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Watch Morgan Wallen Perform ‘Don’t Think Jesus’ and ‘Wasted On You’ At 2022 Billboard Music Awards
Morgan Wallen delivered the live debut of two songs during the 2022 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), which marked his first…
Morgan Wallen; Photo by: Rich Polk/NBC
Morgan Wallen delivered the live debut of two songs during the 2022 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), which marked his first major awards show performance in over a year.
Live from MGM Garden Grand Arena, the East Tennessee native and the country hitmaker performed the recently released track “Don’t Think Jesus” as well as “Wasted On You,” a track from his record-breaking sophomore project, Dangerous: The Double Album.
Joined by his band, consisting of Mark Taco Annino (Drums), Luke Cowboy Rice (Bass/Guitar), Tyler Tomlinson (Guitar) and Dominic Frost (Guitar/Vocals), Wallen kicked off the two song performance with the deeply personal track, “Don’t Think Jesus.”
The track, which was written by Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander and Mark Holman with Wallen in mind, brought the country hitmaker to tears when he first heard it in his truck in October of 2021. The song tells the story of a boy chasing whiskey and women while living life in the fast lane until he just couldn’t anymore.
He then performed a stripped down version of “Wasted On You,” similar to The Dangerous Sessions.
Co-written by Wallen alongside Ryan Vojtesak, Ernest K. Smith and Josh Thompson, “Wasted On You” finds the country hitmaker crooning over the downfall of a relationship while reflecting on everything he’s “wasted” on his ex. He also admits to turning to a bottle of bourbon to help ease the pain.
The songwriters found a clever way to use the term wasted in multiple ways as Wallen admits he’s wasted time, money and miles on his past lover, while also getting wasted to drown out the memories.
Wallen was also up for four nods at the coveted awards show, however, ultimately only took home one. He was named Top Country Male Artist at the 2022 BBMAs.
The chart-topping singer/songwriter was on hand to accept the award from presenter Pusha T.
“Man, I’d like to say thank God, thank my fans, I got the best damn fans,” Wallen said, before he honored his mother, Lesli, and his 1-year-old son, Indigo Wilder.
“Thank you to my mama for being my date tonight, I wouldn’t be here without,” Wallen continued. ”Thank you to the Billboard’s for inviting me here. Thank you to my team, thank you to my family, my friends. Thank you to my little boy for inspiring me every single day. God bless y’all.”
Wallen also walked the red carpet with his mom at his side.
Hosted by Sean “Diddy” Combs, the 2022 Billboard Music Awards broadcasted live on NBC coast-to-coast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 15 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The show also streamed live on Peacock.
The BBMAs also featured a star-studded lineup with performances from Becky G (“Baile Con Mi Ex,” “MAMIII”), Burna Boy (“Last Last,” “Kilometre”), Dan + Shay (“You”), Ed Sheeran (“2step”), Elle King & Miranda Lambert [“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home”)], Florence + The Machine (“My Love”), Latto (“Big Energy”), Maxwell (“Lady In My Life”), Machine Gun Kelly (“twin flame”), Megan Thee Stallion (“Plan B,” “Sweetest Pie”), Morgan Wallen (“Don’t Think Jesus,” “Wasted on You”), Rauw Alejandro (“Cúrame,” “MUSEO,” “Todo De Ti”), Silk Sonic (“Love’s Train”), and Travis Scott (“Mafia”).
The 2022 Billboard Music Awards also honored this year’s Icon Award recipient Mary J. Blige and the third annual Billboard Music Award Changemaker, Mari Copeny.
The evening’s star-studded presenter lineup included AleXa, Anitta, Chlöe Bailey, City Girls, DJ Khaled, Dixie D’Amelio, Dove Cameron, Fat Joe, French Montana, Givēon, Heidi Klum, Lainey Wilson, Liza Koshy, Michael Bublé, Pusha T, Shenseea, Snoop Dogg, Swizz Beatz, and Teyana Taylor.
Unique among music awards shows, finalists for the Billboard Music Awards are determined by performance on the Billboard Charts. Since 1940, the Billboard Charts have been the go-to guide for ranking the popularity of artists, songs, and albums, and are the ultimate measure of success in music.
This year’s awards are based on the chart period of April 10, 2021 through March 26, 2022. “Billboard Music Awards” finalists and winners are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, and touring, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Luminate.
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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