While Ernest made his debut on country radio last fall, he was already a well-known name in Nashville by then. Penning songs like the Post Malone-Morgan Wallen smash hit “I Had Some Help” and Florida Georgia Line’s “Blessings,” the 33-year-old Nashville native has established himself as one of Music City’s busiest songwriters. However, according to Ernest himself, he didn’t build this reputation entirely on his own merits.
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“We’re Not Here to Talk About Morgan Wallen”
Continuing to promote his single “Would If I Could,” Ernest recently made an appearance on KMLE Country 107.9. At one point, the conversation predictably turned to the reigning Entertainer of the Year. Feigning outrage, Ernest quipped, “We’re not here to talk about Morgan Wallen!”
Eliciting laughter, the singer-songwriter added, “No, I’d be broke if it wasn’t for Morgan Wallen.”
The pair are frequent collaborators, with Wallen lending his vocals to the title track on Ernest’s 2022 album Flower Shops. Released in late 2021, the song gave Ernest his first-ever entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
Last year, Ernest returned the favor when he made a guest appearance on “Cowgirls,” off Wallen’s One Thing at a Time album. Additionally, Ernest received a songwriting credit on “I’m the Problem,” the title track of Wallen’s upcoming fourth studio album.
Ernest Opens Up on Friendship With Wallen, Hardy
Along with singer-songwriter Hardy, Ernest and Morgan Wallen have established arguably the tightest trio in country music. Both Ernest and Hardy appeared on One Thing at a Time, with Ernest and Wallen making frequent appearances on Hardy’s Hixtape project.
“We just inspire each other so much,” Ernest told Taste of Country in 2023. “Our records are all so different… I love it, because yeah, if you do take a step back and look at it, it does look like we’re the three amigos. But we are so different.”
Additionally, Ernest will headline the first Busch Light Summer Music Series with a May 4 performance at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. He has also been teasing a collaboration called “Gettin’ Gone” with gangsta rap legend Snoop Dogg.
Featured image by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The T.J. Martell Foundation
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