Morgan Wallen Foundation Celebrates Re-Opening of Historic Parkwood Ballpark

Morgan Wallen, through his Morgan Wallen Foundation, along with Major League Baseball & MLB Players Association Youth Development Foundation (MLB-MLBPA YDF) and other local funders, partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville to unveil the newly revitalized historic baseball and softball complex, Parkwood Community Club, in north Nashville on Wednesday (Aug. 13). The renovation project for the ballfields includes new field turf, Musco lights, fences, dugouts, scoreboards, parking, concrete and roadways for two youth fields.
 
The project has been a two-year-long effort following MWF’s $500k donation in 2023. This ballfield renovation is part of a broader community effort led by Habitat for Humanity, which encompasses the creation of a 59-acre Metro Park and the construction of 26 Habitat homes.
 
“Growing up, I spent countless hours out on the diamond. Those hours taught me life lessons I still hold close today and helped me realize the value baseball can have on youth,” said Wallen. “Being a part of this project and revitalizing these Parkwood fields - right here in Nashville - to ensure the kids have a place to play for many years to come is something I am really proud of.”
 
“Revitalizing these ballfields was a massive team effort led by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, and we couldn't be more thrilled to see them in fighting form for hundreds of kids to enjoy and play ball. It's a dream come true,” adds Kathleen Flaherty, Executive Director of MWF. “This was the foundation’s first field restoration grant and we couldn’t be happier with the results.”
 
To commemorate MWF’s donation, two of the fields have been named in Wallen’s honor: Boots Field, named after his Mamaw Boots, who he was extremely close to; and Norris Field, named for Norris Lake in Norris, Tennessee, where Wallen spent time growing up.
 
The Parkwood Community Club has produced notable athletes, including Mookie Betts and Golden Tate. It was the site of Nashville’s first integrated baseball games in the 1970s, and in the 1980s, Parkwood became Tennessee’s first athletic club to be owned and operated by a minority Board—one of only five in the U.S.
 
This year, the revitalized fields inspired three Parkwood teams to reach state competitions. Several teams competed in the Dixie Youth World Series, including The Parkwood All Stars, who placed third out of 42 teams.

Photo IDs L to R: Danny Herron, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville; Sherry Stinson, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville; Kyonzte Toombs, Metro Councilmember District 2; Lesli Wallen, MWF; Kathleen Flaherty, MWF; Mayor Freddie O’Connell; Thurman Bryant, Parkwood Board Chair; Sophie Speer, Speer Foundation; Christi Speer, Speer Foundation; Adam English, Nashville Sounds; Charles White, (Reggie White’s father) | Photo Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville

About Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF)
Morgan Wallen Foundation supports programs for youth in the areas of sports and music, both a constant presence in Morgan Wallen’s life. Playing sports instilled in him the values and benefits of team, discipline, hard work and commitment. Exposure to music at a young age has led him to become the artist, songwriter and entertainer he is today. MWF is also committed to being there for communities in times of need. Whether it’s providing supplies in the wake of natural disasters, meals for first responders, distributing groceries to food insecure families, we are there to help. Wallen donates a portion of every concert ticket sold to MWF.  More information at www.MorganWallenFoundation.org.

Morgan Wallen Foundation & Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation Donate $500k Worth of Instruments To Schools In Touring Cities

For the past two years, Morgan Wallen has donated three dollars from every U.S. ticket sold on his 87-show One Night At A Time World Tour to his non-profit, Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF). Supporting programs for youth in the areas of music and sports, MWF further expanded their local impact during the U.S. tour’s 2024 leg with their “One Instrument At A Time” initiative, in partnership with Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (MHOF). 
 
MWF committed to donating musical instruments to schools in need across 14 stadium touring cities Wallen visited this year (2024) on his One Night At A Time Tour, including Arlington, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; Denver, Colo.; East Rutherford, N.J.; Hershey, Pa.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Kansas City, Mo.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Nashville, Tenn.; Oxford, Miss.; Philadelphia, Pa; Tampa, Fla. and Virginia Beach, Va. In total, the value of the instrument donations is $500,000.
 
