Morgan Wallen wrapped up 2024 on a reflective note, surprising fans with the release of his heartfelt new song “Smile” on Monday, December 30. Written by Wallen along with Rocky Block, John Byron, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak, and Luis Witkiewitz, the ballad continues the emotional vibe of his earlier singles “Lies Lies Lies” and “Love Somebody.”
The music video, directed by Justin Clough, feels like a mini-drama. Wallen plays himself backstage, getting ready to perform on what looks like a New Year’s Eve TV special. He’s sitting in his green room, clearly uneasy, while a woman across the room sits in silence. When he gets the call to go onstage, Wallen reluctantly heads out, ignoring the producer’s pep talk about smiling for the camera.
The host introduces Wallen as one of the “biggest pop stars in the world,” announcing that he’s set to perform his October smash hit “Love Somebody.” But Wallen has other plans. Throwing on his trusty Field & Stream cap, he stares at the teleprompter before deciding to ditch the script. Instead of the upbeat hit everyone’s expecting, he launches into “Smile,” a raw and emotional ballad that catches everyone off guard.
“I can’t remember the last time/ You looked as happy as you did tonight,” Wallen sings softly over acoustic guitar. The crew behind the scenes freaks out as the prompter flashes “[OFF SCRIPT],” but Wallen stays locked into the moment, delivering the heartfelt chorus: “It was good to see you smile/ Girl, you know it’s been a while/ It was good to see you smile/ Even if it was just for the picture.”
As the performance unfolds, the vibe shifts. The network execs, initially annoyed, start to see the magic as viewer numbers spike. Meanwhile, the woman from earlier steps out to watch him perform, their eyes meeting one last time before she quietly walks away.
“Smile” is Wallen’s third single of the year and offers a preview of his upcoming fourth album, the follow-up to his 2023 double LP One Thing at a Time.
