Country music star Morgan Wallen was arrested late Sunday night in downtown Nashville after allegedly throwing a chair from the rooftop of a popular honky-tonk onto the street below.
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The Incident at Chief’s Honky Tonk
Wallen was arrested around 11 PM on April 2, 2023 at Chief’s, a new six-story bar and music venue. He has been charged by Metro Nashville Police with:
- 3 counts of reckless endangerment
- 1 count of disorderly conduct
According to the police report, officers witnessed a chair land on the street just feet away from where they were standing. After reviewing security footage, they allegedly saw Wallen “lunging and throwing an object over the roof” which almost struck pedestrians and vehicles driving below.
“Witnesses said Wallen laughed afterward,” the report stated.
In a statement, Wallen’s attorney noted that he is fully cooperating with authorities regarding the alleged incident.
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Morgan Wallen’s History of Arrests
This is not Wallen’s first brush with the law on Lower Broadway. In May 2020, he was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct outside of Kid Rock’s honky-tonk bar. Police noted he was kicked out of the bar for kicking glass items and got into verbal altercations on the street.
At the time, officers considered him “a danger to himself and the public.”
About Chief’s Honky Tonk Joint Venture
Chief’s bar on Lower Broadway opened its doors on April 1, 2023. The new venue was created through a partnership between Wallen’s friend and collaborator Eric Church along with real estate developers AJ Capital.
The bar features:
- A 400-person live music venue called the Neon Steeple
- Inspired by Church’s song “Chief”
- Part of Church’s residency called “To Beat the Devil”
Ongoing Business Ventures Between Church and Wallen
Church and Wallen have invested in several joint business ventures recently, including:
- Acquiring and relaunching the Field & Stream outdoor lifestyle brand
- Releasing a co-branded apparel line
- Hosting the new Field & Stream Music Festival this fall
- Opening a new bar in 2024 called “This Bar” inspired by Wallen’s song
- Renovating an historic Nashville music venue together
The alleged rooftop incident at Chief’s occurred just days after its opening. Representatives for the bar have not yet commented.
Morgan Wallen’s Career Highlights and Controversies
The arrest comes at the height of Wallen’s music career, including:
- Eleven 2023 Billboard Music Award wins
- Sold-out early April concerts kicking off his nationwide arena tour
- Three upcoming 2024 concerts planned for Nashville’s Nissan Stadium
However, the singer has also been embroiled in recent controversies:
- Canceling 2023 Oxford concert with no make-up date set
- CMT Awards ban for using a racial slur in 2021
- Skipping 2024 CMT Awards amidst ongoing backlash
It remains unclear if the reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct charges will impact his upcoming tour dates and concerts.
