“We wrote that song for my momma”: Luke Combs did what no other artist has done before, shocking Morgan Wallen with a surprise cover at the 2023 awards.
In a powerful moment of mutual respect that instantly went viral, country music superstar Luke Combs shocked his contemporary Morgan Wallen with a heartfelt, surprise cover of Wallen’s deeply personal ballad, “Thought You Should Know.” The tribute occurred at the 2023 BMI Country Awards in Nashville on November 7, 2023, where the two artists shared the coveted Songwriter of the Year award.
The Surprise Performance and the Emotional Exchange
The event celebrated a banner year for both artists, who tied for the Songwriter of the Year honor after both co-wrote four of BMI’s most-performed country songs of 2023. Combs’ hits included “Doin’ This,” “Going, Going, Gone,” and “The Kind of Love We Make,” while Wallen’s included “Thought You Should Know” and “You Proof.”
After accepting the award, Combs took the stage and, in a gracious gesture, decided to cover Wallen’s song right in front of him. Before beginning, Combs spoke directly to his friend: “By the way, I love this song a whole lot, man. Congrats again.”
The raw emotion of the moment peaked when Wallen realized the significance of the song being performed for his mother, Lesli Wallen, who was sitting in the audience.
Morgan Wallen’s Response: As the lyrics filled the room, Wallen pointed to his mother and said, “We wrote that song for my momma, and she’s right there. Thank you for singing that to her tonight.”
The Heartfelt Ballad: “Thought You Should Know”
The song “Thought You Should Know” is one of the most personal tracks in Wallen’s catalog.
- The Song: The track is written as a phone call from Wallen to his mother, Lesli, giving her an update on his life and acknowledging the sacrifices she made. It contains vulnerable lines like: “Yeah, I know you’ve been worrying ’bout me / You’ve been losin’ sleep since ’93.”
- The Writers: Wallen co-wrote the “Thought You Should Know” with fellow heavyweights Miranda Lambert and Nicolle Galyon. The song was released as a promotional single around Mother’s Day in 2022 and was later included on Wallen’s 2023 record-breaking album, One Thing at a Time.
The emotional depth of the cover—paired with the fact that Wallen returned the gesture by performing Combs’ ballad “Going, Going, Gone”—reinforced the mutual respect between two artists often pitted against each other as rivals. The video of Combs’ performance has since garnered nearly three million views, with fans praising his commitment to doing “this song justice.”