"When I was a kid, access to music profoundly changed my life and gave me a sense of purpose. I want that for others, and I'm blessed to be able to provide instruments to these schools through my foundation,” shares Wallen. “We really wanted to say a big thank you to these awesome communities that welcome us in and let us play for our fans.” 
 
With a core belief that all children deserve a chance to thrive, play and create through sports and music, the MWF supports programs for youth in these two areas – sports and music. It’s this mission that made the partnership with Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the lives of kids by giving them access to learn and play music in school via the donations of high-quality musical instruments, a natural fit.
 
"Giving back is an integral part of who Morgan is and how he was raised. So launching ‘One Instrument At A Time’ in conjunction with this tour was incredibly important,” adds Kathleen Flaherty, executive director of the Morgan Wallen Foundation. “Partnering with Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation enabled us to utilize their expertise in securing quality instruments and identifying schools in local communities that need them the most. In turn, we hope to impact the lives of kids by giving them access to learn and play music, which is what set the stage for Morgan’s life.”
 
"Music education plays a crucial role in shaping the development of young minds, nurturing their artistic expression, and instilling a lifelong passion for music. We are grateful to the Morgan Wallen Foundation for their dedication to enhancing music education in our schools,” shares Tricia Williams, President and CEO at Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. “Their generosity will make a profound difference in the lives of students, empowering them to unleash their potential and pursue their dreams.”
 
Last month, MWF donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross to aid with efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Helene and $140,000 to Gibbs Youth Sports to coincide with Wallen’s record-breaking homecoming double-header at University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Neyland stadium. In 2023, Wallen’s foundation focused heavily on revitalizing baseball parks in touring cities, with donations to Chicago Cubs Charities, Atlanta Braves Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville and Boston Red Sox Foundation.

Photo Courtesy of Morgan Wallen Foundation

About Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF)
Access to sports and music transformed and enriched Morgan Wallen’s life in ways he never could have imagined growing up as a kid in East Tennessee. They have been a constant presence since the age of three. Playing sports instilled in him the values and benefits of discipline, hard work and commitment. Exposure to music at a young age has led him to become the country artist he is today. 
 
Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF) has a core belief that all children deserve a chance to thrive, play, and create through sports and music and supports programs for youth in these two areas – sports and music. MWF is also dedicated to being there for communities in times of need. Whether it’s providing supplies in the wake of natural disasters, meals for first responders, distributing groceries to food insecure families, we are there to help.
For more information go to www.morganwallenfoundation.org.
 
About Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation:
The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation keeps music alive in schools across the country by providing vital support services to school districts, and new musical instruments to underfunded music programs nationwide, giving under-represented youth access to the many benefits of music education, leading them to success in school and inspiring creativity and expression through playing music. Since its founding in 1996 the organization has donated more than $33 million worth of instruments to over 1,800 schools. More information is available at Mhopus.org.

Morgan Wallen Readies for Homecoming Shows in Knoxville w/ $140,000 Foundation Donation to Gibbs Youth Sports

Ahead of current 7-time CMA Award nominee Morgan Wallen’s return to his hometown – with two nights slated at University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium today (Sept. 20) and Sunday (Sept. 22) – The Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF) donated $140,000 to Gibbs Youth Sports.
 
During a press briefing held at Neyland Stadium, MWF Executive Director, Kathleen Flaherty and MWF Program Director and Wallen’s mother, Lesli Wallen, presented a check to Gibbs Youth Sports (GYS) President Nate Stachey and Baseball Commissioner William Lynam to renovate Ruritan Park.
 
“We’re here today on behalf of The Morgan Wallen Foundation which was founded two years ago and sprang out of the heart and soul of Morgan Wallen,” shared Flaherty. “Morgan is a person who’s well aware how blessed he’s been in this life and he wants to give back. Our mission is to provide access to youth in the areas of sports and music as well as giving back to communities in need. Sports and music helped define his life and instilled in him the value of hard work.” 
 
