Let's talk about Morgan Wallen (and "Cover Me Up") 

It's a win-win for everyone.

I discovered Jason because of Morgan Wallen. Jason isbell was my most listened to artist of the year because of that

His next record is gonna be massive, mark my words.

My favorite comment from Isbell was a little while back he tweeted something along the lines of “I don’t care who covers it as long as BMI knows I wrote it”

I personally adore this cover. I think his voice is perfect for it, BUT it’s Jason Isbell’s lyrics that make the song phenomenal. If Morgan hadn’t covered this song, I wouldn’t have begun listening to Jason Isbell. Coming across the live version of his cover propelled me into falling in love with Isbell’s incredible songwriting

I saw Morgan live, he said, “I used to sing this song as a warmup before I went on stage.” His band mates told him to release a cover. He was pretty damn good live.

People cover other songs alllllll the time. Idk why people are giving Morgan such much shit when he evens gives a shoutout to Jason every time he sings it. 🙄

This cover actually gave me respect for Morgan Wallen and his voice. It's nice to know that his voice can be genuine and emotional when it so often is surrounded by heavy production.

I don’t care who you are, if you’re a little tipsy, that “POOOOUURRR ME” comes out at the top of your lungs.

Whisky Glasses is my personal favorite song of his

He has a really good voice. I wish his record company would let him do some true country like more Cover Me Up stuff. Instead of his bro country stuff

Am I the only one that laughed at Jason Isbell saying "You’re about to have to deal with your family at the holidays. This isn’t a thing to stress over."

I had never heard of Jason Isbell until Morgan Wallen released the cover. That song and Morgan's song Chasin' You brought me to the next level of being a fan. And it is very cool that he will reply to his fans on social media.

All I know about Morgan Wallen is “Whiskey Glasses”, which is so catchy once you hear it, you can’t get it out of your head. And as long as Jason Isbell is good with it, guess what...? Nobody. Else’s. Opinion. Matters. End of story.

I'm starting to sort of like his voice, I don't know why. I don't like much of his work but I gotta confess Updown and especially Whiskey Glasses are so catchy.

Once again I agree with practically everything you say. More people being introduced to great art is the perfect scenario for all.

I was gonna make a comment about how this SO reminds me of the kerfuffle in media and pop culture when Whitney made Dolly's song such a HUGE smash. Somebody asked Dolly if it bothered her and she said "heck no, I go to the bank every time they play that song" (or something like that. But I was afraid I'd sound like the old guy in the room that got his kids to help him post on social media. Then I remembered Grady has a thing for Dolly and said what the heck. Kids, type it up! 🤘🏼👴🏼👍🏼

I get he covered the song. But what he did with the short film to spread awareness about Veterans and PTSD is nothing less of amazing. 22 vets a day.

I’m cool with it but if Luke Bryan takes Elephant I’m gonna lose my damn mind

I'm a South African who knows little to nothing about country music but I heard Morgan Wallen version of this song and I thought it was the most beautiful song I'd ever heard! Made me appreciate the genre! Let's let good music play on and inspire the world!

I feel like “Cover Me Up” is a new Country standard. And it seems like we haven’t had standards in years. So I am glad Morgan Wallen covered it.

Morgan is actually a distant cousin of mine, he still comes to our town and does free concerts from time to time..

Was in Nashville for the concert, was an incredible night and Morgan was nothing but humble and thankful for being able to do what he does.

It also showed eveyone the real voice that boy has.

Big Morgan Wallen guy. Love Whiskey Glasses and I thoroughly enjoyed his debut album (silly songs can still be fun to drive to y’all). I loved the original acoustic Cover Me Up and it certainly sent me down the Jason Isbell rabbit hole. It’s a win win for everyone.

Isbell wasn’t the ‘lead singer’ of the DBTs, he joined really late and was younger than bandmates like Patterson Hood, but when he played stuff like Outfit and Danko Manuel, it was clear he was super talented

The people need to discover Koe Wetzel. But that’s one mans opinion

His version of cover my up is BEAUTIFUL 😍

Honestly, I’ve been hoping you’d speak about this cover of ‘cover me up’ for a while. I really hope morgan sings and records more songs in this style in conjunction with his more mainstream tracks. Also, Grady, as a fan of yours from the UK I’d like to say thank you for your content and I really appreciate your unfiltered, honest and raw opinion on the country music community and climate. Keep doing what you do bud ❤️

I actually really like Morgan Wallen. I am from Melbourne Australia, and getting to see him early this year in concert with my kids jumping up and down loving his music. A highlight of my year. Loving his music.

