Morgan Wallen’s Historic Neyland Stadium Takeover: Two Sold-Out Nights, Country Legends, and Vol Royalty

Morgan Wallen, the East Tennessee native who has skyrocketed to country superstardom, cemented his place in music history with two back-to-back sold-out shows at Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium. Wallen became only the fourth artist in the 103-year history of the venue to headline a concert, joining the ranks of Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, and The Jackson 5. With a record-setting 156,161 fans across two unforgettable nights, Wallen’s homecoming was nothing short of monumental, proving why his CMA Entertainer of the Year nomination is more than justified.

Photo Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time 2024

Night One: Tennessee Pride and Pure Country Energy

On Friday, Sept. 20, the excitement was palpable as Knoxville geared up for a weekend to remember. With "Welcome Home Morgan" signs lighting up hotel lobbies and neon displays scattered across the city, fans donned their best orange and white, eager for Wallen’s historic return. As the gates opened at 4:30 PM, Neyland Stadium began filling with over 70,000 fans, ready to witness a night of Tennessee pride and country music magic.

Wallen wasted no time making his entrance iconic, walking out flanked by none other than the 2024 National Champion Tennessee Volunteers baseball team, led by Coach Tony Vitello with trophy in hand. The stadium reached a staggering 114 decibels as the East Tennessean took the stage, kicking off his 26-song setlist with fan favorites “Ain’t That Some” and “I Wrote The Book.”

Pausing between songs, Wallen took a moment to reflect on the magnitude of the night, saying, “This is one of the most special days of my life. The last time I was in this stadium, I watched Tennessee kick Alabama’s ass. I can't think of a better way to follow that up than playing two sold-out shows here.” It was clear from the start that this wasn’t just another concert for Wallen—this was a homecoming, a celebration of his journey from small-town Tennessee boy to country music megastar.

Always one for surprises, Wallen added his unreleased track, "Love Somebody," into the setlist, announcing its official release date as Oct. 18 to the delight of the crowd. But the real jaw-dropper came when Wallen invited the first country artist he ever saw live in concert, the legendary Eric Church, to join him on stage for an acoustic performance of “Quittin’ Time.” As the show continued, country stars HARDY and ERNEST also made appearances, lighting up the stage for rowdy renditions of “Up Down” and “Flower Shops.”

Photo Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time 2024

Photo Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time 2024

After more than two hours of music and memories, Wallen capped off the night with a jaw-dropping fireworks display, closing with his signature anthem “The Way I Talk.” Fans left the stadium buzzing, already eager for what Night Two had in store.

Photo Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time 2024

Night Two: Vol Legends, Country Icons, and Record-Breaking History

If Night One set the bar, Night Two shattered it. On Sunday, Sept. 22, Wallen delivered yet another historic performance, this time with an even bigger dose of Tennessee pride. Walking out for his second night at Neyland, Wallen was joined by none other than University of Tennessee football legend and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning. Dressed in his iconic No. 16 Vols jersey, Manning led the All Vols walkout, accompanied by current UT football coach Josh Heupel, quarterback Nico Iamaleava, and wide receiver Bru McCoy. The stadium roared with hometown pride as Wallen followed, ready to give Knoxville another night to remember.

Moving to a more intimate B-stage at the back of the venue, Wallen performed a haunting rendition of his 4x-Platinum hit “Cover Me Up.” Reflecting on his journey from Knoxville’s bars to the world’s biggest stages, Wallen told the crowd, “When me and the boys first started playing shows, we started out playing small venues like Cotton Eyed Joe. Now you guys have sold out Neyland. Thank you. One thing I miss about the smaller shows is being able to look everyone in the eye, so this is my way of trying to do that tonight.”

But Wallen wasn’t done surprising his fans just yet. Midway through the night, country powerhouse Miranda Lambert took the stage for a live performance of their No. 1 hit “Thought You Should Know.” Co-written by Lambert, Wallen, and Nicolle Galyon, the heartfelt song, written for Wallen’s mother, took on a special meaning with Lambert by his side. “I brought this song into the room and needed a lady’s perspective,” Wallen shared. “Miranda helped me write this one for my mama.”

Photo Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time 2024

As the show neared its conclusion, Wallen kept the surprises coming, welcoming three-time GRAMMY winner Darius Rucker for a rousing performance of the Diamond-certified classic “Wagon Wheel.” The audience erupted as the two country stars brought the beloved song to life under the Tennessee night sky.

After over two hours of hits, Wallen closed out the weekend with songs from his chart-topping Dangerous: The Double Album, including a special performance of “Talkin' Tennessee” that he added exclusively for his Neyland shows.

A Historic Weekend for Wallen and Knoxville

Morgan Wallen’s two-night run at Neyland Stadium wasn’t just a concert—it was a historic event that showcased the best of East Tennessee pride, country music, and Wallen’s undeniable star power. With 156,161 fans attending across both nights, Wallen shattered the record previously held by The Jackson 5’s three-show run in 1984, making it Knoxville’s largest concert weekend on record.

From his walkouts flanked by National Champion athletes and Peyton Manning, to surprise performances from Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, and Darius Rucker, Wallen pulled out all the stops to make this weekend one for the history books. His heartfelt reflections, family-centered moments, and high-energy performances showed a different side of Wallen—a side that’s not only a CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee but a true entertainer at heart.

As Wallen heads into the final stretch of his tour, one thing is clear: Knoxville will never forget the weekend when their hometown hero returned to Neyland and left it all on the stage. This was more than a concert—it was a moment that confirmed Morgan Wallen’s place among country music’s elite, and as far as Knoxville is concerned, he’s already a champion.