“Being a baseball mom, this is very special to me that my son is able to give back to the community that blessed us so much and that he played sports in,” adds Lesli Wallen. “Nate sent in an application to our foundation asking for any help – that’s all he asked for. I walk up there sometimes at the Gibbs Youth Sports Ruritan Park and I see how in disrepair the park is. So, we started conversations asking what we can do to make this park a better park - and a special place - for our kids to be proud to go to.”
 
Ruritan Park serves students from Gibbs High School, where Wallen attended, and surrounding areas in Knox County. Gibbs Youth Sports (GYS) has had a fieldhouse for several years. Due to lack of funds, it has never been built out to serve youth’s sports needs. Local youth have been unable to practice baseball when the weather isn’t ideal, and have not had a means to practice in all seasons, year-round and to gather as a team when weather is bad. Instead, they have been forced to travel across Knoxville to other facilities, without viable options for indoor practice in the Northeast end of Knox County.  
 
MWF will change that and with this donation, allowing GYS to rebuild the inside of the fieldhouse to offer indoor fielding and batting options for local recreation teams. Renovations include batting cages and machines, as well as pitching lanes and a fielding area. Currently there are no facilities like that in the Gibbs/Corryton area. 
 
“This is an amazing day for the Gibbs community, the children and all of Knox County in East Tennessee. What the Morgan Wallen Foundation is doing for us, I can’t begin to tell you what it means to Gibbs Youth Sports,” reflects Stachey. “Our conversations were always so deep in what they could do to benefit our organization and how Morgan might be able to help us. It started with the little things and it turned into a big list, and we kept praying and asking because without what we’ve talked about, we’d be 15 years behind on getting these repairs done by ourselves. So, I can’t thank them enough. I can’t thank Mr. Wallen enough for what he’s doing, remembering who he is and what it was like to play youth baseball. With his help, we’re going to become one of the premier ballparks in Knox County. I’m so thankful.”
 
In a video message addressing attendees, Morgan Wallen shared, “This is a special weekend for me getting to come back home and play Neyland. I just wanted to say thank you to everybody in Knoxville for the support over the years and to celebrate that, I wanted to give a donation with my foundation to the Gibbs Youth Sports. We’re gonna do a renovation of Ruritan Park. We’re gonna be doing a lot of work there, but the overall gist of it is they’re gonna make the park usable all year round for the kids there. Really awesome stuff. Me and my foundation, we’ve been giving back to communities all over the country, and the world, really, for the last couple of years but there is none more important than this one and I hope this opportunity helps create the ability for more kids to play sports in my hometown for years to come.”
 
Ruritan Park generally sees approximately 300 kids in the spring season in recreation baseball and approximately 160 in the fall. This donation will provide access to 400-500 people who utilize the park on any given night, including parents and family, as well as 15 travel ball teams.
 
Along with this donation, the Morgan Wallen Foundation has donated to many other East Tennessee organizations this year, including Powell High School Band, Second Harvest East Tennessee, New Market Field and Roy Harmon Field in Jefferson City and more.

Morgan Wallen Foundation donates $140k to Gibbs Youth Sports
Photo ID L to R: MWF Program Director and Wallen’s mother, Lesli Wallen; MWF Executive Director, Kathleen Flaherty; Gibbs Youth Sports Baseball Commissioner William Lynam; Gibbs Youth Sports President Nate Stachey | Photo Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Morgan Wallen Foundation

About Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF):
Access to sports and music transformed and enriched Morgan Wallen’s life in ways he never could have imagined growing up as a kid in East Tennessee. They have been a constant presence since the age of three. Playing sports instilled in him the values and benefits of discipline, hard work and commitment. Exposure to music at a young age has led him to become the country artist he is today. 
 
Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF) has a core belief that all children deserve a chance to thrive, play, and create through sports and music and supports programs for youth in these two areas – sports and music. MWF is also dedicated to being there for communities in times of need. Whether it’s providing supplies in the wake of natural disasters, meals for first responders, distributing groceries to food insecure families, we are there to help.

For more information go to www.morganwallenfoundation.org.

Statement From Morgan Wallen

I’m writing y’all from a duck hunting trip because I want to fill you in on something happening tonight.
 
Back in 2014, I went to Florida to try my hand at making original music & songwriting for the first time. This led to a recording deal with a local investor & an artist management deal that I deeply regret. Unfortunately, I signed both deals without any legal representation.
 
We made 13 songs. Some were ok, most were terrible as I was just learning how to write in general & figuring it all out. I was not the only collaborator, so many of these songs were not my idea nor to my standards. We deemed 5 worthy-enough to make the Stand Alone EP which includes a fan-favorite, “Spin You Around.”
 
Tonight, those colleagues I parted ways with almost 10 years ago plan to release a “10th Anniversary” edition of Stand Alone against my wishes & include 8 unreleased songs, distributing it with the assistance of my former managers. For months I’ve been exploring every avenue possible to acquire the rights to this old music & keep the quality of my catalog consistent with songs I choose to release & believe in.
 
It’s gross, greedy & an example of how the dark side of the music business can suck the soul out of artists.
  
I want you to know this is NOT my new music & I don’t want to see this happen to anyone else. I cringe when I listen to these songs & I’m concerned my fans may mistakenly believe this is a new release by me. I begin recording my next project at the end of February. I’m feeling inspired creatively & super excited to make more music I’m proud of.
 
In response:
1. I re-recorded “Spin You Around (1/24)” this week in Nashville & it comes out TONIGHT. 
Thank you Joey Moi & Bryan Sutton.  I did the artwork myself while in the woods duck hunting. Hope you like it, lol.
 
2. I am donating $100k from the Morgan Wallen Foundation to the Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals For The Arts (VLPA) program. I hope young aspiring musicians read this story & know they should never have to give up their creative freedoms for an opportunity in this business. 
 
3. Trust me, when new music is ready, you’ll hear it directly from me.

Wallen Caps Three Nights at Fenway with MWF Grant to Red Sox Foundation Renovating Local Field

Morgan Wallen celebrated three consecutive nights at Boston's Fenway Field this week by giving back to the local community via his Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF). Along with CVS Health Charity Classic, MWF provided grant funding to the Red Sox Foundation that will bring a comprehensive renovation of the Howard Playstead Fields (Playstead Park) in Lawrence, MA. Playstead Park is home to the Lawrence Red Sox Foundation Nike RBI program, and the field enhancements will improve programming for youth baseball and softball leagues across Lawrence.

The contributions from MWF and CVS Health Charity Classic will be utilized to enhance the overall conditions of the fields, creating an environment that fosters skill development, teamwork, and camaraderie among the youth participants. 

“Our goal with the Morgan Wallen Foundation is to be sure that kids have access to sports and music programs. I played baseball most of my life. It’s where I learned perseverance, patience, sacrifice, among many other things that I carry with me to this day. We are honored to partner with the Red Sox Foundation to renovate these ballfields in Lawrence. Where kids for generations to come will learn similar qualities and hopefully become good ball players in the process,” said Wallen.  "And I couldn’t be more excited to play three shows at Fenway. It’s a dream come true for this baseball player."

The Red Sox Foundation Nike RBI Lawrence program, launched in 2022, has been instrumental in revitalizing baseball and softball in the Lawrence community. The program is dedicated to offering accessible and affordable baseball experiences to local youth, cultivating their passion for the game and reigniting the excitement and enthusiasm that surrounded baseball and softball in the past. The ultimate goal is to elevate youth participation to levels seen in 2010, nurturing a new generation of skilled and passionate athletes.

