Ernest, a well-known figure in Nashville, made his debut on country radio last fall, though he had already established a strong presence in Music City by then. The 33-year-old singer-songwriter has written hits like Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help” and Florida Georgia Line’s “Blessings.” Despite his success, Ernest credits part of his rise to Morgan Wallen.
While promoting his single “Would If I Could” on KMLE Country 107.9, Ernest joked about his relationship with Wallen. The conversation soon turned to Wallen, and Ernest, feigning frustration, quipped, “We’re not here to talk about Morgan Wallen!” He then added, “No, I’d be broke if it wasn’t for Morgan Wallen,” drawing laughs from the audience.
Ernest and Wallen have collaborated several times, including Wallen’s guest vocals on the title track of Ernest’s 2022 album Flower Shops. The song, released in late 2021, marked Ernest’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
In return, Ernest joined Wallen on the track “Cowgirls” from Wallen’s One Thing at a Time album last year. He also earned a songwriting credit on “I’m the Problem,” the title track of Wallen’s upcoming fourth studio album.
Ernest is part of a close-knit trio of country stars, alongside Wallen and singer-songwriter Hardy. The trio has frequently collaborated, with Ernest and Wallen appearing on Hardy’s Hixtape project. Ernest recently shared his thoughts on the friendship, saying, “We just inspire each other so much… our records are all so different. I love it, because yeah, if you step back, we do look like the three amigos. But we are so different.”
Looking ahead, Ernest will headline the first Busch Light Summer Music Series, performing on May 4 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. He has also hinted at an upcoming collaboration with rapper Snoop Dogg, titled “Gettin’ Gone.”