One quick thing to add: the best version of Cover Me Up is from Jason’s Live From the Ryman album. A couple of songs on Southeastern are better live than on the album. Cover Me Up and Super 8 come to mind.

Listen to his song "Chain Smokin". Older song and one of my favorites

Wallen is showing incredible maturity with this song. I hope he continues in this direction.

Love your take on this. I didn’t know how to feel about Morgan covering this song especially when I was being a music snob and constantly reminding my friends that Jason Isbell wrote it

“‘ Glow-down that became a glow-up”=😂😂😂

Morgan's version tears up my heart. I love it, been listening to it for almost a year now. It's great.

I actually really like this guys music. He’s fun and like you pointed out, I love his play on words where he uses double meanings to illustrate his songs. I’m enjoying his newest album a lot.

He Slays This Industry and Chasin’ You! We all love him

I got introduced to this song because of Morgan Wallace and I love it. I am not a country music fan, I am from Jamaica I mostly listen to reggae and I am so happy for these great covers because they keep these great songs alive! I am watching this video to really understand the words of the song cover me up. It sound so deep but a lot of the lyrics initially went over my head. I love it when a song have such strong impact it send you to go do further research because you are thinking about it so much.

I was at that show in Nashville. He really knew how to command the crowd

100% agree with this. Outlaw country born and raised. I would never listen to Morgan had this cover not been suggested for me. He destroys this cover....but in the most incredible, beautiful, raw way. After listening for the first time I was mesmerized. You cannot deny his vocal ability after listening to this. I am a sucker for a well written song, but add a raspy, beautiful tone and I am hooked. I really do believe that he could turn the tide and lead bro country back to where it needs to go, or at least for himself. He has the goods and it suits him. Plus his video about PTSD equally destroyed me emotionally for so many reasons. It was bold, brave and needed to be spotlighted. Cover me up will always be one of my absolute favorite songs of all time. 🙌🏻❤️🙌🏻

It just irks to get on social media and see someone say “I felt it when Morgan Wallen said “insert lyric from Cover Me Up”. It’s a total disregard for one of the greatest songwriters of our time.

I think my favorite tweet from Isbell I saw about people covering his songs was something like "I don't care who knows if I wrote that song, as long as BMI knows I wrote that song."

I had never heard the song Cover Me Up until the Morgan Wallen cover was recommended on RU-vid. I think he's incredibly talented and is going to have a great career. I'm a really big fan of your channel! You do such a great job of putting out quality content. I've always been a big country fan, but you've introduced me to a lot of artists I've never heard before. I've started to venture out and listen to a lot of new stuff. Thank you for that!

I agree wholeheartedly....greetings from South-Africa.

I love his cover of cover me up. I hope his next album has that true country sound like that song it’s just beautiful, and his voice is great!

I've seen Jason perform "Cover Me Up," and I've seen Morgan perform it back in November at an acoustic show. Both were incredible experiences. In the end, I'm just thankful that more people know about Isbell and this song.

please talk about tyler childers

Are we gonna ignore the lights on the guitar

As a Jason isbell fan since the DBTs, but not really a country fan until recently, I’m glad more people will discover him

