5 Shocking Facts About Morgan Wallen’s Forgotten Journey On The Voice (And Why He's Thankful He Lost)

Morgan Wallen is arguably the biggest name in country music right now, dominating the charts and breaking streaming records with albums like Dangerous: The Double Album and One Thing at a Time. However, before he became a global superstar, the Sneedville, Tennessee native was just a hopeful 20-year-old contestant on a major reality singing competition. This piece, updated for late 2025, dives deep into the surprising, and often forgotten, details of his short but pivotal run on NBC’s The Voice, a journey he now credits as the key to his massive success.

The story of Morgan Wallen’s time on The Voice in 2014 is a fascinating case study in how "losing" a competition can actually be the greatest launchpad for a career. His brief appearance in Season 6 exposed him to a national audience, connected him with Nashville contacts, and ultimately gave him the freedom to develop his unique sound outside the constraints of a television show contract. It’s a chapter of his life that is rarely discussed but holds the blueprint for his unprecedented rise to the top of the music industry.

Morgan Wallen: Full Biography and Career Profile

Morgan Cole Wallen is an American country music singer and songwriter who has become one of the best-selling artists in the genre's history. His career is marked by record-breaking commercial success despite being punctuated by various public controversies, cementing his status as a cultural phenomenon.

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• Full Name: Morgan Cole Wallen
• Born: May 13, 1993, in Sneedville, Tennessee
• Genre: Country, Country Pop
• Initial Fame: Competed on Season 6 of NBC's The Voice in 2014.
• Breakthrough Hits: "Up Down" (with Florida Georgia Line), "Whiskey Glasses," "Chasin' You."
• Record-Breaking Albums: Dangerous: The Double Album (2021) and One Thing at a Time (2023). The latter has broken numerous records, including passing Adele for a major No. 1 album milestone.
• Major Awards: Won the Country Music Association Award for New Artist of the Year in 2020.
• Recent Success: His 2024 collaboration, "I Had Some Help" with Post Malone, debuted at number one, further solidifying his crossover appeal. He was recently named the best-selling country artist of all time.
• Current Tour: Continues to sell out stadiums across North America on his expansive 'One Night at a Time Tour.'

The Shocking Blind Audition: Pop-Rock, Not Country

One of the most surprising facts about Morgan Wallen's The Voice journey is that he didn't even audition with a country song. Many fans assume that given his current status, he must have started on Team Blake Shelton, but his initial performance was a far cry from the Nashville sound.

1. Wallen Auditioned with a Pop-Rock Hit

For his Season 6 Blind Audition, a 20-year-old Morgan Wallen sang "Collide" by Howie Day, a popular pop-rock song from 2003. This choice is astonishing considering his later career trajectory. His performance was raw and powerful, showcasing a unique gravelly quality in his voice that instantly caught the attention of two coaches: Shakira and Usher.

2. He Was NOT on Team Blake Shelton

Despite the prevailing narrative that every successful country artist on The Voice starts with Blake Shelton, Wallen received no chair turn from the country superstar. Instead, he chose Usher as his coach, starting his journey on Team Usher. This initial pairing with an R&B and pop icon is a critical, often-overlooked detail that highlights the diverse nature of his early musical influences. This experience helped him develop a versatile stage presence.

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3. Adam Levine Saved Him from Elimination

Wallen’s time on Team Usher was short-lived. Following the Battle Rounds, Usher chose another artist, putting Wallen up for a steal. It was Adam Levine, the lead singer of Maroon 5 and a key rival to Blake Shelton, who swooped in to save him. This meant that the future King of Country Music spent the majority of his time on the show under the mentorship of a pop-rock veteran. This "steal" is a significant moment that kept his TV journey alive, even if only for a short time.

The Ultimate Irony: Elimination in the Playoffs

Morgan Wallen’s run on the show ended not in the finals or semi-finals, but in the relatively early stage of the Playoffs. He only appeared on four episodes of Season 6. The circumstances of his exit, and his subsequent attitude toward it, are what make his story a legend in the world of reality TV music competitions.

4. He Was Eliminated After Singing "Stay"

Wallen made it to the Playoffs, the round just before the Live Shows, but was sent home after performing the song "Stay." This was his first and final performance as a member of Team Adam Levine. His elimination in Episode 17 of Season 6 was swift, but it was the end of his TV contract and the beginning of his true, independent career path. The early exit meant he avoided the typical post-show contracts that often stifle an artist's creative freedom.

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5. Wallen is Thankful He Got Kicked Off

In a twist of fate that has become a powerful narrative for aspiring artists, Morgan Wallen has repeatedly stated that being eliminated from The Voice was the best thing that ever happened to his career. He reflected on his journey in a recent interview, explaining that the show’s structure would have forced him to release music he didn't write or fully believe in. The lack of a major label contract immediately following the show allowed him to move to Nashville, hone his songwriting craft, develop his authentic country sound, and sign a deal on his own terms.

He was quoted as saying that his early elimination gave him the freedom to find himself as an artist, focusing on the country sound that would eventually produce chart-topping hits like "You Proof," "Last Night," and "Wasted on You." This ability to control his own narrative is what turned a brief reality TV stint into a springboard for unprecedented success.

The Post-Voice Phenomenon and Legacy

Morgan Wallen's career post-The Voice is a masterclass in resilience and market dominance. While many winners and finalists from the show have struggled to maintain relevance, Wallen's star power has only grown exponentially. His story serves as a powerful reminder that a competition’s outcome does not define an artist's potential.

• Nashville Relocation: Immediately following his elimination, Wallen relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, the heart of country music, to focus on songwriting and networking.
• The Big Machine Deal: He eventually signed with Big Loud Records, a partnership that allowed him to maintain creative control over his country-rock hybrid sound.
• Chart Dominance: Wallen's albums have shattered streaming and sales records, proving that his unique blend of traditional country themes and modern production resonates deeply with a massive audience. Entities like Spotify and Apple Music have documented his unparalleled streaming numbers.
• Topical Authority Keywords: The entire journey, from singing "Collide" to being saved by Adam Levine and ultimately being eliminated in the Playoffs, is a core piece of the "Morgan Wallen" topical authority cluster. This narrative provides a crucial context for understanding his independent spirit and determination to succeed on his own terms.

In conclusion, Morgan Wallen's time on The Voice was a short, four-episode detour that ultimately defined his path. It was a failure on the show's terms, but a monumental win for his career, proving that sometimes, the biggest stars are the ones who get kicked off early.