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Morgan Wallen shocked nobody when he reached the Playoff round on The Voice season 6 in 2014. But here’s the stunning irony: he got eliminated the first time he sang a country song after producers pushed him toward pop music. What nobody expected was that this rejection would launch one of country music’s biggest careers.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Season 6 (Spring 2014): Morgan Wallen competed on The Voice at just 20 years old
- Coaches: He auditioned for Usher, then moved to Adam Levine’s team
- The Song: Voted off after singing Florida Georgia Line’s “Stay” in the Playoffs
- The Aftermath: Moved to Nashville in 2015 and became country’s #1 artist
Why Morgan Wallen Lost Without Auditioning
When Morgan Wallen first stepped onto The Voice stage, he performed Sia’s “Chandelier” and earned two chair turns from Shakira and Usher. Notably, Blake Shelton, country music’s defining voice, never turned his chair. The moment hinted at what would come: a pop-focused show didn’t understand this Tennessee native’s true artistry.
Wallen quickly moved to Adam Levine’s team and advanced through early rounds. But the show’s producers had expectations. “They wanted me to sing pop music, and I wanted to sing country music,” Wallen later explained. For episodes, he complied, performing pop selections coaches assigned him. The compromise felt wrong.
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Morgan Wallen’s Voice journey revisited: Here’s why he didn’t win
The Country Song That Doomed His Run
In desperation, Wallen finally asserted himself. He chose a country performance for his next battle: Florida Georgia Line’s “Stay.” It was the moment of truth. The song felt authentic, raw, and completely him. But voter response was cruel. He was eliminated hours later.
The irony cut deep. Blake Shelton later called Wallen “the one that got away” from The Voice, wishing he’d coached the future superstar. If Blake’s team hadn’t been full during blind auditions, history might’ve written differently. Instead, rejection became destiny.
What Happens When You Chase Your Real Passion
| Timeline | Achievement |
| May 2014 | The Voice elimination (Playoff round) |
| 2015 | Relocated to Nashville, signed with Big Loud Records |
| 2016 | Released “The Way I Talk” (Country Top 40) |
| 2017 | “Up Down” with FGL hits #1 on country charts |
| 2018 | “Whiskey Glasses” reaches #1, launches superstardom |
“I’m thankful for that time. I’m thankful for how it all turned out. And honestly, I’m thankful that I didn’t win because it gave me a chance to take a couple years after that show and really figure out who I was as an artist and get the right team around me. When I got there, I had no clue what I was doing.”
— Morgan Wallen, Country Music Star
The Real Moment Everything Changed
After The Voice eliminated him, Wallen faced a choice: fight for a pop career or surrender to his roots. He chose authenticity. He signed with Big Loud Records, moved to Nashville, and spent three years writing honest songs about small-town life, heartbreak, and struggle. Unlike The Voice winners who often fade after their season ends, Wallen’s rejection fueled his ascent.
In 2017, his collaboration with Florida Georgia Line on “Up Down” finally broke through. The song reached #1, proving that country radio wanted Wallen’s voice. A year later, “Whiskey Glasses” became a cultural phenomenon, launching him into the stratosphere. His album “Dangerous: The Double Album” later dominated charts, cementing his status as country’s biggest male artist.
Was Losing The Voice the Best Thing That Ever Happened?
Wallen himself has called being voted off “the best thing that ever happened.” Think about it: most Voice winners fade into obscurity. Winners get record deals and promotional pushes, but when the spotlight fades, so do their careers. Wallen’s elimination forced him to build a fanbase organically, song by song, tour by tour. He never had The Voice machine protecting his image or stalling his artistic growth.
The show wanted a pop star. The music world got something far greater: a country legend who writes his own tickets. Sometimes rejection isn’t about your talent. Sometimes it’s about finding your people and your purpose.
Sources
- People Magazine – Morgan Wallen exclusive interview on his Voice experience and journey
- Whiskey Riff – Morgan Wallen’s detailed account of his 2014 Voice appearance and early career
- Billboard – Season 6 finale results and chart history documentation
