Days after the release of 'Smile', fans have theorized about hints from Morgan Wallen’s music video, potentially offering clues about his next move. The single, which dropped on New Year’s Eve, marks Wallen’s third foray of the year following earlier releases of 'Lies Lies Lies' and 'Love Somebody'. These tracks are believed to be precursors to his upcoming album, the sequel to 'One Thing At A Time', celebrating its second birthday this March.
'Smile' was crafted from the collaborative efforts of Wallen, Rocky Block, John Byron, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak, and Luis Witkiewitz. According to press releases, the song continues themes evident in his previous work. Accompanying the single is a music video directed by Justin Clough, showcasing Wallen poised to perform during a televised New Year's celebration. The video reflects the pressures faced by leading artists—pressures highlighted when Wallen’s producer reminds him to smile on stage.
Announced as one of “the biggest pop stars in the world,” Wallen steps onto the stage to perform 'Love Somebody' but surprises the audience by veering off-script to deliver 'Smile' instead. This unexpected pivot delighted viewers, but it’s within the details of the music video where fans believe significant clues about the future of Wallen’s music lie.
Notably, the talk show featured throughout the video is titled 'Dark Til Daylight', appearing prominently on various elements such as Wallen’s dressing room and the performance set. Fans, intrigued by this detail, turned to ASCAP and BMI’s repertories to investigate registered works. They discovered a work titled 'Dark Til Daylight', though it doesn’t list any performers, which is common for unreleased works. Nonetheless, it does list writers Rocky Block, Jimmy Robbins, and Chris Tompkins, each boasting successful histories within the industry.
While it remains unclear whether 'Dark Til Daylight' will materialize as either the title of a new song or album, speculation burgeons among fans, who theorize it could feature two contrasting halves—introspection (the Dark) and exuberance (the Daylight)—mirroring the format of Wallen’s former album 'Dangerous'.
Of significant note, Morgan Wallen’s career has sometimes been overshadowed by his romantic entanglements, which have included several well-known personalities. One notable relationship was with Kristin Cavallari, who offered insights during her appearance on the “Dumb Blonde” podcast. Known for his charm, Cavallari described Wallen as “a good guy” with “a big heart,” and recalled memorable moments from their time together.
“He was like, ‘I’ll pick you up, I’ll pick the place’ [and] just f—ing handled business,” she recounted, reflecting on their time together fondly. While their brief relationship ended about six months ago, Cavallari admitted there were no hard feelings toward the country singer, noting her admiration for him.
Despite her amiable remarks, Cavallari also acknowledged Wallen’s more adventurous dating history. “He’s been with every woman on the planet—as he should,” she joked, indicating the complexity of celebrity relationships within the world of entertainment.
Wallen’s relationships have featured ups and downs over the years. He was engaged to KT Smith from 2017 to 2019, with whom he shares one son, Indigo. Their relationship is described as rocky, from which both have since moved forward. Wallen also went public with model Paige Lorenze, though this ended shortly after making their relationship official on social media.
Add to the mix fellow country singer Megan Moroney, who clarified during the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast, “[We] were not just friends... and now we’re friends,” highlighting the blurry lines of relationships within the industry.
The singer has recently been working on new music following the conclusion of his 'One Night at A Time Tour'. Wallen has yet to produce any formal announcements about upcoming albums; nevertheless, he assured fans through videos he is working diligently behind the scenes, taking time for himself but also preparing to share more music.
Fans are eagerly awaiting any official news from Wallen, hoping to see if the theories surrounding 'Dark Til Daylight' are substantiated. The excitement is palpable as they connect clues from Wallen’s personal life with his artistic expressions, creating anticipation for his potential upcoming projects.
With more surprises seemingly on the horizon, Wallen’s fans remain hopeful for new music, keeping their eyes peeled for any forthcoming announcements. Will 'Dark Til Daylight' be the title of Wallen’s next anticipated album? The music world watches with bated breath, ready for what Wallen unveils next.