Morgan Wallen's first social media post since February that wasn't an apology for using a racial slur or an announcement about his future shows him fishing with fellow country superstar and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Eric Church.
?The well-tanned pair look like they went from hitting the golf course to casting bait.
"Hang a sign on the door of my life," reads Wallen's Instagram caption, which is a reference to Church's 2006 song "Livin' Part of Life."
Before promotion of Dangerous: The Double Album hit a screeching halt, Wallen identified Church's music as a reason why he chose to pursue a country music career.
"The way he wrote songs and the way that he said things really struck a chord with me. His realness, raw emotion and authenticity drew me in," Wallen told Billboard for a January cover story. "Then I started digging a little bit deeper and started listening to Keith Whitley. I finally got into country music more and when I picked up a guitar, that's what I wrote."
Wallen befriended his musical hero after seeking permission to record Church's song "Quittin' Time."
"That's kind of where our relationship, our introduction, began," Wallen recalled (as quoted by Pop Culture). "Since then I've been able to hang out with him, him and his wife, and got to know him a little bit better. Really feel like I've made a friend and it's because of the music, because of that song really. So that song is special to me for sure."
For his own Billboard cover story about a lengthy and ambitious country album (or three), Church called Wallen's use of the n-word "indefensible."
"I was heartbroken when it happened," Church told Billboard. "I think Morgan's trying to work on that and on himself. And I hope he does."
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In February, following TMZ's release of the video of Wallen using a racial slur outside of his Nashville home, the country artist was suspended by his record label, Big Loud Records. His music was also removed from Cumulus Media and iHeartRadio airwaves. In addition, CMT removed Wallen from its platforms, and he was not eligible for this year's ACM Awards.
Wallen's since said he's taking an extended break from music, cancelling out tour dates at summer festivals.
The Tennessee native's new album still spent 10 weeks atop the all-genre Billboard 200.
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