Morgan Wallen won a big one at the CMA Awards, but he wasn’t there

At the 58th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday night, Morgan Wallen received a significant honor, winning Entertainer of the Year despite not being in attendance to accept the award. While Wallen led the nominations going into the event, it is unclear why he was absent. His One Night at a Time tour wrapped up in October, and CNN has reached out for comment regarding his absence.

While Wallen had a notable achievement, Chris Stapleton was the evening’s most prolific winner, taking home four awards, including Male Vocalist of the Year. Wallen, who has experienced both career highs and controversies in recent years, has faced challenges like being removed from his 2020 Saturday Night Live appearance due to violating COVID-19 protocols, as well as a 2021 video controversy where he was filmed using a racial slur.

Wallen also faced legal trouble earlier this year when he was arrested for allegedly throwing a chair off a rooftop in Nashville. Despite these setbacks, his career continues to see major successes, including the recent CMA award.