The Christian faith of Morgan Wallen

Being the son of a Southern Baptist pastor and coming quickly to fame, with its money and temptations, was a cliché waiting to happen for country singer Morgan Wallen. He was spotted in June wearing a black plaster cast on his leg, with a white bible verse written on it, suggesting that he is still persevering with his faith, despite arrests, infidelity and an onstage temper tantrum. 

Wallen is little known in the UK outside country music circles, but Billboard has called him “one of the biggest stars in the music world.” His route to fame was appearing on music talent show The Voice, where judges hear contestants without seeing them until they bid to mentor the artists through the series.

Although he didn’t win, he secured a recording contract and was soon breaking records. In 2025, he broke his own record for the most simultaneous entries in Billboard Hot 100 history, with 37 songs; previously, he became the first artist to have two albums remain in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart for more than 100 weeks each; his 230 weeks spent at No.1 in their Top Country Albums chart is the most in country music history; and he has the highest-selling country tour under his belt. 

Plaster cast 

The unusual verse written on the cast at his performance in South Carolina was Joshua 2:21, concerning a prostitute Rahab, who was sheltering Israeli spies from her Jericho compatriots. It refers to a deal she made with the spies, whereby they would protect her family from attack by the Israelites, if and when they conquered Jericho, provided that she hung a scarlet cord from a window. The verse states, “She replied, ‘Let it be as you say.’ So she sent them away, and… tied the scarlet cord in the window.” 

The verse is presumably inscribed to suggest one of several traditional interpretations. The blood-red colour suggests sacrifice and redemption; those inside Rahab’s home would be spared, just as later the blood of Christ would save all who believe in Him. Some note how the verse indicates faithfulness, trust and grace. 

Morgan Wallen sported the bible verse Joshua 2:21 on his leg cast during his night 2 concert in Clemson this past weekend. The bible verse reads “Then she said, ‘According to your words, so be it!’ And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the… pic.twitter.com/Z9i1ESNg16

— Country Chord (@CountryChord) June 29, 2026

Author Max Lucado, for example, has written of it, “When we declare, ‘As you have said, so be it,’ we are aligning ourselves with the truth that God is faithful to His promises. Rahab teaches us to trust without reservation”.

Reformed Baptist theologian John Piper has commented, “Rahab’s faith is a reminder to us that our small acts of faith, when combined with God’s grace, can lead to surprising outcomes.” 

Wallen, described online as a “controversy magnet” and country music’s “bad boy,” may well be thinking of his character flaws and dependence on God’s grace.

“I’m the Problem” 

His current album has debuted at No. 1 across seven countries. There is good reason for him to name it I’m the Problem. Those who search for him online are likely to find details of his character flaws before they see any verse from the Old Testament, and drink is often the exacerbator. 

In May 2020, he was charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct after leaving a Nashville bar where he reportedly kicked glass items inside the bar when he was told to leave, as well as getting into verbal altercations with passers-by outside. The case was later dismissed. 

In 2021, TMZ published footage of him saying the N-word while drunkenly walking home, a video which had him banned from the Grand Ole Opry and his music taken off country music radio… until his high record sales led to his re-instatement.

But drink isn’t always the problem. In October 2020, Saturday Night Live cancelled his performance after he broke COVID-19 safety protocols to perform on the show.

Two days after Coldplay’s kiss-cam famously spotlighted a couple, who tried to hide from view and were later discovered to be having an affair, Wallen told his own crowd at Glendale, “Anybody in here with their side chick or whatever, I think you’re safe here,” before adding, “I don’t condone cheating… anymore.” 

Infidelity was the reason his first fiancée, influencer KT Smith, gave for their 2019 separation, just months before their child was born. In 2022, influencer Paige Lorenze called off their relationship after she received direct messages from women who claimed to have slept with him. 

In 2024, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanour counts of reckless endangerment for throwing a chair from the roof of a bar, and this year he flipped a piano over on stage after technical difficulties, revealing a temper.

A messy but public faith

Despite this, Wallen, who grew up singing in church, has openly shared how his Christian faith influences his music, mentioning that he likes to include biblical themes in his songs whenever possible. He has also criticised America for moving away from religious values, citing the removal of the Ten Commandments from schools as an example.

Wallen donates $3 from every concert ticket sold to his foundation, which supports youth programmes in sport and music. Comedian Theo Von attends Bible study sessions with Wallen and has called him “genuine and inspiring”. 

So his grace-rich and grammar-poor song ‘Don’t think Jesus’ looks like a straight self-portrait: 

Boy gets a guitar and starts writin’ songs 
‘Bout whiskey and women and gettin’ too stoned. 
He got all three at the first show he played. 
Hometown said, “I don’t think Jesus done it that way.” 
 
Boy moves to city, lives fast and goes hard, 
Starts chasin’ the devil through honky-tonk bars, 
Ignorin’ the voices in his head that say 
“I don’t think Jesus done it this way.” 
 
If I was Him I’d say, “To hell with you, ain’t no helpin’ you.” 
Find someone else to give Heaven to, I’m tellin’ 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.