The $100 Million Failure: 5 Reasons Morgan Wallen's Elimination From The Voice Was The Best Thing To Happen To His Career

As of December 2025, Morgan Wallen is arguably the biggest name in country music, selling out stadium tours and shattering streaming records with albums like Dangerous: The Double Album and One Thing At A Time. Yet, the foundation of his monumental career success is built on a surprising "failure": his short-lived, unceremonious exit from a major television talent show. It's a journey that proves sometimes, the biggest setbacks are the necessary launchpads for true, authentic stardom.

The story of Morgan Wallen on The Voice Season 6 is a fascinating case study in artistic identity versus reality TV constraints. His time on the show was brief, controversial, and, most importantly, formative, setting the stage for his eventual pivot back to his roots—a move that would turn a promising young singer from Sneedville, Tennessee, into a global superstar.

Morgan Wallen: A Complete Biography and Profile

Morgan Cole Wallen was born on May 13, 1993, in Sneedville, Tennessee. Growing up in a small, faith-based community, his early life was steeped in a mix of influences that would later define his sound. His father was a pastor, and his mother was a teacher, but music was a constant presence in the home. Wallen initially pursued a different path, earning a baseball scholarship, but an elbow injury ended his athletic dreams, redirecting him fully toward his musical passion.

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• Full Name: Morgan Cole Wallen
• Born: May 13, 1993 (Age 32 as of 2025)
• Hometown: Sneedville, Tennessee
• Parents: Lesli Wallen (Mother) and Tommy Wallen (Father)
• Early Career Start: Competed on The Voice Season 6 in 2014.
• Breakthrough Songs: "Whiskey Glasses," "Chasin' You," "7 Summers"
• Record-Breaking Albums: Dangerous: The Double Album (2021), One Thing At A Time (2023)
• Genre: Country, Pop-Country
• Children: One son, Indigo "Indie" Wilder (with ex-fiancée KT Smith)

His mother, Lesli Wallen, played a pivotal role in his career launch, secretly signing him up for the audition for the popular NBC singing competition. This single act of parental faith changed the trajectory of his life, introducing him to the national stage for the very first time.

The Unexpected Journey on The Voice Season 6 (2014)

In 2014, a then 20-year-old Morgan Wallen appeared on The Voice Season 6, a fact that is often forgotten by new fans but remains a crucial chapter in his story. His initial Blind Audition was a two-chair turn, a modest success that belied his future dominance.

The Blind Audition and Coach Carousel

For his Blind Audition, Wallen performed Howie Day's 2003 pop-rock hit "Collide." It was an interesting choice for a future country star, showcasing his versatility but also hinting at the identity conflict to come. Both Usher and Adam Levine turned their chairs, and Wallen ultimately chose Team Usher.

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His journey through the competition was a brief, winding path:

• Battle Rounds: Wallen was paired with Brothers Walker, and they performed Avicii's "Hey Brother." Usher chose Brothers Walker as the winner, eliminating Wallen from his team.
• The Steal: In a twist of fate, Adam Levine immediately used his "Steal" to bring Wallen onto his team, giving him a second chance. This move kept him in the competition and placed him under the guidance of one of the show's biggest stars.
• The Elimination: Wallen’s time on Team Adam was short. He was eliminated during the Playoffs round. He performed a version of the song "Stay" by Florida Georgia Line, a performance that many fans now revisit with a critical eye, noting a difference in his vocal style compared to his later work.

He did not make it to the live shows, a fact that, at the time, must have felt like a devastating failure for the young artist.

How The Voice "Failure" Became His Biggest Success

Wallen's elimination, far from being a career-ender, became the catalyst for his authentic rise. The singer has since spoken about his time on the show with gratitude, but also with a clear understanding of why he didn't win—and why that was a blessing.

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1. The Pop vs. Country Conflict

The most telling detail from Wallen’s recollections is the constant push from the show's producers and coaches to steer him away from his country roots. Wallen openly admitted he wanted to sing country music, but the show repeatedly urged him to perform pop songs. This creative misalignment meant he was never truly showcasing his authentic self or genre, leading to performances that felt "off" or "tired," as some online commentators have noted when comparing his early performances to his current powerful vocals.

2. Freedom from the Winner's Curse

It is a well-known phenomenon that many winners of major singing competitions struggle to maintain long-term success, often due to restrictive contracts and pressure to conform to a pre-packaged image. By being eliminated early, Wallen avoided the "Winner's Curse." He was free to sign with a label that believed in his vision—Big Loud Records—and to immediately pivot back to the genre he was born to sing. This allowed him to develop his sound organically, leading to hits like "Whiskey Glasses" and "Chasin' You."

3. Forging a Unique Identity

His elimination forced Wallen to rely on his own creative instincts. His subsequent career trajectory was defined by an unapologetic commitment to his East Tennessee roots and a blend of traditional and modern country music. Had he won, he might have been molded into a generic pop star. Instead, he became the unique, controversial, and hugely successful artist he is today, known for his signature mullet and distinctive vocal rasp.

4. The Power of the Underdog Narrative

The story of the artist who was rejected by the establishment only to become a global phenomenon is a powerful narrative that resonates deeply with fans. For many, his early exit from The Voice validates his authenticity. It positions him as an outsider who succeeded on his own terms, not on the terms of a television network. This underdog status has only fueled his popularity and topical authority in the country music space.

5. The Timing Was Right for Country

Wallen's post-Voice career perfectly coincided with a massive surge in the popularity of modern, genre-bending country music. His 2021 album, Dangerous: The Double Album, became one of the most streamed albums in history, dominating the charts for months and cementing him as a major commercial force. His "failure" in 2014 gave him the necessary time to mature as an artist and hit the market at the exact moment it was ready for his sound.

In hindsight, Morgan Wallen's journey on The Voice was less a setback and more a necessary detour. The show gave him exposure, but his elimination gave him the creative freedom to become the record-breaking country music superstar he is today. It’s a compelling reminder that the path to success is rarely a straight line, and sometimes, the biggest rejection is the greatest redirection.