The rejection was a stunning blow” — Morgan Wallen proved Adam Levine and Usher wrong with a debut album that broke a Billboard 63-year country chart record
Posted November 15, 2025
“The rejection was a stunning blow” — Morgan Wallen proved Adam Levine and Usher wrong with a debut album that broke a Billboard 63-year country chart record.
In 2014, a then-21-year-old Morgan Wallen from Sneedville, Tennessee, auditioned for Season 6 of The Voice with high hopes, but his experience ended in a “stunning blow” that became the most crucial turning point of his career. Wallen was eliminated after being passed between teams, with coaches
Usher and Adam Levine ultimately deciding his voice was “not distinctive enough” for the pop-country genre at the time.
The Failure That Fuelled an Empire
The abrupt rejection during the Playoff Rounds left Wallen feeling like a “complete failure,” causing him to briefly contemplate giving up music entirely and returning to baseball, a sport he was passionate about and played in high school.
Instead of accepting the critique of the industry gatekeepers, Wallen used the dismissal as fuel, moving to Nashville with a commitment to cultivate the unique sound the coaches claimed he lacked:
Independent Start: Wallen rejected the traditional reality TV path. He dedicated himself to developing his conversational, country-rock style, independently releasing his debut EP, Stand Alone, in 2015. The single
“Spin You Around” gained organic traction and was eventually certified Double Platinum by the RIAA, years after its release.
The Record That Proved Them Wrong
Wallen’s persistence culminated in the release of his debut studio album,
If I Know Me, in April 2018. This album, featuring a blend of rock energy and modern country storytelling, became the ultimate vindication of his talent and independence.
Key Chart-Topping Singles: The album slowly but surely delivered massive radio hits, including “Up Down” (featuring Florida Georgia Line), “Whiskey Glasses,” and “Chasin’ You,” all of which eventually reached Number 1 on the Country Airplay charts.
The 63-Year Billboard Record: Wallen’s dedication to building a lasting fan base over overnight fame resulted in a historic chart feat. In August 2020, an astounding 114 weeks after its debut,
If I Know Me reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. This shattered the chart’s 63-year record for the longest climb to the top spot in the chart’s history (breaking the previous record of 89 weeks, held by Hunter Hayes’ self-titled album).
This achievement demonstrated that the “one that got away” from The Voice had developed the most potent and enduring voice in modern country music, achieving chart dominance on his own terms.
BREAKING: “ONE LAST RIDE” — George Strait Says Goodbye to the Stage
“ONE LAST RIDE” — THE KING OF COUNTRY TAKES HIS FINAL BOW
The news swept across the nation like a wave —
George Strait has officially said goodbye. After more than five decades of defining what country music sounds and feels like, the King is saddling up for one final ride — a farewell performance that promises to be as heartfelt as the man himself.
For fans, this isn’t just the announcement of a concert. It’s the closing of a story that has stretched across generations. From “Amarillo by Morning” to “The Cowboy Rides Away,”
George Strait’s songs have become woven into the very fabric of American life — the soundtrack to love stories, heartbreaks, and the quiet dignity of everyday living.
Now, the man who turned simplicity into poetry and humility into legend will take the stage one last time, not as a performer chasing applause, but as a craftsman saying thank you — to the music, to the people, and to the life it gave him.
Fans across the country are already describing it as the end of an era. “It feels bigger than a farewell tour,” one longtime listener wrote. “It feels like the final chapter of something sacred — the sound of home.”
Those close to the country icon say the final show will honor everything George Strait has stood for: tradition, loyalty, and the unshakable bond between artist and audience. “He doesn’t see it as a goodbye,” a family friend shared. “He sees it as a thank-you — one last moment to stand under the lights and give his heart back to the people who gave him theirs.”
As anticipation builds, one truth has become clear: this isn’t just a performance. It’s a moment in history — the kind that will be remembered long after the last note fades, when the lights dim, and the crowd whispers that bittersweet truth every fan feels deep down.
The cowboy is riding away — but his songs will never leave us.