I have had this song on repeat for a WEEK ugh the feels

such a loving whole hearted song

So here’s my take on this. Jason Isbell was really my intro to country music, believe it or not. I got in on the back end instead of wading through all the shit country to get to the good stuff. I went from Isbell to Childers to Stapleton to Combs, and it’s been great. But Jason’s music holds a real special place in my heart. It earned a big spot in my normal fishing trip rotation of folk and Americana. I remember early last summer, I hiked through the woods from a high-traffic lake to a little, hidden gem of a bass pond. As I walked around the lake, as I took the trail to the pond, and as I made my way around the pond, Jason was 90% of what I was playing on my speaker. I was absolutely hooked (no pun intended). I’ve since gotten very invested in Jason as an artist and as a man. I would die for him, his wife, and his daughter Mercy. He’s an amazing artist, and I look up to him as a person. He’s got an amazing story, and some amazing music to tell it. However. I don’t hate Morgan Wallen’s cover. It’s pretty good, actually. It’s leagues behind Jason’s original, if you ask me, but it’s still very good. It’s still country, it’s still got instruments, it’s not overproduced. Nothing about this is even remotely bad. Morgan isn’t going to take anything from Jason by covering his song. He pays royalties, and he verbally credits him whenever he sings the song. At the very least, Jason gets royalties and Morgan Wallen fans get a cool new song. At most, Morgan Wallen introduces his fans to Jason Isbell, an artist they maybe wouldn’t have heard otherwise. Jason’s version gets more traffic, he gains some popularity, and all is well. There’s literally no way this could be bad. Morgan won’t steal fans from Jason. People who know both versions and like Morgan’s better aren’t going to up and leave Jason behind entirely. I think it’s good for country music. It introduces mainstream fans to that back end I was talking about. And, as was mentioned in the video, that means introduction to the same rabbit hole I went down. Jason, Sturgill, Tyler, Chris Stapleton, and more. Matter of fact, I went from Chris Stapleton’s solo stuff to listening to Stapleton-era SteelDrivers. Maybe someone will go from hearing Tyler Childers to finding Colter Wall’s version of “Fraulein”, which features Tyler. Maybe they’ll get hooked on Colter Wall, fall down that rabbit hole, and then go listen to The Dead South. Maybe from there, they’ll fall down the huge gothic folk rabbit hole and start listening to The Builders and the Butchers, The Devil Makes Three, O’Death, Brown Bird, and whoever the hell else. Maybe they’ll find Colter’s live cover of “Big Iron”, and fall down a classic country rabbit hole. Who knows! This is really cool, I think. If not cool, it’s neutral at worst. There’s no possible way for this to be a bad thing. Morgan isn’t ruining Jason’s song. Jason’s original version still exists. Nothing is wrong.

I am glad we have a BSB fan in our mix

Rewatching this for the new vid tomorrow about him!

It was because of Morgan Wallen covering Jason Isbell's song that I discovered him. I think as a songwriter, that's the biggest compliment in the world that someone gives your song another life. It's simply a beautiful track.

Heard this for the first time around 3 weeks and instantly thought about sending a message to Grady to review this song.. One of the best songs I have heard in a long time! Instant number 1 if it comes out on the radio

I been rocking with Morgan every since he came out with the The way I talk

First song i heard of morgan wallen,and its the song tht hooked me.

County Fairs pay the bills too. Nickelback's Joey Moi doesn't have the last say in studio Grady. Rephaising songs starts with a vocalist. Janis Joplin took Me and Bobby McGee from lost demo idea to number one for Kris Kristofferson. I can't wait until Ashley McBryde starts rephrasing 😍 keep it Country Christmas Y'all

What an impressive breakdown of the situation. Well done man. Class act.

If it weren’t for cover me up by Morgan Wallen I wouldn’t be listening to Isbell or even Cody Jinks. Man’s an impressive singer and hope his album this summer kills it with his new direction of style

I love Morgan Wallen so much, man is a legend in the making

I've been a musician and a songwriter for 25+yrs. I really liked and agreed with your opinions in this video. You are on point!

Morgan Wallen is such a vibe and that is that.

Love Morgan 👍🏼 Love that he writes most of his own stuff too

Great take. Love Isbell and not too big on Morgan, but bringing Isbell to a larger audience is awesome. He got Isbell's blessing so who cares what the fans think

I’ve seen him live a few times and he’s very good live.

Jason Isbell should be glad Morgan covered this song. By far my favorite song by Morgan - started listening to country again after hearing him. Morgan hit it out of the park!!!!!!!!!

