Ronnie Dunn and Ella Langley Bond Over Forgetting Morgan Wallen Lyrics

The country stars both struggled to remember the words to Wallen's hit songs during live performances.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:53pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a glittering, textured country music microphone in dramatic high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the glamour and pressure of live performances.The high-stakes pressure of live performances can lead even veteran country stars to occasionally stumble over lyrics, as Ronnie Dunn and Ella Langley recently experienced with Morgan Wallen.Madison Today

Country singers Ronnie Dunn and Ella Langley have both experienced the challenge of forgetting the lyrics to Morgan Wallen's songs during live performances. Dunn previously used a cheat sheet to remember the words to Wallen's 2018 hit "Whiskey Glasses" during a show, while Langley admitted to messing up the lyrics "almost every single time" when she opened for Wallen. Wallen himself even forgot his own lyrics during one of their final shows together.

Why it matters

Forgetting lyrics is a common challenge for even the most seasoned performers, and Dunn and Langley's experiences highlight the pressure and nerves that can come with sharing the stage with a major star like Wallen. Their stories also show the camaraderie and understanding that can develop between artists who have gone through similar performance challenges.

The details

Last June, Ella Langley joined Morgan Wallen onstage in Madison, Wisconsin, to perform his duet "What I Want" with Tate McRae. Afraid of forgetting the lyrics, Langley jotted them down on her palm. In July 2025, Ronnie Dunn famously used a cheat sheet when the reigning Entertainer of the Year, Morgan Wallen, invited Brooks & Dunn to perform his 2018 hit "Whiskey Glasses" in Miami, Florida. Dunn later addressed the situation, explaining that he "couldn't remember the words" and threw the cheat sheet out to the audience as a "souvenir." Langley also admitted to struggling with Wallen's lyrics, saying she "messed up the words almost every single time" when opening for him, due to the dark, smoke-filled tunnel, 80,000-strong crowd, and "pointy heels" she wore onstage. Wallen even forgot his own lyrics during their final performance together.

  • In June 2026, Ella Langley joined Morgan Wallen onstage in Madison, Wisconsin.
  • In July 2025, Ronnie Dunn used a cheat sheet when performing with Morgan Wallen in Miami, Florida.
  • Ronnie Dunn and Morgan Wallen are set to perform together again starting May 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The players

Ronnie Dunn

A 72-year-old country music singer and one half of the duo Brooks & Dunn.

Ella Langley

A rising country music singer who has opened for and performed with Morgan Wallen.

Morgan Wallen

A popular country music singer and the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Paper Gate'…I couldn't remember the words to Whiskey Glasses last year so I wrote 'em on a small card then at the end of the song threw it out to the audience as a souvenir. Next thing ya know someone is making it look an act of disrespect….not my intent at all. Looking forward to going back out with him starting at ALLEGIANT STADIUM / Vegas May 1.”

— Ronnie Dunn, Country Music Singer

“I messed up the words almost every single time. I just felt like I could throw up before I walked out there every time. I just could not remember those words.”

— Ella Langley, Country Music Singer

“I just started to laugh so hard, because he was giving me so much s--- about messing up the words... So the last night he did, and it was like, he just immediately could never say another thing to me about messing up the words.”

— Ella Langley, Country Music Singer

What’s next

Ronnie Dunn and Morgan Wallen are set to perform together again starting May 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The takeaway

Even the most experienced country music stars can struggle with remembering lyrics, especially when performing with a major artist like Morgan Wallen. Dunn and Langley's stories show the camaraderie that can develop between artists who have gone through similar performance challenges, and the pressure that can come with sharing the stage with a superstar.