Morgan Wallen understandably appeared to get frustrated after running into technical difficulties while performing “Sand in My Boots” during a live show in Denver on Friday, May 29. Wallen competed on the “The Voice” back in season 6, which aired in 2014, before having his breakthrough hit with “Up Down” 4 years later. He was eliminated during the playoffs, missing the cutoff for the top 12 live shows, but nevertheless went on to become a bona fide modern country superstar. Blake Shelton, who had started his run as a coach 3 years earlier, did not turn his chair for Wallen and later called it a mistake.
The 33-year-old finished his song acapella after the music apparently stopped working, and completed the performance by shoving over a piano that was sitting the stage. He then walked back the way he came looking somewhat dejected. The entire moment including the final portion of the song was caught on camera by several fans, including a TikToker that goes by gems.mom.
Why Did Morgan Wallen Flip Piano?
Billboard explained that the “Wasted On You” singer was performing at Mile High music event held at Empower Field when his set hit a glitch. He was sitting down attempting to play the piano when the outlet says it appeared he could not properly hear the instrument.
Wallen carried on and sang the song without music accompaniment, which the report points out won him a lot of praise after the fact, with one fan calling his impromptu vocal solo “beautiful” in an Instagram comment.
Then, in a moment he has yet to publicly address or comment on, Wallen gave his piano a hard shove and it went toppling over.
One fan called his reaction a “valid crash out,” pointing out how frustrating it would be to have your instrument not work after paying for professional setup.
Morgan Wallen Previously Addressed ‘The Voice’ Elimination
In a 2022 Drury Outdoors appearance, Wallen explained why he believes he was eliminated from the reality competition show. He revealed that his mom signed him up for the show in support of his singing ambitions, and he agreed to audition if she traveled with him to St. Louis, even though he’d never heard of the show.
He said after making it to the top 20, he was pressured towards a pop music direction while he wanted to sing country. Still, he gave the producers’ preferred style for him a shot.
“I wanted to sing country music but they wanted me to sing pop music, so I was just like I guess these people are really smart people, I guess I’ll try it,” the dad of one recalled.
He said after deviating from a pop persona and performing country when he got the chance to choose his own song in a round, “they kicked me off.”
Despite his early elimination, Wallen considers “The Voice” the best thing that ever happened to him, because he made vital career connections and moved to Nashville, Tennessee the following year.
Several years after competing on “The Voice,” Wallen topped the Billboard country chart for the first time with his 2018 hit “Whiskey Glasses.”
