Morgan Wallen Sparks Controversy after Shouting ‘Praise the Lord’ on SNL and Exiting Early
Country singer Morgan Wallen sparked controversy for abruptly leaving the stage following his musical performance on Saturday Night Live, where he shouted “Praise the Lord” at the end of his performance. As reported by The Christian Post, Wallen concluded his performance of “Just in Case” by proclaiming, “Praise the Lord and Go Vols!” His reference to Vols was towards the University of Tennessee’s Volunteers basketball team, which would face off against the University of Houston in an Elite 8 game of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s annual March Madness Tournament on Sunday. However, the team suffered a loss to Houston.
Regarding his post-performance walkout, “Entertainment Tonight” and additional secular outlets asserted that “backlash” ensued against Wallen because “he didn’t stick around to hang with the cast during the closing credits” as is customary for musical guests on “Saturday Night Live.”
Additionally, “ET” noted that Wallen posted an Instagram story of an airplane on the tarmac against the background of the night sky accompanied by a caption reading, “Get me to God’s country.” The outlet also mentioned an unnamed source who asserted, “Wallen’s end-of-show exit was simply the way he entered and exited the studio all week during rehearsal and camera blocking.”
Wallen has previously been outspoken about his Christian faith. During a 2018 interview with The Christian Post, he said that the phenomenon of mass shootings in the United States has to do with neglect of God.
“I’m a person that has faith and I believe that a lot of people have neglected God,” the singer said at the time.
“We don’t put the Ten Commandments in school anymore. We just neglect everything, and people act like the Ten Commandments is something so terrible. I mean, it’s a way to live. I think we all could agree on what they say,” he added. “I believe in God. I believe that He’s real, and I believe He has control over a lot of things. I think throughout history, there have been a lot of countries that have turned their back on Him, and the result is not great. Hopefully, we can get something figured out.”
Meanwhile, Wallen told CP in a 2017 interview how he developed an interest in music after engaging in prayer following a sports injury.
“I took a few months off after my senior year was over, and I prayed and tried to figure out what was my plan and my purpose,” he said. “That’s how I started writing songs and playing guitar, just to get my feelings out.”
In a separate 2017 interview, Wallen discussed his upbringing, which involved growing up in a Christian home.
“My dad is a preacher. Growing up, I went to church every time the doors were open,” he said.
WATCH: Morgan Wallen | Just In Case (Live) | SNL
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Saturday Night Live
Originally published April 01, 2025.
