Morgan Wallen Fans React to Big Career Win Hours After Country Star's Sentencing

Morgan Wallen fans were excited to celebrate the country star's 2024 Billboard Music Awards trophy tally, but then they remembered he was sentenced in his chair-throwing case just hours earlier and didn't know how to react.

Wallen, 31, left last year’s annual ceremony with 11 awards, making him the top-awarded Billboard Music Awards artist in 2023. This year, he was named a finalist for 15 awards in 13 categories, six of which were for his collaborations with Post Malone and ERNEST.

🤩🤩 SIGN UP for Parade's Trending News newsletter & we'll keep you in the know on the viral pop culture moments & celebrity news everyone is talking about 🗞️🗞️

At this year’s ceremony, which aired on Thursday, Dec. 12, Wallen was met with four new awards to add to his collection. The “This Bar” singer’s fans reacted to his career success with a mix of emotions on social media.

"Wait did Morgan Wallen just accept his award from jail…" one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote in response to the news. Similarly, another teased, "Morgan Wallen getting a BBMA while actively being in jail.." alongside a gif of people laughing.

Despite fans' obvious jokes, to avoid any confusion, the “Whiskey Glasses” singer did not "accept the awards from jail," as the awards show was pre-recorded. Wallen, who pled "conditionally guilty" on Thursday morning and previously apologized for the incident that occurred at a bar in Nashville, was also ordered to serve his sentence in a DUI education center, which is considered a "therapeutic" alternative to DUI sentencing in the state of Tennessee.

"Just glad Morgan Wallen got an award after constantly getting robbed at the Country Music Awards & Grammys. #BBMAs #BillboardMusicAwards," another applauded.

While accepting the awards, Wallen thanked fans in his video message: "What’s goin’ on, Billboard Music Awards. Morgan Wallen here, I just wanted to say thank you guys, for everyone who’s supported me along my journey. As always, and most importantly, thank you to my fans. You guys have just given me so much freedom to make music that I want to make, whether it’s a song that sounds similar to something I’ve put out in the past, or whether it’s something that’s completely different. You guys have always just at least given me the chance, and that’s all I can ask for. I really just want to say thank you guys for being that way with my music.”

“I hope I can come back next year and accept some more, but for now, I really appreciate it. God bless," he concluded.

Of Wallen’s new Billboard Music Awards, “I Had Some Help,” his collaboration with Post Malone, was among the winners. The song was nominated in five categories: Top Hot 100 Song, Top Streaming Song, Top Selling Song, Top Country Song, Top Collaboration categories. The track ultimately won Top Collaboration. Wallen was also nominated for “Cowgirls,” his song featuring ERNEST, in the Top Collaboration category.

In addition to the awards show’s recognition for his collaborations, Wallen was nominated in the Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Country Artist and Top Country Male Artist categories. He also had a second nomination in the Top Country Song category for “Thinkin’ Bout Me” from his 2023 album One Thing at a Time. Wallen ultimately won awards for his collabs, Top Male Artist, Top Male Country Artist and Top Country Artist.

Next: Morgan Wallen Fans Are Irate After Jeff Bridges’ On-Stage Blunder at the CMAs