Controversial star Morgan Wallen named Carolina Country Music Fest headliner for 2023

Morgan Wallen will be a headline act at next year’s Carolina Country Music Fest, organizers announced Friday.

The 29-year-old multi-platinum hitmaker from Tennessee rose to prominence in 2015 when he appeared on The Voice’s sixth season, but he also has courted controversy on his way to chart-topping success.

“With more than twenty awards and nominations since his debut in 2015, Wallen has become a highly accredited artist throughout the country music industry,” the festival said in a statement. “The Carolina Country Music Fest is honored to host Morgan on the shores of Myrtle Beach in June of 2023.”

The city has no affiliation with the festival or its management.

In February 2021, Wallen was caught on camera using the N-word and other expletives, leading to heavy criticism from fellow artists, a contract suspension from his label and a ban from that year’s Billboard Music Awards and ineligibility from American County Music Awards competition.

Wallen publicly apologized and later donated $500,000 to Black-led organizations.

CCMF spokeswoman Chastity Todd did not immediately respond to an email seeking further comment on Wallen’s addition to the 2023 lineup.

Two months after Wallen’s comments, country music artist Holly G. launched Black Opry, a collective that highlights the work of Black artists in the field.

“While it’s disappointing to see he hasn’t been held accountable in any meaningful way, I think I’ve said just about everything I have to say about it,” she told The Sun News Friday.

The 2023 Carolina Country Music Fest runs June 8-11 at Myrtle Beach’s downtown boardwalk.

This year’s concert was headlined by Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Keith Urban.

This story was originally published July 22, 2022 at 12:00 AM.