Why Tennessee fans are upset Morgan Wallen invited Darius Rucker to Neyland Stadium

The crowd went wild when Morgan Wallen brought out Darius Rucker during his final show in Knoxville, but not every Tennessee fan was happy to see the former Hootie & the Blowfish frontman in Neyland Stadium.

Wallen was nearing the end of his two-hour show Sept. 22 when he asked the hometown crowd to give a big Tennessee welcome to Rucker. The two then performed Rucker’s version of “Wagon Wheel,” a popular singalong originally by Old Crow Medicine Show that references East Tennessee.

But since the epic moment, some Tennessee Volunteers fans on social media have been wondering why Rucker was even allowed to step inside the home of Tennessee football following comments he made in 2022.

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Why are Tennessee fans upset at Darius Rucker performing with Morgan Wallen?

Backlash over the surprise Neyland performance stems from a performance Rucker gave back in 2022 in South Carolina while celebrating the women’s college basketball team winning the NCAA championship.

Rucker, a University of South Carolina alum and huge Gamecocks fan, was performing “Wagon Wheel" when he decided to change up the lyrics. Instead of singing, "He's a-headin' west from the Cumberland Gap to Johnson City, Tennessee," Rucker paused and had the audience shout “F ... Tennessee” instead.

Two years later, he was singing in Neyland to a crowd decked out in Tennessee orange. Vols fans expressed their displeasure with the situation on social media platforms such as Facebook, Reddit and X, formerly known as Twitter.

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How did Morgan Wallen fans receive Darius Rucker?

Knox News attended both of Wallen’s concerts at Neyland, which included several surprise guests. Rucker being introduced was one of the most memorable moments from both nights.

Wallen was nearing the end of his main set, and some tired fans had started to sit just before Rucker was introduced. Fans leaped out of their seats, erupted in cheers and collectively sang along to “Wagon Wheel.”

Rucker, with Hootie & the Blowfish, headlined a concert at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center earlier this month.

Other celebrity surprise guests during Morgan Wallen’s Neyland concerts

Rucker was the second surprise musical performer of the Sept. 22 show. Miranda Lambert appeared earlier in the night to perform “Thought You Should Know” with Wallen, a song the artists wrote together to honor Wallen’s mom.

Eric Church was the surprise guest during Wallen’s Sept. 20 show at Neyland. The country star joined Wallen to sing “Quittin’ Time,” a song Church co-wrote for Wallen’s sophomore record, “Dangerous: The Double Album."

Maryville mandolin prodigy, 15-year-old Wyatt Ellis, also joined Ernest on stage to open up the Sept. 20 show. Ernest kicked off both nights, followed by HARDY, before Wallen took the stage.

Tennessee legend Peyton Manning also surprised fans by escorting Wallen to the stage Sept. 22 while wearing his former football uniform. Football coach Josh Heupel, baseball coach Tony Vitello, quarterback Nico Iamaleava and other members of the Tennessee baseball and football teams also walked Wallen to the stage during the two-night affair.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Not every Morgan Wallen fan was happy to see Darius Rucker at Neyland