Talk about a full circle moment!
Hardy, Morgan Wallen, Eric Church, and Tim McGraw’s recent collaboration, “McArthur,” may just seem like a perfect quartet of some of country music’s biggest names, but as fate will have it, Wallen partly spoke the project into existence back in 2016.
In a recently posted snippet from an interview with 101.9 The Wolf, the singer was asked a range of questions, including one that now feels unknowingly predictive: “If you could build your own lineup, what acts would you put on there?”
Amidst the era of his second EP release, The Way I Talk, a long-haired 23-year-old Wallen responded ironically, “So if I could have a dream lineup show, and I mean hopefully I’m the headliner…” Safe to say, as one of the reigning voices in country music right now as well as across genres, his nervous cringing face at this comment is pretty silly in comparison to how correct that statement is. He continues to list off, “I would put Eric Church, Chris Cornell, any band that he’s ever been involved with, I really don’t care as long as he’s there singing, I’ll probably put Drake there, and hm, Tim McGraw.”
While, unfortunately, a Chris Cornell collab is no longer possible following his death just a year later after this interview in May 2017, I’m honestly shocked that a Drake x Morgan Wallen crossover has yet to happen.
More insanely, while it may not be a ‘lineup’ per se, Wallen’s dreams did come true thanks to Hardy’s song featuring these two country music veterans. Forming what many are referring to as a “highway men” revival, “McArthur” follows the storyline of four men in a family generation and the connected ties between what they pass down. In this plot-heavy track, Wallen, as the youngest, Hunter McArthur, is technically Church’s fictional grandson and McGraw’s great-grandson.
Given that the song’s theme centers around intertwining connections, it is pretty crazy that in itself, there was foreshadowing from back in 2016 coming into play. Who knows, given the bolstering response from fans and the deeply emotional message of the song, maybe Wallen will find himself on stage alongside Church and McGraw (and of course, Hardy) performing. RIAA’s highest-certified country artist is heading out on another leg of his Still The Problem stadium tour starting this April, so there are ample opportunities for special guest appearances.
Check out the list of dates below:
- April 10-11: Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium
- May 1-2: Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium
- May 8-9: Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium
- May 15-16: Gainesville, FL – Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
- May 29-30: Denver, CO – Empower Field at Mile High
- June 5-6: Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure Stadium
- June 19-20: Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
- July 24-25: Ann Arbor, MI – Michigan Stadium
- July 31-Aug 1: Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field
Watch the full interview here: