Stars on Broadway - Morgan Wallen

Chapter 2 - Waiting on a Dream

Georgie stared at her phone, the screen displaying Morgan Wallen's name at the top of the text thread. Her finger hovered over the send button, her demo link ready to be shared. It had been two days since their conversation at Kid Rock's bar, and although she hadn't expected Morgan to follow up, he did. His message had been casual—something along the lines of "Send me your stuff whenever you're ready"—but it had left her with a mix of excitement and nerves.

Whenever you're ready. Was she ready? Was she ready for a group of industry executives to dissect the songs that meant so much to her? Songs about her hometown, her dreams, even the scars she'd carried from the abusive relationship she'd left behind. These weren't just lyrics. They were pieces of her soul.

She exhaled deeply, trying to quiet the voice in her head that kept warning her about getting her hopes up. If this didn't work out, she'd be back at square one, playing cover songs in Broadway bars and working shifts at the Country Music Hall of Fame. And that was fine—it had to be fine—but she couldn't help but dream of something more.

Finally, with a determined breath, Georgie tapped send.

It was out of her hands now.

She set her phone down on the kitchen counter, trying not to obsess over it. No waiting by the phone, no checking her inbox every five minutes. She knew better than to let hope take over. The industry didn't care about hope. It cared about marketability, about what would sell, and she'd learned that the hard way.

Grabbing her guitar case, she headed out the door, ready for another day at the Hall of Fame. Music pulsed from her headphones as she walked down the bustling Nashville streets, her mind busy with thoughts of tonight's gig. This one was different from her original set—tonight she'd be playing covers, taking requests, and earning her tips by reading the crowd. It wasn't glamorous, but it was another step toward making ends meet.

At the Country Music Hall of Fame, she moved through the halls with practiced ease. Visitors milled about, wide-eyed at the memorabilia of legends like Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Georgie loved being surrounded by the history of country music, but every piece of memorabilia was a reminder of where she wanted to be—on stage, creating a legacy of her own.

The day went by in a blur, as usual. Tour groups came through, asking her endless questions about the exhibits, and she smiled politely, giving the same rehearsed answers. But all the while, her mind was elsewhere—on that text message and the looming unknown. Would Morgan really come through? What would those executives say about her demo?

By the time her shift ended, she had successfully pushed the anxiety down and focused on what she could control—her performance. She'd head to her gig, play her heart out, and leave everything else up to fate. Or Morgan, as it were.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Nashville, Morgan Wallen was pacing the floor of his manager's office, his phone pressed to his ear. His face was a mixture of determination and impatience as he tried to coordinate a meeting with the label executives.

"No, I'm not asking for much," he said, his voice gruff. "Just thirty minutes. I got somethin' you need to hear."

His manager, Travis, was seated across from him, watching with amusement. Morgan was rarely this invested in other artists, especially ones he had only met once. But something about Georgie's voice had struck him. She was different, and he wasn't going to let this chance slip by for her.

"Look," Morgan continued, his tone softening slightly, "I know y'all are busy, but just trust me on this. She's got somethin' special. You're gonna wanna hear her demo."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and Morgan's jaw tightened. Travis gave him a thumbs-up, trying to keep things light, but Morgan was clearly frustrated. Finally, the voice on the phone responded.