Names (L-R): Kate Reilly, Red Sox Foundation; Martha Velez, City of Lawrence; Julio Ramos, Lawrence Red Sox Foundation; Morgan Wallen; Jamie Uliano, Lawrence RBI League President, Coach & family; Lidia Zayas, Red Sox Foundation; Jenn Jacob, Red Sox Foundation; Adderly Gonzalez, City of Lawrence; Michelle Adamic, Lawrence Sports Alliance  | Photo Courtesy of the Morgan Wallen Foundation |

Morgan Wallen Foundation & MLB-MLBPA YDF Donate $500k Each to Habitat For Humanity of Greater Nashville's Parkwood Ballfield Project

Academy of Country Music Male Artist of the Year Morgan Wallen, through his Morgan Wallen Foundation, along with Major League Baseball & MLB Players Association Youth Development Foundation (MLB-MLBPA YDF) and other local funders have partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville to lead the community revitalization of the historic Black baseball and softball complex, Parkwood Community Club, in north Nashville. Together, MLB-MLBPA YDF and Morgan Wallen Foundation have joined forces to donate $500k each, totaling $1 million invested in the project.
 
“I started the Morgan Wallen Foundation to support youth in two areas - sports and music. When I heard about Parkwood, right here in Nashville, I knew I wanted to help. Every child deserves a chance to play ball and be part of a team, and I truly appreciate this opportunity to be part of Parkwood’s next inning,” said Wallen. “I can’t wait to come back out here and see the park once it has been renovated.”
 
Access to sports transformed Wallen’s life in ways he never could have imagined growing up as a child in East Tennessee. Wallen’s first love was baseball and he had aspirations of pursuing a baseball career until an injury halted his baseball dreams and brought him back to music. Wallen credits team sports with teaching him the values and benefits of discipline, hard work and commitment.

Serving the community’s needs since 1966, efforts to renovate the Parkwood ballfields are part of a broader mission to maintain the complex’s historical integrity and rebuild the Parkwood-Haynes-Trinity neighborhood. Led by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, contributions from the MLB-MLBPA YDF, Morgan Wallen Foundation, and many other partners support a broader $2 million-dollar fundraising goal to complete Phase 1 renovations of the complex, which entails renovation of two of the four baseball and softball fields.

The MLB-MLBPA YDF is a joint initiative by Major League Baseball and the Players Association to support efforts that focus on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the United States and internationally. YDF has extensive involvement in the funding of field renovation projects in underserved communities to help revitalize existing baseball and softball fields, including the Roberto Clemente State Park in the Bronx and 100th Development Park at Reedbird Park in Baltimore, MD.

In the Metro Nashville area, more than 100 elementary and middle schools, and seven out of ten Metro high schools, don’t offer baseball and softball programs due to lack of fields. Located in Davidson County District 2, the Parkwood Community Club serves a predominately underserved Black/African-American population with the lowest median household income of Davidson County’s 35 Districts at $34,000.* Through the revitalization initiative, Habitat and its sponsoring partners aim to provide youth and families in the Parkwood neighborhood with enhanced field and recreational offerings.

Photo Credit: Leila Grossman/Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville

Key Partner Quotes:
“In visiting the historic fields, I instantly felt the significance of Parkwood to Nashville’s baseball and softball community,” said Jean Lee Batrus, Executive Director, MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation. “These sports have the power to strengthen lives and communities. YDF is thrilled to team up with Habitat for Humanity and other partnering organizations who are equally passionate about empowering youth access to baseball and softball.”

"The Nashville Sounds utilize the power of baseball to positively impact our community,” said Adam English, General Manager, Nashville Sounds. “Through our participation in "The Nine" program, this project is a great way for us to make an impact in giving all kids access to the best baseball facilities possible. My hope is that renovating these fields will yield a new generation of great ball players in Nashville, just like six-time MLB All-Star Mookie Betts.”

