Morgan Wallen finally spoke out about his abrupt walk-off during the closing credits of his recent Saturday Night Live appearance — and, true to form, he turned the viral moment into another win for his brand.
The country star, who returned to SNL in March after a long and rocky road to the show, was under the microscope once again when he suddenly left the stage mid-credit line. Instead of standing with the cast and guest Mikey Madison as is tradition, Wallen gave Madison a quick hug and exited toward the edge of the camera. Fans and critics alike scrambled to read into the move, but Wallen says there was no drama behind it.
Morgan Wallen says he was simply ready to leave after a long week
In a recent episode of the Sundae Conversation podcast with Caleb Pressley, Wallen was asked plainly if SNL had upset him. His answer was as straightforward as his music often is: “No, no, I was just ready to go home. I’d been there all week.”
Wallen had performed two songs from his upcoming album I'm the Problem — including the title track — and apparently felt no need to linger during the show's sign-off. The same night, he posted on Instagram Stories a photo of a private jet with the caption “Get me to God’s country.”
The phrase quickly took on a life of its own, becoming a meme, a punchline on SNL itself, and eventually, official Wallen merchandise.
“Get me to God’s country” became merchandise and meme material
Wallen wasted no time monetizing the moment. His team launched a line of apparel featuring the “Get me to God’s country” slogan — including T-shirts and hats — just weeks after the episode aired. Fans who questioned the urgency of his exit now had a slogan to embrace.
SNL didn’t let the moment slide either. In a cold open one week later, cast member James Austin Johnson — in a Trump impersonation — echoed the line while joking about tariffs. Colin Jost also jabbed Wallen in a monologue, comparing investor flight from the stock market to Wallen’s quick exit from the stage.
Kenan Thompson weighed in, but even he couldn’t read the room
Longtime SNL cast member Kenan Thompson later commented on the walk-off, calling it “definitely a spike in the norm.” He admitted he initially thought Wallen might have just needed to use the restroom. Thompson even referenced a similar abrupt exit by Prince during his own SNL run, suggesting sometimes stars just... are who they are.
But the perception of the moment mattered. Fans wondered if Wallen was disengaged, irritated, or simply being himself — unfiltered and in a hurry to get back to “God’s country.”
Morgan Wallen’s return to SNL was a full-circle moment
Wallen’s March SNL appearance was more than just a performance—it was a chance for redemption. Back in 2020, he was pulled from the show after producers grew concerned about his behavior during the pandemic. He apologized then, and now he’s back, not just as a guest, but as a commercial success with an audience that keeps growing despite his controversies.
During his recent episode, Wallen even joked his way into a sketch with Pete Davidson and Bowen Yang, acknowledging his messy past with the show and the cultural moment of getting “one more chance” in New York.
Recent legal troubles haven’t slowed Wallen’s momentum
Wallen’s career continues to push forward, even as his personal life hits bumps. In April, he was sentenced to probation and a week in a DUI education center after dangerously throwing a chair off a rooftop at a Nashville bar. The incident — which nearly endangered police officers — added to a growing list of incidents that fans and media are watching closely.
Yet, Wallen remains unwavering in his approach: face the music, keep making hits, and don’t let the public define your next move. His latest album, I'm the Problem, drops May 16, and with tracks like “Just in Case” and the titular “I’m the Problem,” he’s leaning into the image of a flawed but honest Southern storyteller.
Morgan Wallen continues to blur the line between controversy and commerce
The “Get me to God’s country” moment sums up Wallen’s current position in entertainment. A moment that could have been awkward or damaging instead became a meme, a merchandise line, and a reminder that Wallen knows how to play the cultural game — even when he’s not playing it safe.
Whether fans love him, hate him, or are just tired of trying to figure him out, Wallen is still one of country music’s most commercially unstoppable forces. And now, he’s got a catchy phrase — and a merch line — to take him straight back to where he feels he belongs.