First here!!! Love Morgan’s sound and wordplay. Haven’t gotten into him totally but might need to after I watch this vid.

ever since you recently mentioned morgan wallen (I think mid-year 2019?) and said his lyrics were clever, I saw him in a whole new light. He toured with FGL in Australia in April and I regret not listening more closely to his set cos I'm now obsessed with his music . also i really love heartless and it's in my top songs of 2019 on spotify haha

Came back to watch this 3 years later

I didn’t like Morgan until I heard “cover me up.” Now he is easily my favorite artist

Such exquisite acting

Good for the song, both guys and country music.

Morgan is one of my favorite musicians in the game right now. I have actually seen him live 5 times and he’s AMAZING.

Didn’t used to like him but his new stuff is fire

You’re spot on!

I have been waiting for this video. Ive been really liking his music recently

“Tennessee Whiskey” was first recorded by George Jones

Morgan is probably my favorite artist ever, I literally flew from MA to OH to see him for the first time. I’ve been so excited to hear your opinions in a video just about him!!

Cool story: I teach 9th grade health. I gave an assignment called "Health In Art," in which the students could use any type of art they wanted to show something we'd covered in class. One of my students chose this song, talked about it during the presentation, and showed the music video. The class loved it, and now I've been obsessed with it.

It's interesting to hear he's from Sneedville, that's right down the road from me and I had never even heard his name until the Isbell thing

This song is everything, I don't care.

I love MW but I think hearing this cover turned me into a real fan. Watched a show this summer and I'm driving from Nova Scotia to see him again in 2 months. I sure hope he sings this song.

Fantastic perspective and breakdown!

Most important thing to me in music is authenticity. That’s the only reason it doesn’t sit well. Here’s a guy who has a bunch of songs written by 2, 3, 4, co-writers a pop, songs about booze and boats and all the other cliche topics invading country music the past 20 years. And now he’s singing a personal song written by a recovering alcoholic about getting sober. And THEN proceeds to make a video for it turning it into a song about PTSD because you know, support the troops. It just comes off as fake and a pandering grab for acceptance. Not sure it will ever sit well with me. That said, if this causes someone to look further into Isbell and listen to Southeastern for the first time, I’m jealous of that person getting to experience that. I agree with a lot of what you said in this video and am gonna try myself to open up my heart and mind a little more when it comes to this subject.

He just exploded since then... Dangerous is an immediate classic.

If I know me was a GREAT album not a bad song I can’t wait for the next

@morganwallen needs to watch this

My hometown is actually about 10 mins away from his! I know some of his family!❤️ Morgan is all about keeping where he came from in his music that’s why there is so much southern references. He is definitely on his way to blowing up and i love it! ❤️ also he just released a new song today “This Bar”!!

I love this cover and he’s awesome in concert. Good voice!

Before I started liking country I listened to rock. Like Metallica, stone temple piolets, system of a down type rock. And green day of course. Then one day I was so bored of it and my younger sister was listening to Luke Bryan (I know) so I started listening to pop country on the radio in the car. But none of the songs made me really want to know who the artists were. Until Miranda Lambert. I wanted to know about her and buying her albums lead me to listened to other, mostly female, country artists. I'm glad I found you channel cause I like whiskey glasses and chasing you but didn't know they were the same person lol. And I've started listening to Ashley McBride and the turnpike troubadors. So thanks!

You need to talk about Ruston Kelly. Dude is criminally underrated.

I really respect you saying that not all mainstream country is all bad I feel like you can find bad and great in every single genre

Honerable Mentions for this category: "Red Ragtop" by Jason White, "God Gave me you" by David Barnes. obviously there's way more, but those were some tough swallows that I've grown to love

I really enjoy Morgan Wallen’s music. I wasn’t aware Cover Me Up was a cover so I’ve now been lead down a rabbit hole of Jason Isbell’s music. Being from the UK it can be hard to keep on track with all country music and news so it’s great to find artists to explore. Thanks Grady.

This is going to be our first dance song

Haven't been paying to much attention to up and coming artists, first time I heard "Cover Me Up" was Jake Hoot on The Voice a few weeks ago. Which was awesome.

I was riding with a friend, actuality to go see Zach Bryan because neither of our spouses wanted to go and he'd bought 2 tickets. He gave me control of the music. I played the original version of this song, and he knew it because of the Morgan Wallen cover. I prefer the original because it feels more personal, but it's great that more people know about it because of that.