Newly released footage from Morgan Wallen’s April 2024 arrest in Nashville shows the country star more concerned about his appearance than his circumstances, asking officers to make sure his hair looked “decent” before his mugshot was taken.
In the video, obtained from the Nashville police precinct, Wallen, 32, appears calm and cordial as officers process his booking following the incident that led to his arrest earlier this year. While cooperating with law enforcement, the singer repeatedly brings up one topic — his mugshot.
“And you say you have been arrested here before? There’s your picture if you want to see it from last time,” an officer tells Wallen in the footage. Wallen responds, “Do I gotta take another picture?”
The officer confirms, “Yeah, they’ll probably take an updated picture of you.” Wallen then asks, “Can you make sure I got my hair looking decent?” prompting laughter from those around him.
“Yeah, I’ll try to,” the officer replies with a chuckle, adding, “You’ll have to ask the DCSO [Davidson County Sheriff’s Office] guys.”
Still smiling, Wallen asks, “You got a comb?”
“I actually do,” the officer replies. “I’ll try to help you out. You may be the first arrest at Chief’s.”
The exchange took place shortly after officers allowed Wallen to use the restroom. Before he went inside, they re-handcuffed him with his hands in front of his body and handed him a comb so he could fix his hair before his booking photo was taken.
Later footage shows Wallen sitting in the back of a police vehicle, laughing as he asks, “How do I look, man?” One officer responds, “Good.” Wallen then adds, “I’m gonna smile this time, too. Should I smile? I’m a lot happier than I was then. I used to be mad. I’m not no more. You ever been mad?”
“Oh yeah,” the officer says, prompting Wallen to continue, “At the world? Me too.” After a pause, he says, “I’m not anymore. I went to church for [the] fourth time in a row today.”
Wallen’s comments reference his previous 2020 arrest in Nashville, when he was charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct after being kicked out of Kid Rock’s bar on Lower Broadway. Those charges were later dropped, but the mugshot from that incident — showing the singer smiling with tousled hair — quickly went viral online.
His 2024 arrest stemmed from an incident outside Chief’s, a Nashville bar co-owned by country star Eric Church. Wallen was initially charged with felony reckless endangerment after reportedly throwing a chair from the rooftop of the venue. The charge was later reduced to two misdemeanor counts.
In December 2024, Wallen pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven days at a DUI education center and two years of supervised probation.
“Mr. Wallen has cooperated fully with authorities throughout these last eight months, directly communicating and apologizing to all involved,” his attorney, Worrick Robinson IV, said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time. “Mr. Wallen remains committed to making a positive impact through his music and foundation.”
Following the incident, Wallen also issued a public apology on April 19, 2024. “I didn’t feel right publicly checking in until I made amends with some folks,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I’ve touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I’m not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility.”
The newly surfaced footage provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at Wallen’s demeanor during his 2024 arrest, showing a noticeably more composed and lighthearted tone compared to his 2020 encounter. While he appeared focused on ensuring his mugshot came out better this time, the video also shows a singer attempting to present himself as calm, polite, and reflective — a stark contrast to his earlier arrest.
Representatives for Wallen did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment regarding his remarks in the recently released footage.