Morgan Wallen, 28, took home the award for album of the year for Dangerous: The Double Album at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards on Monday.
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This is following the artiste’s ban from the show in 2021 after he came under fire for using the N-word in a leaked video.
“When I started this album, I was a kid. By the time I put it out, I was a father,” Wallen — who is dad to 20-month-old son Indigo Wilder with ex-girlfriend KT Smith — began in his acceptance speech.
“That’s become more important to me than anything else,” he continued. “To my son, this album and this award will signify that his daddy was a fighter, and he chased his dreams and worked hard to make them a reality.”
Wallen added, “I want to say a special thank you to all of the songwriters, producers and musicians that played on this album. I wish you were standing here next to me now. This project would not be complete without each of them.”
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“I’d also like to thank my good Lord and savior Jesus Christ, my family, my friends, my team in Nashville, country radio and everyone who has shown me grace along the way,” he said. “Most importantly, I have to address my fans personally and directly: thank you, thank you, thank you!”
After his music pulled from radio waves and his record label contract suspended, Wallen was also deemed ineligible at both the ACM and CMT Awards in 2021, and was banned from participating in the Billboard Music Awards, and from any non-collaborative categories at the CMA Awards.
Wallen has since apologized on several different occasions, and revealed to Good Morning America’s Michael Strahan in July that he checked into a rehabilitation center after the incident.
The “7 Summers” singer is currently in the midst of a 46-city arena tour that will continue through September.
The 2022 ACM Awards, hosted by Dolly Parton, Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett, are broadcasting live from Las Vegas on Prime Video.
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