He turned the stage into a place of worship.
During his appearance on the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, country singer Morgan Wallen ended his performance of “Just in Case” by shouting, “Praise the Lord and Go Vols!” His proclamation, a nod to his faith, is part of a growing trend of Wallen using his platform to express his religious beliefs.
The reference to “Vols” was a shout-out to the University of Tennessee’s basketball team, who were competing in the Elite 8 of the NCAA’s March Madness Tournament against the University of Houston. The Volunteers ultimately lost the game. While Wallen’s religious declaration garnered attention, another part of his appearance sparked discussion. According to Entertainment Tonight, Wallen’s decision to leave immediately after his performance, instead of staying with the cast during the usual closing credits, led to some backlash from the audience and entertainment outlets.
In addition, Wallen shared an Instagram story that showed an airplane on the tarmac with a caption reading, “Get me to God’s country,” further highlighting his connection to faith. Some sources close to Wallen suggested that his quick exit from the show was simply part of his routine, as he had followed a similar pattern during rehearsals throughout the week.
Wallen has long been known for openly discussing his Christian faith. In a past interview with The Christian Post, he attributed mass shootings in the U.S. to a societal neglect of God, emphasizing the importance of the Ten Commandments and faith in guiding people’s lives. He also shared how a sports injury led him to pray and eventually pursue music as a way to express his feelings, and in another interview, he spoke about his upbringing in a religious household, with his father being a preacher and church attendance a regular part of his life.