In a bold interview this week, Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams didn't mince words when asked about the pointed lyric in her new solo track. The line, "I'll be the biggest star at this racist country singer's bar," from Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, targets none other than chart-topping country artist Morgan Wallen. Williams, speaking on The New York Times' Popcast, laid it out plainly: "It could be a couple, but I'm always talking about Morgan Wallen. I don't give a f***. Find me at Whole Foods, b****, I don't care." Her unfiltered response drew laughs from the host, but it underscored a lingering tension in the music world.
Wallen's history here isn't ancient news. Back in 2021, he faced widespread backlash after a video surfaced of him repeatedly using a racial slur late at night. His label, Big Loud Records, suspended him indefinitely, and he lost endorsements from brands like Spotify and radio play. Wallen issued an apology, entered rehab, and eventually clawed his way back to the top of the charts. Yet, the incident has cast a long shadow, especially as he expanded his empire with bars in Nashville. Williams, no stranger to calling out industry ills, had already shaded those celebrity-owned venues earlier this summer, snubbing Wallen's spot amid her critiques of Nashville's flashy bar scene.
Indeed, this isn't Williams' first jab. As Paramore's voice, she's long championed progressive causes, from LGBTQ+ rights to mental health awareness. Her solo work dives deeper into personal reckonings, but blending in sharp commentary like this feels deliberate. Morgan Wallen, now 31, has sold over 20 million albums worldwide since that scandal, proving controversy hasn't dimmed his commercial shine. Still, Williams' direct hit reignites debates about accountability in country music, a genre often accused of sidelining diverse voices.
However, the exchange highlights broader rifts. Wallen supporters might see it as piling on, four years after the fact, while others applaud Williams for keeping the conversation alive. Moreover, her album, released in July, has been praised for its raw edge, and this revelation only amps up its buzz. As the dust settles on these fresh words, one wonders if this feud will echo in future collaborations—or collisions—in the industry.