Haven’t even heard the song…but already upset with it.
I have a feeling this is not the reaction that Morgan Wallen was hoping for when he decided to pay tribute to Keith Whitley. There’s a lot of excitement for Wallen’s forthcoming 37-track album, I’m The Problem. With the singles he’s recently released, “Just In Case” and “I’m A Little Crazy,” fans think that this might be one of his best albums yet. However, one song is already getting a lot of hate on social media, and we haven’t even gotten a preview of the track.
During Morgan’s SNL performance of “Just In Case,” he previewed what appeared to be tracklist names for the upcoming record on a TV screen behind him. The “Morgan Wallen Broadcast Network” featured the following song titles:
2: I Got Better
4: What I Want (feat. _)
8: Skoal, Chevy, and Browning
14: Where’d That Girl Go
15: Genesis
21: Come Back as a Redneck (feat. _)
34: LA Night
35: Miami
After the performance, a few fans on Facebook pieced together that “Miami” was registered with ASCAP (which controls the publishing rights of songs) featuring eight songwriters: Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, Richard McGill, Blake Pendergrass, Royce Porter, Ernest, Ryan Vojtesak, and Morgan. Three of those songwriters, Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, and Royce Porter, also happen to be the writers of the Keith Whitley classic “Miami, My Amy,” released in January 1985 as the second single from his album L.A. To Miami.
So does this mean that Wallen is covering Keith Whitley’s “Miami, My Amy?” Well, not exactly…
It’s definitely not going to be the same as the classic country twanger that Whitley released in ’85. Wallen sat down with Theo Von for an episode of This Past Weekend and shared that he turned the song into a “rap version” with his own version of the Keith Whitley classic:
“I got a song on my record called ‘Miami.’ It’s a Keith Whitley flip… that’s one of his bigger songs, I guess. But we flipped it and turned it into more of a rap style. But it’s cool, I like it.
It seemed like it could use rapper on there, but I didn’t end up using a feature, we ended up just making a second verse. But it’s one of those songs that it wouldn’t be surprising if we got a remix and did that once it’s out.”
Now, I’m not sure that Keith Whitley could ever “use a rapper” on one of his songs, but I guess it’s fitting for Wallen, given that his songs often feature heavy rap-inspired beats. But after fans heard his plans for the song, everyone quickly had feedback for Wallen – and a lot of it wasn’t exactly positive.
Many country fans were very upset that he was going to change such a classic song in this way. To some, it feels like Beyoncé’s take on “Jolene,” which was also not well received among country listeners.
Wallen ironically also told Von on the podcast that he wants to tone back the rap beats on this record, but it appears that isn’t the case with “Miami.” Just like many other country music fans, I can’t see myself loving a rap version of “Miami, My Amy.”
Check out some of the commentary across social media:
He needs to be stopped https://t.co/DxMzwhwLTq
— Camden Unglesbee (@CamdenUnglesbee) April 2, 2025
Absolutely tf not https://t.co/ywcqNQ47PN
— Coltweezy (@coltweezus) April 2, 2025
This guy is trash 😂
Ruining Whitley songs should be illegal. https://t.co/ff3Qc4R4aU
— Bragg ✝️ (@B_Braggin) April 2, 2025
No thanks https://t.co/I4x0iNmyG9
— Jacob Kiefer (@JKiefer10) April 2, 2025
We want 2018 Morgan back not this shit https://t.co/mKy8tZ4DDC
— JT (@jtob99) April 2, 2025
https://t.co/ROyJpACzAq pic.twitter.com/xywxojLlCc
— Clay Segers (@CSegers3) April 2, 2025
Someone please step in and put a stop to this https://t.co/GxsPKFSuB0
— Charley Collier (@charleycollier_) April 2, 2025
Everyday we stray further from God’s light https://t.co/cvOrPJqn8a
— Coach Spradlin (@spradlin_connor) April 2, 2025
https://t.co/TPlcY3vmAv pic.twitter.com/mLvJKg20qm
— Kelby W. Degenerate (@Glauc27) April 2, 2025
I am not a Morgan Wallen hater at all but this might turn me into one https://t.co/xI5ZSmNoBC
— Oliver McLoed (@omcloed_) April 2, 2025
I listen to Morgan Wallen he's got some good ones but this ain't it 🚮 https://t.co/6xnMwjhC2v
— Dooley (@_TheRealDooley_) April 2, 2025
Oh dear god… please no. Please let the asteroid hit before this song comes out. https://t.co/BDhDWBmysj
— JJ (@Suns6thMan) April 2, 2025
I love Morgan’s music but I’m going to draw the line on this one. It’s okay to do a cover but to change to rap destroys the whole song. I’m disappointed he did this. Experimenting with new sounds is okay but this takes it too far.
— Mike Fritz (@mikiefries) April 2, 2025
April Fools was yesterday yall.
— Bayou_Bob (@Bayou_Bob1971) April 2, 2025
Well, there’s how you ruin a great song to pander to the pseudo-country crowd
— Troy (@TheRaterpillar) April 2, 2025
— HardEdge Afficianado (@mattnjas_RN4L) April 2, 2025
Nobody fucking wants that.
— Biff(Brian is my government name) (@Bballj7985Brian) April 2, 2025
