Morgan Wallen Fulfills 19-Year-Old Cancer Patient’s Bucket List Wish At Wrigley Field Concert
Fans rallied around Karlie to help get her to the front row.
Morgan Wallen, Karlie; Photo via Instagram
Morgan Wallen made a dream come true for Karlie, a brave 19-year-old girl fighting a rare form of cancer, when he helped her add a check to her bucket list during his sold-out concert at Wrigley Field in Chicago on June 22.
The young fan, who was seated on the floor behind the GA pit, held up a sign that read, “GOALS: Beat cancer twice √, Picture with Morgan Wallen ▢.”
Since Karlie was originally seated several yards from the stage, she experienced difficulty getting the “Everything I Love” singer’s attention. However, moved by her sign and unwavering determination, a group of fans collectively ensured that Karlie’s wish became a reality.
In the midst of Wallen’s performance of “Wasted On You,” the crowd collectively helped her navigate her way to the front row.
Fans Rallied Around Karlie
After performing the chart-topping tune, Wallen spotted Karlie holding up her sign and immediately went to greet her. Taking a quick pause from the show, Wallen approached Karlie and made her dream of getting a photo with him come true.
Karlie is currently undergoing treatment at Rush University Children’s Hospital in Chicago, and the experience of meeting Morgan Wallen added a memorable and uplifting moment to her journey. The kind gesture from Wallen and the support of his dedicated fans not only made Karlie’s night but also served as a reminder of the power of music and community in bringing joy and hope during challenging times.
Rush University Children’s Hospital documented Karlie’s memorable evening at the Morgan Wallen concert in a post to Instagram.
She Got Ready At The Hospital
@ajfraz3 Heart of GOLD 🫶🏼 #morganwallen #wrigleyfield #onethingatatime #foryou #fyp #cancersucks #suvivor @morganwallen ♬ original sound – Ajfraz3
“Karlie and her best friend had been planning to go to the Morgan Wallen concert in Chicago since last year when they got tickets for Christmas. In February of 2023, Karlie began experiencing back pain, and was soon found to have relapsed Ewing sarcoma in her spine,” the post reads. “She began chemotherapy again, requiring many overnight stays. Treatment, imaging appointments, surgery consults, and requiring platelets didn’t stop these girls from going to the concert though.”
Karlie got ready for the concert while at the hospital with help from her oncology nurses and child life specialist.
“I didn’t think I’d be getting ready in the hospital, but after living here for the last 3 years, I wouldn’t expect anything else,” Karlie said, according to the hospital.
A Memorable Moment
Return To The Stage
Following a six-week vocal rest that sidelined him from touring, Morgan Wallen made his highly anticipated return to the stage during the Wrigley Field concert on June 22.
The country superstar was all smiles as he stepped onto the stage in front of a near record-breaking crowd of 41,538 fans in Windy City, resuming his sold-out One Night At A Time World Tour. The show marked the first of two nights at the iconic stadium. Wallen is the first country artist to sell out back-to-back nights at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
“‘Bout six weeks ago, I wasn’t really sure when I was gonna be able to sing again, but WE BACK!’” Wallen exclaimed. He went on to graciously thank his fans for sticking by his side and for their dedication to his music.
“I see more of y’all’s support, so I could not make it through without everything y’all do for me, so thank you. I’m really, really happy to be here,” he continued. ”Thank you so much for showing up.”
Ahead of night two of back-to-back sold-out shows at Wrigley Field, Morgan Wallen and Cubs Charities joined forces to donate $250,000 to support the revitalization of South Chicago’s Bessemer Park baseball field.
Morgan Wallen is currently in the midst of his One Night At A Time World Tour, which kicked off on April 14 with back-to-back nights at Milwaukee’s American Family Field. The 63-show trek features support from ERNEST and Bailey Zimmerman on all dates. HARDY and Parker McCollum will also appear on select dates.
The One Night At A Time World Tour comes in support of Wallen’s latest album, One Thing At A Time.
See below for a complete list of Morgan Wallen’s upcoming tour dates.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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