“Our mission is to build homes, communities and hope by partnering with the Parkwood Board and all our funders who understand this is an important community investment, we will not only save a vital community landmark, but also add quality-of-life resources to an underserved community,” said Sherry Stinson, Parkwood and Collaboration Project Lead and SVP of Brand Engagement for Habitat of Greater Nashville.

Habitat of Greater Nashville continues to seek funding for a community collaboration to restore the historic baseball park, the establishment of a proposed 59-acre Metro Park that adjoins the Parkwood Community Club ballfields, and to build 26 new affordable Habitat homes in District 2.

For more information on how to become a sponsoring donor, or learn more about the project, visit www.parkwoodballfields.org.

Funders:
MLB-MLBPA YDF, $500,000; Morgan Wallen Foundation, $500,000; the Speer Foundation, $500,000; Airbnb, $100,000; Nashville Sounds baseball who have committed $50,000 in support and who are also partnering with Habitat to direct field renovations and support ongoing operations through player scholarships, and baseball and softball clinics; and the Neal Agency, who has pledged another $50,000 in support.

*Data collected by Metropolitan Social Services 2021 Know Your Community report

Morgan Wallen Foundation Donates $100k to Chicago’s Bessemer Park During Wrigley Tour Stop

As Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour resumed with two back-to-back nights at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, the Academy of Country Music Male Artist of the Year celebrated the final night (June 23) at the home of the Chicago Cubs backstage with students from the nearby Baker and Bowen High Schools. The cause for the celebration wasn’t the two-hour set that was about to follow – yet a presentation of a $100k check from Wallen’s charity, The Morgan Wallen Foundation, for the revitalization of South Chicago’s Bessemer Park baseball field.
 
Wallen’s donation to the field, the home field of Baker and Bowen High School students, complemented a previous $150k donation from Cubs Charities. Altogether, the $250k donated to the park will contribute to a fully upgraded diamond with a new backstop, side wings and dugouts, including extended side wings, and will include rehabilitating the playing surface for multiple levels of play.
 
“Our mission with the Morgan Wallen Foundation is to support youth programs in the areas of sports and music. We are thrilled to donate $100k to Bessemer Park to give the kids a place to play ball here in South Chicago,” said Wallen. “This donation combined with being back on stage performing for my fans tonight at Wrigley is a true double header for me.”
 
“We are pleased that the Morgan Wallen Foundation is working with the Chicago Park District to enhance our Diamond Project commitment to Bessemer Park to completely renovate a baseball diamond,” said Keri Blackwell, deputy director of Cubs Charities. “The goal of our Diamond Project is to help improve the quality, safety and accessibility of playing fields across Chicago, and this donation will support a significant upgrade to the field for the benefit of South Chicago’s youth and families.”
 
“The Chicago Park District is extremely grateful to the Morgan Wallen Foundation for this generous donation to Bessemer Park,” said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño. “This gift will help upgrade the park’s ballfield and existing playing surfaces. These improved amenities will enhance recreational opportunities that families rely on to keep our children and teens engaged in positive activities and build the foundation for healthy living.” 
 
Bessemer Park, which opened in the South Chicago community in 1905, has a strong history of providing crucial resources and amenities to the neighborhood. In its early days, Bessemer park was a haven for new immigrants to Chicago who came to the park as it was a beautifully landscaped ‘breathing space’ that also provided social services including meals, education, health care and recreation. Today, the park continues as a vibrant community space offering summer camp, boxing and, of course, baseball. The park’s baseball fields are utilized by students in the surrounding neighborhoods, allowing them free access to play ball and hone their craft at the sport. With this generous donation, the local kids will soon have a new premiere field for practice and play.  
 
Wallen’s donation comes as his One Night At A Time World Tour is once again underway, with 83,076 fans in attendance across both nights in Chicago, making him the first Country artist to sell out two back-to-back nights at Wrigley Field. 
 
For tour dates and more information, visit MorganWallen.com.

Morgan Wallen presents a $100k check towards revitalization of a baseball diamond at Chicago's Bessemer Park before the show on 6/23/23. (Photo IDs L to R: Jenna Sanchez, Cubs Charities Representative; Morgan Wallen; Rosa Escareño, General Superintendent & CEO of Chicago Park District)
Photo Credit: David Lehr

About Morgan Wallen Foundation: 
With a core belief that all children deserve a chance to thrive, play, and create through sports and music, the Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF) supports programs for youth in these two areas – sports and music. MWF is also dedicated to being there for communities in times of need. Whether it’s providing supplies in the wake of natural disasters, meals for first responders, distributing groceries to food insecure families, we are there to help.
 
Access to sports and music transformed and enriched Morgan Wallen’s life in ways he never could have imagined growing up as a kid in East Tennessee. They have been a constant presence since the age of three. Playing sports instilled in him the values and benefits of discipline, hard work and commitment. Exposure to music at a young age has led him to become the country artist he is today. For more information go to www.morganwallenfoundation.org
 
About Cubs Charities:
Cubs Charities is a nonprofit that mobilizes the power of sport to champion youth, families and communities. Cubs Charities’ work is focused on sports-based youth development and academic programming, investments in safe places to play and strategic grantmaking. Since 2009, Cubs Charities has invested more than $49 million in people, places and programs across Chicago. Cubs Charities is a leader among professional sports teams in its creation, execution and delivery of quality, sports-based youth development programming. Today, Cubs Charities’ portfolio includes programs that provide children and youth with skilled coaches, quality programming and safe and accessible places to play the game.
 
About Chicago Park District: 
Celebrating more than 85 years of service, the Chicago Park District is a Gold Medal Award winner, recognized for excellence in park and recreation management across the nation. For more information about the Chicago Park District’s more than 8,800 acres of parkland, more than 600 parks, 26 miles of lakefront, 12 museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, nearly 50 nature areas, thousands of special events, sports and entertaining programs, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Morgan Wallen Celebrates ONE THING AT A TIME with Special Hometown Show

East Tennessean Morgan Wallen has remained true to his roots throughout his skyrocketing career - his pride in his hometown of Sneedville, Tennessee playing an integral role in songs like “More Than My Hometown” and “Tennessee Fan.” Yesterday (3/2), stepping on to his high school alma mater’s baseball field for the first time since graduation, that pride was on full display after surprising Gibbs’ senior class in their high school auditorium, hand-delivering the news of his impromptu performance to follow that evening.
 
Brought to students by Spotify, Wallen performed an hour+ set including eight new songs from One Thing At A Time to the 2023 senior class, along with Gibbs High School faculty, the baseball team and more local guests. Guests could create their own Gibbs High School baseball card to commemorate the evening, write letters on album-themed postcards and participate in other fun games and activities all housed on the field so much of Wallen’s teamsmanship stems from.
 
It was a night the senior class nor Wallen are likely to forget. From a surprise presentation of a 2021 championship ring by baseball coach Geff Davis, to having his parents, son and both grandmothers in the crowd, a humbled and grateful Wallen reflected, “This is so cool. There are a lot of special people here. Having graduated in 2011, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel coming back - but this place will always hold a special place in my heart.”
 
The most humbling part of the evening wasn’t the jubilant crowd or the celebration of another milestone album - but was in his ability to give back to the place that built the foundation of who he has become. In a night filled with surprises, Wallen topped them all, presenting a $35,000 check on behalf of the Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF) to go toward providing instruments for the school’s students.
 
“I started the Morgan Wallen Foundation about a year ago - It combines my love of sports and music. Without those two things I don’t know where I’d be,  I don’t know what my life would look like. I know it would look a lot different, so that’s what I’m going to try to do - give back to those two areas, as well as communities in need. That’s our focus.” Wallen shared.
 
“We wanted to say thank you tonight and help you out with a couple things, so we wrote a $35,000 check,” he continued. “It’s going to go towards instruments for the choral department, instruments for the band department and then for baseball - a new field cart - so we can help get this field back in shape after y’all trampled on it tonight.”
 
