The 2024 ACM Awards presenters Ashley McBryde and Noah Reid hilariously spoofed country star Morgan Wallen's recent legal troubles in front of a captive audience.
- May 18, 2024
AceShowbiz - The 2024 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, hosted in Frisco, Texas, took an unexpected turn when presenters Ashley McBryde and Noah Reid joked about Morgan Wallen's recent arrest. Wallen was notably absent from the event, currently on his "One Night at a Time" tour. However, it didn't stop him from being very much the center of conversation.
McBryde and Reid parodied the nominated singles while presenting the Single of the Year award. Reid, known from his musical roles in "Outer Range" and "Schitt's Creek", joined McBryde in serenading the crowd with original lyrics set to the tunes of the nominated songs.
Specifically, Wallen's hit song "Last Night" was given a comedic twist. Reid sang, "Last night after some alcohol, [the] chair right over there really started to piss me off. It told me that I threw it at somebody I never met, and my publicist keeps telling me this ain't over yet," clearly referencing Wallen's chair-throwing incident. McBryde capped off the performance with a wry, "You should smile in the mugshot."
Wallen's arrest occurred on April 7 after he allegedly threw a chair from the sixth floor of Eric Church's Chief's Bar in Nashville, resulting in three charges of reckless endangerment and one of disorderly conduct.
Wallen addressed the incident a couple of weeks later, taking full responsibility for his actions. "I didn't feel right publicly checking in until I made amends with some folks. I've touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief's. I'm not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, McBryde and Reid's parody routine did not just target Wallen. They humorously riffed on other nominated singles, including Parker McCollum's "Burn It Down," Luke Combs' "Fast Car," Jordan Davis' "Next Thing You Know," and Jelly Roll's "Need a Favor," rebranded as "Need a Razor." The audience was left in splits as Reid sang a clever version about the many beards sported by the country artists.
While some viewers were stunned by the boldness of McBryde and Reid's performance, others appreciated the light-hearted take on Wallen's mishap. One social media user remarked, "Omg, I can't believe they went there," while another defended Wallen, pointing out his ongoing success despite the controversy.
Wallen's legal saga continues, with his next court date set for August 15 in Nashville, where several outcomes are possible, including settlement or further hearings. His attorney, Worrick Robinson, indicated that multiple options are on the table for resolving the case.
The 2024 ACM Awards were streaming live on Prime Video from Ford Center at The Star in Texas, ensuring that fans worldwide could witness the memorable and drama-filled event.
