ACM Criticized by NAACP Nashville President for Awarding Morgan Wallen Album of the Year

In recent years, Morgan Wallen has become one of the most controversial singers in country music. He recently received a major honor during the Academy of Country Music Awards. The president of the local chapter of the NAACP said she is not happy with this development.

Morgan Wallen said the N-word on camera and was subsequently banned from the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards

According to TMZ, Wallen said the N-word on camera in February 2021. He subsequently gave $25,000 to the NAACP. The 2021 ACM Awards banned him. Sheryl Guinn, the head of the Nashville chapter of the NAACP, said she believes this ban had no impact. She noted Wallen’s most recent album, Dangerous: The Double Album, was quite popular. 

Wallen’s ban from the 2021 ceremony was not the end of his association with the ACM Awards. He appeared at the 2022 ceremony. There, Dangerous: The Double Album won the Academy of Country Music Award for Album of the Year. 

What the singer had to say at the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards

According to Country Now, Wallen thanked many following his win. “When I started this album I was a kid,” he said. “By the time I put it out I was a father and that’s become more important to me than anything else. To my son, this album would signify that his daddy was a fighter and he chased his dreams and worked hard to make them a reality.”

Wallen also thanked the artists who worked on Dangerous: The Double Album. “I want to say a special thank you to all the songwriters, producers, and musicians that played on this album,” he shared. “I wish you were standing here next to me, this project would not be complete without each other.”

Wallen also expressed gratitude toward his supporters. “Most importantly I have to address my fans, personally and directly, thank you, thank you, thank you,” he said. “I am blown away by you guys.” 

What the NAACP’s Sheryl Guinn thinks about Morgan Wallen’s win at the Academy of Country Music Awards and the country music community as a whole

TMZ reports Guinn was not enthused by the warm reception Wallen received at the ceremony. She does not believe Wallen has worked hard enough to explain to his supporters why they shouldn’t say the N-word. She doesn’t think the money Wallen donated to the NAACP will help educate his fans about systemic racism. Guinn opined the country music industry is hoping listeners will cease to care about Wallen’s use of a slur as time goes by.

Guinn discussed what the country music community should do. “I don’t know what to tell people who have all the privileges and rights in the world … but they can figure it out,” she said.