Embattled Country Star Morgan Wallen Set to Return for a Performance in Oxford
After surviving a year coated with controversy, chart-topping country superstar, Morgan Wallen, is gearing up for a redemption performance at the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford on Saturday, April 20, 2024. This concert marks his second appearance at Ole Miss, following a disappointing act in 2023 where Wallen failed so show up for the second show, citing voice loss – a situation that left his multitude of fans severely discontented and sparked widespread questions concerning Wallen’s reliability as a performer.
Expectations and Speculations
Talking about the upcoming concert, many have posited this appearance as a golden chance for Wallen to vindicate himself. Just the previous week on Monday, April 8, Wallen found himself on the wrong side of the law when he was charged with three felony counts for hurling a chair off the sixth story of the newly established bar called ‘Chief’s,’ owned by Eric Church, situated in Nashville. However, having paid a $15,250 bond, Wallen was set free the same night.
While some fans, who have unswervingly stood by him through all the adversity, are teeming with desire to witness the star performer set the stage ablaze one more time, others are apprehensive. For instance, a junior allied health studies major, Lauren Heenan, expressed her excitement regarding the performance but simultaneously admitted her skepticism about whether or not Wallen will actually make it to the stage.
“I don’t care what happened, I still want to see him — if I can see him,” she said.
Parade of Doubts
On the other hand, some fans have entirely lost faith in Wallen’s capability as a performer. In light of the recent absurd events, sophomore biology major Baylee Williamson confesses her conundrum regarding trust in Wallen.
She said, “Between this past performance when he may or may not have gotten too drunk to perform and now getting arrested, this probably isn’t a good look for him, and I feel like I can’t count on him playing again.”
Alterations in Campus Routing and Facilities
In reference to Wallen’s show, the University of Mississippi circulated a campus update on Friday, April 12, stating the impacts on building access, parking and traffic areas. A number of facilities across the campus will be rendered inaccessible as the institution prepares for the concert.
The only ones allowed to park on the campus premises will be individuals with parking passes for the show, residential parking permit holders and staff members who have obtained a prior permit to work on campus during the show days. These restrictive measures will be in effect from Friday, April 19, at 1:30 p.m. and will last until the end of the day on Saturday.
“Those with faculty/staff parking permits and student commuter permits may not use them to access campus on Saturday, April 20. Residential Parking permit holders will be able to (have) access to parking near residence halls. The Jackson Avenue Center lot will be open for Residential permit parking and shuttles will run between JAC and the heart of campus,” said UM News and Media on Friday.
On the day of the concert, the J.D. Williams Library will be closed for the entire day. Additionally, on-campus dining services will operate on regular hours, except for the Pavilion that will close on Thursday, April 18, and reopen on Tuesday, April 23. Most campus facilities are likely to be back on their normal operating schedule from Sunday, April 21.
