Watch Morgan Wallen Perform the Emotional ‘Don’t Think Jesus’ For the First Time Ever

Days after its record-breaking debut, Morgan Wallen took the stage to perform “Don’t Think Jesus” for the first time ever.

On Thursday (April 28) at Resch Center Complex in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the East Tennessee native delivered the live debut of his deeply personal new song.

“Alright y’all, I’m going to sing a brand-new song tonight. It’s been out for just a second, but this is the first time we are going to play it anywhere,” Wallen said, introducing the performance.

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He continued, “This song really means a lot to me, and I’m really proud of the way you guys have connected to it. I feel like I know my fan base really well and y’all know me. So, every time I put out a song I’m not even really nervous, I just feel like you y’all are going to get what I’m saying and that’s a good feelin’. Y’all make my job easy and I really appreciate that. We’re going to try this for the first time, it’s called ‘Don’t Think Jesus.’” 

Joined by his full band, Wallen strummed his acoustic guitar while singing the spiritual tune in front of a sold-out audience, who knew every word.

“If I was Him, I’d say, ‘To hell with you, ain’t no helping you’ / Find someone else to give Heaven to, I’m telling you / I’d shame me, I’d blame me / I’d make me pay for my mistakes / But I don’t think Jesus does it that way,” Wallen sang.

@sadlergal

@morganwallen for the first time performing I don’t think Jesus #gaht #morganwallen #dangeroustour2022 #countryboy #mwsupport #fyp

♬ original sound – Kelly

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.

“Don’t Think Jesus” marks Wallen’s first new solo release since he dropped his record-breaking sophomore project, Dangerous: The Double Album, in January of 2021.

Upon release, “Don’t Think Jesus” made Billboard chart history as it debuted atop the April 30-dated Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. With this achievement, Wallen is now the first artist to score three No.1 debuts on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart (based on airplay, streaming and sales) since October 1958 when the survey began.

According to Billboard, Wallen’s previous chart-topping debuts came with the release of “Wasted On You,” his current single at country radio, and “7 Summers.” He previously topped the Hot Country Songs chart after a 30-week run with “Whiskey Glasses.”

Since the inception of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, only 11 songs have debuted at the top and only one other artist has scored multiple No.1 debuts: Taylor Swift, who skyrocketed to the top of the chart with the release of “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” and “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” in 2021.

@countrypickinz

Don’t Think Jesus – @morganwallen

♬ original sound – Country Pickinz

From the moment of the song’s release through April 21, “Don’t Think Jesus” raked in 18.1 million U.S. streams, according to the outlet, who referenced data from Luminate (formerly known as MRC Data).

Additionally, the single sold 21,500 downloads, making for a No.1 debut on the Country Digital Song Sales and the all-genre Digital Song Sales charts.

Morgan Wallen is currently in the midst of his massive The Dangerous Tour in support of the project. The tour, which is the biggest country tour of 2022 and runs through October, recently sold-out with over 800,000 tickets sold, according to Up2DateCountry.

In addition to HARDY and Larry Fleet, the country hitmaker recently added Lainey Wilson, Kameron Marlowe, Chase Rice, Ian Munsick, and ERNEST to select dates of his sold-out tour lineup.

The singer recently announced his first-ever Stadium show in Arlington, Texas, at Globe Life Field on October 8, 2022, with special guests HARDY, Mike Ryan and Jake Worthington.