all the way through high school, both as a pitcher and short stop.
"I grew up wanting to play baseball in those places so to be on this side, it feels pretty cool," he says. "It's going to be awesome."
The country newcomer was on track to play college ball, too, but after tearing his UCL, he had to trade the bat for a guitar. Now, Wallen is establishing himself as one of the genre's most promising rising acts, and he's making friends in high places. The singer's debut single also includes his new buddies, Florida Georgia Line.
Bryan, Wallen and the rest of the crew head out on the What Makes You Country XL Tour all summer, kicking off May 31 in Toronto and carrying on through the fall.
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