Mary Evans
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
After a tumultuous year, country music sensation Morgan Wallen will make a highly anticipated return to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium this Saturday, April 20. This will be his second appearance at Ole Miss following his appearance in 2023.
Wallen’s performance last year left fans disappointed when he failed to show up for the second show due to having “lost his voice.” This left many questioning Wallen’s reliability.
Despite the setback, Wallen plans to make amends with this upcoming show. Many view Wallen’s appearance as an opportunity to redeem himself.
Last week, on Monday, April 8, Wallen was charged with three felony counts early in the morning for throwing a chair from the sixth story of Eric Church’s new bar, Chief’s, in Nashville.
Wallen was released the same night after paying a $15, 250 bond.
Fans who have stood by him through thick and thin hope that they can see him perform once again.
Junior allied health studies major Lauren Heenan is excited for the performance but is doubtful of whether or not Wallen will actually show up.
“I don’t care what happened, I still want to see him — if I can see him,” Heenan said. Others have lost faith in him completely. Given the recent events, sophomore biology major
Baylee Williamson feels like she can no longer trust Wallen as a performer.
“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,” Williamson said.
On Friday, April 12, UM sent out a campus update regarding Wallen’s show.
“Building access, parking and traffic areas across campus will be impacted before, during and after the Morgan Wallen concert scheduled for Saturday, April 20 in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Stadium gates open at 4 p.m., and the show starts at 5:30 p.m.”
Many facilities on campus will shut down in preparation for the concert. The only people allowed to park on campus will be those with parking passes for the show, residential parking permit holders and faculty members with a pre-authorized request to work on campus. These restrictions will begin on Friday, April 19, at 1:30 p.m. and continue through the end of the day 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,” UM News and Media said on Friday.
The J.D. Williams Library will be closed all day Saturday. Dining spots on campus will keep the same hours, except for the Pavilion. The Pavilion will close on Thursday, April 18, and reopen on Tuesday, April 23.
Most campus facilities will start operating again on Sunday, April 21.
