Country music has infiltrated the National Hockey League.
One could even make an argument that the country genre has really become popular in a number of sports leagues. Whether its the MLB, NHL, NFL or the NBA (shoutout to Jimmy Butler for being a huge country fan on accident), professional athletes are listening to a lot of country music in the modern age.
It’s funny to think that those clips showing the world’s most athletic human beings listening to music through their headphones in their respective locker rooms could be “locking in” for the game by firing up some Luke Combs or Eric Church.
Which if we’re talking the Detroit Red Wings specifically, they are all apparently listening to Morgan Wallen. That became clear when the social media team for the Red Wings decided to do a “Spotify Wrapped” themed video where players and coaches were asked who their top artist was for 2024. I don’t know what I expected (maybe for hockey players to listen to heavy metal or something?), but the response was overwhelmingly country music.
Here’s how many of the members of the Detroit Red Wings answered the “top artist” question:
Lucas Raymond: Morgan Wallen
Ville Husso: Morgan Wallen
Andrew Copp: Luke Combs
Cam Talbot: Eric Church
Christian Fischer: Morgan Wallen
Albert Johansson: Morgan Wallen (the Swede also said he was a “big country guy”)
Moritz Seider: Shaboozey
Erik Gustaffson: Luke Combs
Michael Rasmussen: Morgan Wallen
Alex DeBrincat: Zach Bryan
J.T. Compher: Luke Combs
Jeff Petry: Morgan Wallen
Assistant Coach Alex Tanguay: Morgan Wallen
For those not great at quick math, the “Last Night” singer was the answer for 7 of the 12 that answered with a country music artist. So I guess its safe to say that Morgan Wallen is a fan favorite in the Red Wings locker room… after all, Morgan did take home the CMA Entertainer of the Year award.
The Detroit Red Wings certainly find him entertaining based on these answers:
A good mix here 🎶 pic.twitter.com/vf4PBBHEmy
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 12, 2024
Country music almost ran the table there if it weren’t for some of those Kendrick Lamar, Coldplay and Duran Duran answers. To be honest, I guess I expected to hear more artists like that from professional NHL hockey players.
Many Red Wings fans were more than fine with the results of the top artist survey, as you can see by some of the comments they left below the post:
A man from knoxville is half of this teams top artist. Dear god they all wanna be cowboys. ALSO forgive me veleno I was not familiar with your game.
— M🐘 ⁷ (@meaghancates) December 12, 2024
I had no idea there were so many country fans
— iceball8314 (@iceball8314) December 12, 2024
Oh Morgan wallen won. King
— 🇮🇹🇮🇹 (@marblur1) December 12, 2024
You guys need to listen to sturgil Simpson. Go on a heater.
— Sean Thompson (@TheyThemThy) December 12, 2024
Morgan Wallen wins this survey, and I agree.
🎶#LGRW https://t.co/s76DRPlux1
— Hockeytown 4 Life™ 🇺🇸 (@CellyChick) December 12, 2024
