Morgan Wallen Will Bring ”98 Braves’ To Life In Special Billboard Music Awards Performance

Morgan Wallen, this year’s leading Billboard Music Awards male finalist, will perform his song “’98 Braves” during the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, airing on Sunday, November 19.

The performance will be a special one as Wallen will perform the song from Atlanta’s Truist Park as former ‘98 Braves players watch from the crowd. The performance was recorded in the midst of the superstar’s sold-out One Night At A Time Tour, which recently played back-to-back nights at Truist Park. 

What Is The 98 Braves Reference?

Appearing as the seventh track on his latest album, One Thing At A Time, “’98 Braves” has yet to be released as a single, but was an instant fan-favorite upon the album’s release earlier this year. The song compares a relationship to the 1998 Atlanta Braves season, when the team famously finished the season with 106 wins, according to Sports Illustrated. During the postseason, however, the Braves wound up losing to the San Diego Padres. 

According to the album’s official track listing, “’98 Braves” was co-written by John Byron, Josh Miller, and Travis Wood. The lyrics reference several Atlanta Braves players, including Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones as well as the three pitchers: Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine.  

“I remember sittin’ at that house, livin’ room couch/ Thinkin’ no way them boys wouldn’t win/ Between them big three pitchers, Andruw and Chipper/ It was gonna be hard to keep up with the Jones’s/ But as fate would have it, that Atlanta magic/ Got put out by them damn Padres/ I guess destiny ain’t always meant to be/ Kinda like you and me that day,” Wallen sings. 

Derek Schiller, Atlanta Braves president and CEO, previously reacted to the song, telling Billboard, “It’s incredibly cool to have a chart hit written about the Braves.” 

Listen To “’98 Braves”

While it’s unclear exactly which Atlanta Braves players will be on hand for Wallen’s upcoming Billboard Music Awards, performance, it’s sure to be a memorable one. 

Heading into the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, Wallen is up for 16 awards, with 17 total entries, according to a press release from Billboard. He’s up for top nods, including Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, and Top Hot 100 Artist.  

This news follows a wildly successful year for Wallen, whose album, One Thing At A Time, spent 16 non-consecutive weeks at No.1 on the all-genre Billboard 200. This marks the most weekend at the top of the chart since Adele’s 21 claimed the No.1 spot for 24 non-consecutive weeks in 2011-2012. 

Additionally, Wallen’s “Last Night” spent 16 non-consecutive weeks at No.1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. With this feat, the East Tennessee native earned the sole longest No. 1 run for a non-collaboration, and tying for the second longest reign in the chart’s 65-year history. 

Who Is Performing At The Billboard Music Awards?

The 2023 Billboard Music Awards will also feature performances by Tate McRae, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, Karol G, NewJeans, Mariah Carey, Peso Pluma, and Stray Kids. Top finalists include Taylor Swift, Wallen, SZA, The Weeknd, Drake, and Zach Bryan. 

Produced by Dick Clark Productions, the 2023 Billboard Music Awards will roll out across BBMAs and Billboard social channels, as well as via BBMAs.watch on Sunday, November 19 beginning at 8pm ET/5pm PT.