"The impact that Morgan has had on both the country genre and Spotify is undeniable. He is one of the most streamed artists on our platform, and we are thrilled to celebrate his new album with a deeply personal event in his hometown," shared Brittany Schaffer, Spotify Head of Nashville Label Partnerships, Music Strategy. "We cannot wait to watch fans connect with his new music in person and on our platform once the record comes out this week."
 
The Morgan Wallen Foundation provides opportunities for children to thrive by creating access to music and sports. The mission is inspired by Wallen’s own childhood and how access to both music and sports transformed and enriched his life in ways he could have never imagined – instilling in him the values and benefits of discipline, hard work and commitment. MWF supports programs that share its core belief that Every Child Deserves A Chance to thrive, play and create and is also dedicated to being there for communities in times of need, whether offering a helping hand during natural disasters with urgently needed supplies or turning concert parking lots into food distribution centers providing bags of groceries to food insecure families.
 
“Morgan wears his heart on his sleeve as an artist and songwriter, and he brings fans into his world through his lyrics,” said Miller Guth, Spotify Artist & Label Partnerships Manager for Nashville. “We wanted to do just that: bring fans to an influential location of his past where they’ll get to know him even more and witness an unforgettable performance.”
 
To continue the celebration of the album that has already yielded 2 No. 1 hits at country radio ahead of its release - 2x Platinum “You Proof” and Platinum “Thought You Should Know,” co-written by Wallen alongside Nicolle Galyon and Miranda Lambert - Wallen will host another free-to-fans show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena tomorrow night (March 3). The at-capacity celebration distributed every ticket available in just 3 hours and 5 minutes with fans lining up for blocks around the downtown arena.

Morgan Wallen performs surprise album release show for the senior class at his alma mater, Gibbs High School Thursday night (3/2) | Photo Credit: Happy Monday

ABOUT MORGAN WALLEN
Hailed by Billboard for making “his superstar arrival as a touring artist” in 2022, Morgan Wallen recently wrapped his record-shattering 55-show Dangerous Tour with his first headlining stadium show at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX, which saw him shatter attendance records previously held by Elton John and Lady Gaga. Now, the CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee who broke records in 30 venues across the country - with the only country tour nominated for Pollstar’s Major Tour of the Year - will embark on a massive world tour in 2023. Spanning 30 stadium shows across 4 countries and 2 continents, plus arenas, amphitheaters and festivals, Wallen’s 63-show 2023 One Night At A Time World Tour will deliver the man The New Yorker dubbed as “the most wanted man in country” to fans worldwide.
 
With over 13.6 billion on-demand streams and eight chart-toppers at Country radio, the East Tennessean’s latest hit to top the charts is “Thought You Should Know,” cowritten with Nicolle Galyon and Miranda Lambert. Recent breakout hit “You Proof” became his fastest climbing single to-date, reaching No. 1 after just 14 weeks and remaining at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for a record-breaking ten non-consecutive weeks. On the heels of the unparalleled success of his 4x platinum, ACM Album of the Year, Dangerous: The Double Album (Big Loud/Mercury/Republic Records) – which topped 2021's all-genre Billboard 200 Albums year-end chart and notched historical chart status as Billboard’s longest running Top 10 album in history for a solo artist (with 108 total weeks spent in the Top 10, eclipsing Adele’s 21 and Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA), Wallen’s 36-song deeply personal third studio album, One Thing At A Time, is available now. The American Music Awards’ Favorite Male Country Artist and Favorite Country Song (“Wasted On You”) winner continues to touch fans’ lives in ways few can; Pollstar noting “[he has] the ability to distill his life in a way that pulls others to him.” Thanks to those very fans, the superstar has raised nearly $3 million dollars for causes close to his heart with $3 from every U.S. ticket sold for each tour benefitting the Morgan Wallen Foundation.